Archive for the ‘The Conductors Blogspot’ Category

If you are at all like me, you look at a piece of research with a mild level of scepticism. It’s not that you don’t believe what’s written, or the excitement that surrounds the findings, but more a case of “Well exactly how many people took part in the study and can it really be rolled out as representative of the whole country?”

As one who has used ‘facts’ gathered from many sources, as part of his former professional life, I am someone who adopted the Nietzsche principle on facts a long time ago.

There is no such thing as fact, there is only interpretation

I’ll leave you to ponder that statement for yourselves. For me, it’s a truism for I always like to interpret a ‘fact’ and see how the evidence affects me, or relates to my own experience. So with that in mind, let me give you some examples of research evidence that is widely available today. Where appropriate, I will comment from my personal point of view, but I would love any additional comments you may have on what is written here.

Let’s hear it for Sweden

CHORAL singing is good for health, a Swedish psychologist has reported, after conducting research into the long tradition of choral music in Sweden.

The psychologist, Dr Maria Sandren, from the University of Stockholm, presented her findings at a seminar in Canterbury Christ Church University in Folkestone, UK during 2008.

Choral singing has a long tradition in Sweden and one out of five people sing in a choir. Results indicated that choral singing had strong effects on the well being in that positive emotions increased significantly and, in turn, negative emotions radically subsided. In conclusion, I found that choral singers, particularly women, are happier, more alert and relaxed after a rehearsal.

The Conductors View: So do the Swedes have a magic formula? I can say absolutely, that in both the choirs I currently conduct, I have many examples of increased wellbeing that emerges from the singing experience. Even after a tough rehearsal, I have members who come up and say how much better they feel from the physical act of singing.

Dr Sandren did not comment in her research on how the content of the songs they sang affected the singers health. I have seen a lot of anecdotal evidence, albeit the words, the melody or how those two vital components combine within the piece they are singing.

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THE CONDUCTORS BLOGSPOT

I want to try and use this space on our website to outline some of my thoughts about singing, singers and the many benefits that can be found in ‘joining in’ with a choir or in fact, any singing opportunity.

Whilst I will express many personal views or experiences, I am never shy about quoting others, or utilising their writings as a way of highlighting shared experience.

Please visit the site often and feel free to post your own comments or thoughts on what you find written here, or even how singing has helped you.

And Finally….

I want to put this quote by Professor Graham Welch here at the start of these blog pages. I have used it before in articles and for me it shows how serious research can show in both physiological and emotional terms how singing really is ‘good for you’

Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, who has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years says,

The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting. Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour.

The Conductor – Dorian Edwards (October 2009)