The physical and emotional benefits of singing have been widely documented, from lowering stress levels and strengthening your immune system, to creating feelings of connection and community. Singing as part of a like-minded group does all this more. Mindful Puzzles editor Nicole Kennedy spoke with Hayley-Jayne Langwith about the invigorating power of community choirs and what inspired her to start her own, the Joy Project Choir.
The joy of singing together
Hayley-Jayne Langwith, a vocal coach, singer, and dancer based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, knows all about the power of singing. “Singing, music, performing is everything to me. It has always been a part of my life and it feels like breathing. I go to it if I’m sad, happy, excited, basically whatever place I find myself. It paints colour into my life and is a form of expression I don’t find anywhere else.”
A formally trained singer and dancer, a large part of Hayley’s music career was influenced by her time in the London Kingdom Gospel Choir, so she knows a thing or two about how beneficial group singing can be. “There are so many benefits to singing in a group or choir, the first being a sense of community.” This sense of community is certainly experienced by members of the community choir Hayley created in Terrigal, NSW, aptly named the Joy Project Choir. Speaking of her inspiration for the choir, Hayley explained, “I wanted to start something that was an inclusive singing experience for people of all different backgrounds and experience levels. Something that was purely about the joy of singing together as a group without all the pressure. No auditions, no stress, just joy.”
The science of singing
There have been numerous scientific studies into the physical and mental benefits of singing for the human body. Singing releases endorphins into your system that make you feel energised and uplifted; it helps us to breathe more deeply than other more strenuous forms of exercise, allowing us to take in more oxygen and release muscle tension; and helps strengthen the lungs and abdominal muscles. Taking deep breaths in and out and switching on the diaphragm also causes us to stand straighter, which helps to improve posture.
Singing in a collective space like a choir only increases the benefits. Research conducted by scientists from the University of Frankfurt found that concentrations of immunoglobin A, proteins in the immune system that function as antibodies, and hydrocortisone, an anti-stress hormone, increased significantly in members participating in a professional choir. Singing in a group setting also causes your body to release endorphins that help manage pain, thanks to the feeling of social connection that choirs can develop.
Getting up in front of a crowd of people you don’t know can be daunting, but especially so for people who don’t have any professional singing training. When I asked Hayley if members of her choir need to have any training or the ability to read sheet music, she said no. “Our singers don’t need to have any experience or singing training at all. The only thing required is a love of music and a desire to just jump in and give it a go. We don’t use sheet music, just lyrics. We work through songs in an easy to understand, energetic, and engaging way. Whether you want to sit at the back and hide or smash it out at the front, there’s a place for anyone to feel comfortable to learn.”
What kind of songs does one sing in a community choir; I hear you ask. Well, the Joy Project’s repertoire is as diverse as you could imagine. “We sing songs from all different decades and genres with the main focus on them being fun and uplifting. We’ve sung songs by Adele, Dolly Parton, George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates, Bruno Mars, Earth, Wine & Fire… the list goes on. Plus, I ALWAYS take suggestions!”
The benefits of group singing
A 2016 study published in the Psychology of Music journal found that people who sang together in a group reported a higher sense of wellbeing and meaningful connection than those who sang solo. This research compared choral singing to two other leisure activities, solo singing and playing a team sport, and found that choral singers reported significantly higher psychological wellbeing than solo singers. The choir members also reported that they considered their choirs to be more coherent or meaningful social groups than team sport players considered their teams to be. The release of the neurochemical oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, is thought to be the driver behind these results.
“Human connection is so important in a world where we are increasingly being driven inside onto devices and screens, so I wanted to create a space for people to feel the joy singing can bring regardless of their ability, and a chance to make a human connection with others.”
“Every single week we have a completely different line up of singers and they are all in the same boat, supporting each other, laughing and learning together. Their joy is infectious and rubs off on those around them. By the end we are all roaring along together.” I asked Hayley what her advice would be for anyone intrigued by the idea of a choir but unsure of their own ability. “Take a deep breath and make the leap to show up and give it a go. Force yourself to walk through the door the first time if you’re nervous and I guarantee you’ll be strutting through it on your return visit. All the endorphins rushing around your body after a session will leave you feeling positively giddy – you won’t regret it!”
The next time you feel music bubbling up inside you, let it out, regardless of who might be listening or how in key you might be. And if there’s a choir in your local community, check out when they next meet and go along for a visit. Your body and soul will thank you!
For more information about the Joy Project, visit The Joy Project
