Singing in Choir Makes you Happier
developing balance and coordination developing fine motor skills developing gross motor skills lower stress - better health singing and movement singing in choir makes you happier Jun 17, 2024
BY KINDERMUSIK
Singing in Choir Makes you Happier
Mental health – thankfully, in recent years, it has become more acceptable to talk about it in public. The stigma of dealing with a mental health issue lessens with each day that passes. This is a good thing.
As it turns out, singing in groups has a very strong impact on mental health. Without question, we are not implying that singing is a replacement for seeking help from mental health professionals. Rather, we seek to simply highlight the positive effects this activity can have, and they are numerous. Let’s explore them together.
You Find “Your People”
Each time I guest conduct across the country, the singers I work with, who normally have just met for the first time, always share with me that they have found “their people.” Their family grows. Their support system grows. Their circle of people whom they trust increases. From How Stuff Works:
…some of the most important ties between singing and happiness are social ones. The support system of being part of a group, and the commitment to that group that gets people out of the house and into the chorus every week — these are benefits that are specific to group singing. And they seem to be a big component of why choral singers tend to be happier than the rest of us. The feelings of belonging to a group, of being needed by the other members of that group (“We can’t do this one without our alto!”), go a long way toward combating the loneliness that often comes along with being human in modern times.
Singing in a group increases our sense of social wellbeing.
Lower Stress – Better Health
We’ve talked about this one before. Singing, specifically singing in groups, reduces the amount of cortisol in your system. Cortisol levels are indicative of overall stress levels. Lower cortisol equals lower stress levels.
In addition, dopamine and oxytocin levels increase while singing in a group. This is partially responsible for the “singer’s high,” that feeling of euphoria while taking part in a choral ensemble. Dopamine is that chemical in the brain that causes pleasure and alertness. From one of my regular choristers:
“I get in the car to head to rehearsal after a long day at work. Many times I feel like I can’t make the drive. It’s been too stressful or I’m just too tired. Like clockwork, I get to rehearsal and something happens; I’m revived. I’m rejuvenated. I normally leave with more energy. It’s magic.”
– R.L
Singing and Movement: The Perfect Combination
The benefits of group music making (specifically singing) can be enhanced when movement is added. Kindermusik classes are a perfect place to experience this magic. Getting started early is, as in most endeavors, ideal. For a lifetime of mental health benefits from group music making…start early in life!
Here are some of the ways combining music making and movement have a positive impact on health:
- Developing fine motor skills
- Developing gross motor skills
- Developing balance and coordination
So…don’t wait. Get your kids involved. While you’re at it, get involved yourself! Find a community choir to join. You’ll be happier for it!
For more music, ideas, and fun, and to find a class near you, visit Kindermusik.com.
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consistent cowbell crazy sounds: what the voice can do creativity skills in music education crucial pre-reading cut down on cell phone babbling dance in sync dancing dear students developing balance and coordination developing fine motor skills developing gross motor skills developing strong relationships develops inhibitory control devotion of activity diy beach in a bottle! do music? yep! you're probably smarter do your research. don’t be scared… don’t forget to play! don’t have preconceived notions about when “real speech” will occur don’t just sit there – move! draw what you hear. embrace your “baby voice” emotional intelligence emotional learning enhance phonemic awareness establish a daily routine for music. everyone can sing everything you needed to know about a kindermusik class explore the three b's expressing ideas expression feeling it fetuses begin to form a connection with their mother’s voice around the 4th month of pregnancy find a calm song find a family class that helps you grow find an affordable program and reduce student debt finding your place in the performing arts follow the child for children with unique learning styles for the love of musik: starting a kindermusik studio four on the 4th: four ways early music classes prepare your child for school… and for life four on the fourth: four reasons to sing the day away free music rituals album freeplay getting grounded giving gifts group communication skills growing up in kindermusik guiro hang back from the sales frenzy. have a dance party. head voice for kids head voice vs. chest voice hearing hearing it hearing system heavy traffic high-pitched kids hoping to nurture social-emotional wellness in your child? music helps. how can music class help my family regulate noise? how do babies bond? how kindermusik prepares your child for school how loud is too loud? how music affects your mood and your mind how music strengthens emotional development and bonding how music teaches kids to self-regulate how postnatal singing supports secure attachment how pre- and postnatal singing support secure attachment how the voice works how to keep the daily rhythms and routines that matter to your child imaginations impact: music and the differently abled improved happiness levels in your right brain: the mind’s response to music in-person or virtual music class help? incorporate themes. increases literacy and pre-reading skills infant music classes instrument exploration instrument exposure intentional pitch just sing keep learners engaged at home with songs that connect to each lesson. keep learning about creativity kid songs kids beats kids generation kids get it: music is magic kids love music kids need to be kids kids playing kids playlist kindermusik kindermusik and the music city: betsy flanagan speaks at the national head start conference and expo kindermusik blog kindermusik class for toddlers kindermusik classroom instruments and their big brothers kindermusik community kindermusik is the key kindermusik reviews: cutie sue and the darkness kindermusik reviews: the book with no pictures kindermusik reviews: the not so quiet library kindermusik reviews: what do you do with a problem? kindermusik's approach kindermusik’s gift guide lack of attention span needed language and literacy skills language and speech language skills lesson learned: how my son spent $1200 on itunes let kids create their own magic. letter sound let’s play: is it an instrument? listen to instrumental songs. look for a longer shelf life. love and music: a magical connection love for music is the answer lower stress - better health lullabies maintains babies’ attention and stimulates emotional responses (like smiling) master instruments math skills melody magic: music strengthens social bonds memorization motorcycle movement