Singing
If you’ve ever spent any time at a nursing home or with an elderly relative who is coping with dementia, then it might not be news to you that one of the last things the mind can hold onto it is songs. Yes, songs! Long after the names of loved ones have faded and time is completely blurred, songs can still be sung with startling clarity. Sometimes they’re the only link that allows a family to catch a glimpse of the person they’ve known and loved for years who is now disappearing into their disease.
Research continues to show that there are tremendous benefits to singing. These are wide ranging and include releasing endorphins, increasing lung function, improving memory, boosting confidence, and helping with pain relief (Opera North, 2021). One of the most attractive things about singing though is that as long as you have a voice, you can do it!
Oliver Rundell, the Chorus Master of Opera North, put it well when he said, “Everybody has a voice and everybody can sing. It’s a brilliant way of just giving yourself some time. Simply tune out the rest of the world and enjoy the physical sensation of breathing in and creating a note with your body” (Opera North, 2021).
An article published in the UK points out recent research that shows singers have been observed to have lower levels of cortisol, which indicates reduced stress levels (Joubert, 2020). Not all hobbies can claim to do that! And here’s another perk: you can sing anywhere! Singing has to be one of the most portable hobbies. Once you know a song, you know it. You can sing to raise your own spirits alone in the car, in the shower (come on, admit it, you KNOW you’ve sung in the shower at least once in your life), to entertain or comfort a child, to make friends laugh, or, if you’re really brave, to carol your neighbors at the holidays.
Singing is essentially the musical instrument of your body. It’s unique to you, and it doesn’t have to be fancy to bring you joy. Most of us might think of choirs or professional singers when we think of singing but a simple “Happy Birthday” sung at a family party is just as special, maybe even more so, than a stage performance, because it’s personal.
If you’re interested in bringing more singing into your life, try starting with some youtube tutorials on vocal pitch or see if there’s a choir you could join through school or perhaps a community organization. Some of these places will have a choir director on staff who can give you more detailed feedback on your singing if you are involved in the choir (Singing as a hobby, n.d.). Once you start, the sky’s the limit! Try to sing along to songs you listen to today or, if that feels intimidating, you can always hum. As the Russian author Ivan Turgenev shows us in his short story, “The Singers,” the voices which move us the most often have a little grit to them. Perfect isn’t the goal here. Self expression is!
References:
10 Reasons singing is good for you. (2021). Opera North. Retrieved from https://www.operanorth.co.uk/news/10-reasons-singing-is-good-for-you/.
Joubert, S. (2020). The science behind singing: What happens when we sing? London Singing Institute. Retrieved from https://www.londonsinginginstitute.co.uk/what-happens-when-we-sing/.
Singing as a hobby. (n.d.). Discover a Hobby. Retrieved from https://www.discoverahobby.com/singing.
Challenges/Points:
Singing is one of the easiest hobbies to start and you can take it anywhere.
A few of the benefits of singing are increased memory retention, reduced stress, and strengthened lungs.
If you have a voice, you can sing. There is no need for perfection here.
Questions:
Is singing a part of your life?
Where or when are you the most likely to sing?
How do you feel about singing? Does it embarrass you or do you find yourself singing without even thinking about it?
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