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People Sing Up: 8 Great Reasons for Joining a Singing Group

Posted on Nov 09, 2022
Comments (2)

By Peter Wyn Mosey
Peter Wyn Mosey participates in People Speak Up Projects, including Story Care and Share, People Sing Up, and Spoken Word Saturday. 

Music unites us. Whether you prefer Abba, Bach, Billie Eilish, or Kanye West, there’s something universal about that magical combination of melody, harmony, and rhythm. But it’s not just listening that touches our souls; for many, making music is also rewarding in many ways. 

You don’t need to be a virtuoso to make music. You don’t need a music degree. You don’t even need to have music lessons. The most accessible way to make music is with your voice —  and one of the best reasons to do it is because you enjoy it.

You might be someone that sings in the shower or the car when nobody is listening. Maybe you hum along to your favourite tunes. You may even aspire to be the next Madonna, Pavarotti, or Nina Simone. Joining a group of other singers is a great way to share your love of music. 

”People Sing Up” is a new PSU project open to all. Whatever your musical history, we’d love you to come and join us and find your voice with song. Here are some great reasons why you should join a singing group. 

1. Singing Releases Feelgood Hormones

"Music is a safe kind of high" — Jimi Hendrix 

Although singing in front of others may feel daunting, it’s actually a great way to relieve stress. 

Hormones govern our stress levels. When we’re worried about anything, our sympathetic nervous system releases cortisol — a stress hormone that increases your heart rate and ignites the fight or flight response.  

In a 2015 study, researchers found a link between cortisol levels and singing. In many cases, levels of the stress hormone dropped after a singing session. 

Research from 2012 also confirms that singing releases endorphins.  These are chemicals released by the parasympathetic nervous system. Endorphins are great for relieving stress and making you feel good. They can even help ease pain. 

It’s also suggested that our enjoyment of music releases dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, three more feel-good hormones that are great for your mental health.

People Sing Up is run by Nerissa Joan; she had this to say about the mental health benefits of singing in a group:

“Not only does the act of singing increase many of your “happy hormone” levels, but you’re part of a team, and you meet other like-minded individuals from your community.” 

“It is good for anyone experiencing things like isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. It leaves you feeling like you’ve done something for yourself and for other people, which is really what we’re wired for as human animals.”

2. Singing in a Group Builds Confidence

“I believe that singing is the key to long life, a good figure, a stable temperament, increased intelligence, new friends, super self-confidence, heightened sexual attractiveness, and a better sense of humour.” — Brian Eno

If you don’t feel overly enthusiastic about the idea of singing around other people, you’re not alone. It’s a big leap from rocking out in the shower to singing with other people. Finding your voice alongside others might scare you, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you gain confidence. 

If you lack self-confidence, it’s often because you worry about what others think of you. When you’re singing, you’re putting yourself out there — and that’s not always easy. 

We all start somewhere, and everyone else in a singing group will have felt nervous at some point. But joining a group of other singers is often easier than you might think; having a similar experience in the past means you may find lots of empathy and support. 

But the more you do something, the less you’ll think about what other people think. Soon, you’ll focus more on the task at hand. After a while, you might notice that you start feeling less self-conscious and more confident. Eventually, your enjoyment of the experience will outweigh your fears. 

When you’re singing, you’ll need to sit or stand up straight. This posture helps you breathe while singing. It gives you better control of your diaphragm, which helps you project your voice. 

A study carried out by Ohio State University in 2009 found a link between posture and confidence levels. Prolonged periods in an upright posture can give you a more positive view of yourself. 

On the topic of confidence, Nerissa gives this advice to anyone who doesn’t feel confident about singing in a group (yet):

“I hear you, but also, you just need to ignore that voice. Most of us (including me) have had some well-meaning teacher, relative or loved one giving us their “assessment” of our singing and it just convinces us that we’re no good. But we’re born singing before we speak, and it’s such a natural form of self-expression“ 

“So I don’t care if you don’t have the best voice. If you love music and getting out and doing something fun, this is the group for you. It’s so much easier than you’ll imagine, even the first time, and you’ll feel great at the end.”

3. Group Singing Gives You a Sense of Belonging

“Nothing brings people together like singing Bohemian Rhapsody” — Ancient Chinese Proverb 

Singing on your own is fun, but when you join with others to create harmonies, you’ll start building connections. Research reveals that singing together builds “coherent and meaningful social groups.”

When singing with several people, you’ll often divide up according to your vocal range. Singers with a higher range might sing a different part than those with medium or lower ranges. When this happens, you’ll find yourself listening to those around you while taking in the sound the entire group is making. 

Soon, you’ll use non-verbal communication without thinking about it. Eye contact during singing helps you follow others in the group while learning a new song. 

