I’ve said for years that if people attended more live performances, or even better participated in them, I would have less work.
Have you heard about all the benefits that you can get from singing? From lowering stress hormones, stimulating the immune system, improving mental health, helping with speaking ability, there are just so many things that research has found, it’s a shame we don’t do more.
There is no coincidence that religious and spiritual practices have always included singing, chanting, dancing. Music has also been a very important part of healing ailments through the years. Greek philosophers and shamanic healers chanted with or for their patients. And in the 1960’s, when a group of monks became ill because the church switched away from Latin chanting, an ear specialist suggested they start chanting again. Within a few months, they were able to do their rigorous routines again. Their cells didn’t know what to do without the daily vibrations!
My favorite benefit of singing, by far, is sense of community. I’ve been with a chorus for over 20 years and there is no doubt we are family. We don’t just rehearse and perform a couple of concerts each year. We sing at each other’s weddings and funerals. We celebrate births and empty nests, promotions and retirements, and all the milestones. When someone is grieving or hurt, we send each other cards and comfort shawls that our members knit.
It didn’t surprise me to read about this study that singing together creates an “unusually strong bond.” If you’ve never stood with a group, taken a deep breath and filled a room with sound, you are missing out.
Right now, we can’t sing together safely because of the pandemic. Singing is one of the best ways to spread the virus because it’s airborne. We are meeting virtually and created a piece for the world from our homes. We are taking this time to get to know people that sing in other sections. We mute ourselves and sing along to recordings. But it’s just not the same and I can’t wait to be standing in a room full of women rocking so loud I get a little seasick from the floor bouncing under us. (Yes, that really happens!)
I know we are all working to get through the (hopefully!) last months of our strict physical distancing. And everyone has something they can’t wait to do “when it’s over.” I hope for you all, it included listening to and even making music with other humans.
Here’s our video collaboration, I hope you like it:
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