and music: hop moving and the mind music music affects the science of reading music and literacy are processed the same way…through sound! music and memory – helping stroke and dementia patients music and movement music and the bridges it builds music as language music as medicine: good for mental health music builds memory. music can do that? – learning languages through music music can open the door to stronger communication music class for toddlers music education music for neurodivergent music from birth: in it for the long haul music in our lives: imagine a world without it music in the baby’s cry music instruction is all about patience and listening music is everything music is magic music is the answer music kids are scrappy music lessons music listening with your kids: find the center music makes it music makes mettle music makes the moment music matters – but why? music reading music rituals workshop can help music sparks imagination. music teacher music therapy for babies music therapy: music as medicine music to boost phonemic awareness musical activity musical kids are hardy! musical kids know about focus musical science musicians can make a living music—a multi-sensory activity music’s effect on the developmental domains neurodivergent neurodivergent learners neurodivergent learnings newborn bonding: how infant music classes connect parent and baby no surprise: with music involvement nurture creativity nutritional supplements online toys for music joys: google’s chrome music lab our favorite musical activities to get you through your child’s day our favorite “i love you rituals” from dr. becky bailey pairing movement pals parent perspective: why we love kindermusik parenting playlist: music to help children focus pat or tap to the beat. phonemes phonemic awareness phonics phonological awareness phonological awareness literacy screening physiological responses plan ahead. planting seeds that grow: music for a lifetime play allows children to imagine whole new ways of being play invokes laughter play leads children to solve problems with perseverance and creativity! play leads children to sort information in new ways and to seek symbolic representations. play music! play stretches the imagination through fantasy playing instruments power of play-based learning practical at–home developmental strategies praise prenatal and postnatal singing is one of the easiest ways to jumpstart secure attachment. prioritize grownup social-emotional growth anytime. prioritize imaginative play promotes active listening read aloud. reading abilities realizing your child’s musical potential reduce screen time. reflecting on july’s summer camp magic! regulate emotions repeat that sound to a familiar tune repetition repetition repetition research: involving parents increases positive outcome for kids enrolled in head start reserved space: dedicated grey matter for music! reunited: a short film about music and the human spirit rhyme rhythm right choice for family risk and growth: a balancing act rock concerts schedule learning time. science center stage: gratitude science center stage: kids’ brains grow faster with music science center stage: music changes the brain science center stage: music improves brain development in children science center stage: music may boost language learning in babies science center stage: the imaginary friend science of music science of reading science spotlight: how music impacts our mood scientific secure attachment seeing it self awareness and the dragon: a parenting fairytale self-confidence. self-regulation to emotional expression sequencing series of positive and nurturing interactions shape of lips share new school year musical rituals with families before classes begin shoes off simple diy crafts that let kids be creative and expressive simple gifts for kids simple gifts for kids: batteries not required simple toys or props sing sing aloud. sing and dance that stress away sing and sway sing like a pirate! sing throughout the day singing and movement singing dad singing helps grownups self-regulate singing in choir makes you happier singing is the best singing is the way singing mom singing parents sirens and fireworks sleeping infant so social social skills social-emotional growth social-emotional learning soft music solving problems sound sound first – symbol second sound vocabulary sounds speak up. speech skill sports events square peg in a square hole: music in the preschool experience – a natural fit squirm steady beat steady beats for kids steady beats matters story time! reading to kids the right way storytime strengthens the vestibular system stretching them to their limits as we create strong relationship studio kindermusik classes study after study summer camp summer camp on a summer slide summer slide summer slide: what you should know sun’s out support divergent thinking through play support physical distancing and social-emotional development with seated or outdoor musical activities. talk teach creativity teaching kids to become creative the beginning of life is beautifully composed the best gifts are often not the most expensive the best kind of summer school the blues: music and mood the box vs. the toy that came in it: why the box wins the brain looks for patterns. the collaborative for academic the gift of health: music boosts the immune system the gift of love: a parent’s perspective of kindermusik the gift of time: holiday activities for the whole family the neurosciences and music vi: music the power of “i love you” rituals the science behind singing to your child the surprising connections between social-emotional skills and cognitive development the surprising reasons why grownups love kindermusik too toddlers and toys too loud: how to prevent early hearing loss in children tools tools for kids top 5 tips for buying the perfect simple gifts for kids triangle trudel music studio trust trust relevant experts. try to live by this rule of five unique brain patterns universal language: music therapy use a mirror to visualize phonemes using music to address challenging behaviors utero vacuum cleaner we have no earlids. we hear with our brains. we love our kindermusik educators what can i do to prevent early hearing loss? what does it take? becoming a kindermusik educator what kids need what kids want: quality time what kinds of activities should an infant music class include? what makes kindermusik so compelling to children what’s wrong with toddler music lessons? when it comes to your kids investing early pays off whisper white noise for babies who knew? kindermusik changes lives in jordan why barefoot is best why do children need a “music program”? why do you sing? why does music increase literacy development? why is newborn bonding important and when does it happen? why is unstructured play important? why music is better than white noise for babies why shared musical experiences with your child are so important (and ideas to implement!) why singing to your child every day is vital why songs stick in our heads why toddler music lessons aren’t the best idea wiggle will i gain confidence as a parent? with love woodblock worried about partying in college? a music major ain’t got time for that! 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