When a song sounds great, you all feel the same sense of accomplishment and euphoria. If a song doesn’t work out as planned, you can laugh about it and work together to fix the problem. These shared experiences are a great way to bond. 

Nerissa had this to say about belonging: 

“You meet a bunch of other people trying to do something new, trying to grow themselves, and willing to take a chance on themselves and each other. And there’s a lot of support in that for you.” 

“You don’t have to take risks or grow; you can sit in the comfort of being accepted as you are right now. And the option to grow is there. There’s also the fact that each member has their own unique life, and we try to give that space during sessions, so people can get to know each other.”

4. Singing Gives Your Lungs a Workout

“Singing is like a celebration of oxygen.” — Bjork 

When you’re singing, you use more than just your mouth. Breathing plays a huge role in helping you hit and sustain notes. You often need to draw deep breaths ahead of a longer phrase, and you’ll find that you sing from your diaphragm to increase the volume of your voice. 

We don’t often need to push our lungs in normal conversation. If you’re often short of breath, singing could improve your lung capacity and help build strength in the muscles around your ribcage. 

Although it cannot cure problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or asthma, exercising your lungs through song could help manage symptoms. 

Research suggests that taking fuller breaths while singing can also boost the amount of oxygen in your blood. This improves the performance of your red blood cells, giving you more energy, and boosting the function of your immune system. 

Nerissa added - “There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of individuals struggling with breathing issues, vocal problems or other health issues caused by core strength issues, finding it a good, gentle way of improving their overall health.” 

“You can take it at your own pace to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, but I’m there to encourage you to keep trying. A lot of what I do is reassure people that they’re doing great, and that encourages them to take greater risks and learn and grow more.”

5. Being In a Singing Group Improves Teamwork

“I’m amazed by the way you helped me sing my song” — Paul McCartney (“Maybe I’m Amazed”)

Singing in a group involves the participation of all involved. Unlike singing alone, you rely on those around you to achieve your musical goals. Working together to create a beautiful sound helps a group synchronise.

For a few minutes, when an entire room full of people is singing in unison, you all have a collective purpose. If only we could work together like that with others all the time. 

When talking about teamwork, Nerissa shared her thoughts: 

“A choir or singing group is one of the original forms of teamwork. You are trying to work together, sometimes in the same direction, sometimes alongside each other.” 

“Each and every member brings their own unique personalities and skill sets, and each is as important as the other. You might be a great team player, or you might be a bit of a leader yourself. You might be a really reliable learner or very creative.” 

“Whatever you are, everyone is as important as the other; it’s the mix that counts and can be heard out the front.”

6.Singing Is a Great Way to Express Yourself

“Those who wish to sing always find a song” — Swedish Proverb 

We all have feelings and emotions, some positive, some negative, and some that are hard to deal with. Singing is a healthy way to vent these emotions. 

You might experience a great catharsis and feeling of creativity while singing in a group that can help you if you’re having a difficult time in life. There’s a reason that music is often used in therapy. 

7.Singing In a Group Is Good for Your Brain 

“Our brains developed along with music and singing as a survival mechanism.” — Tania De Jong 

When you’re singing, you’d be surprised how active your brain is. Although you’ll usually have a songsheet in front of you, you’ll learn lyrics, melody, harmony, and more. 

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, music engages the entire brain. Elsewhere, Harvard Medical School says that people that are exposed to music as a child are better able to learn new things, and people over 50 that are musically engaged enjoy better cognitive functions. 

While you’re singing, you will need to concentrate. That might take more effort when you start, and while learning a new song for the first time, it’ll soon become second nature. You may even find concentrating helps you stay focused in other areas of your life.

Keeping your brain active not only reduces stress but could benefit you later in life. Singing in groups can benefit people with dementia 

8. It’s a Free Activity

“His tongue is now a stringless instrument” — William Shakespeare

Unfortunately, all too often, the things in life that are enjoyable or beneficial aren’t free. Cost can become a barrier when it comes to engaging with our passions.

If you’d like to sing, there’s no need to buy any equipment or instruments. You don’t need even need a microphone.  

All you need when joining a singing group is your voice. A voice is easy to carry to rehearsals, and it doesn’t cost a penny. 

Best of all, coming along to People Sing Up is also free! 

People Sing Up Needs You!

People Sing Up welcomes new singers of any age, gender, and background. You don’t need to have sung previously; the group are friendly and supportive. 

The group meets every Thursday morning from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM and sings a variety of popular and classic pop and rock songs. People Sing Up is relaxed and open to all abilities.  

There’s no sign-up to People Sing Up. There’s no need to wait; you can come and join us at our next session. 

If you’d like to learn more, get in touch. But if you think it’s for you, why not come along and give it a try? You might just love it.