Church Choir
Why Sing In the Choir?
MUSICALITY
Singing in a choir improves the way you hear music; it draws out your innate musical ability and intensifies your appreciation of harmony. There is a natural learning curve that occurs quite organically as a consequence of singing regularly in a group that strengthens your ear. Where choral singing is concerned, the whole really is the sum of its parts, and choir members soon become aware of how harmonies combine and complement each other.
EXCELLENT STRESS RELIEVER
You rush to meet deadlines, deal with unhappy clients, cope with a rage-aholic boss and — if you’re lucky — eat lunch in front of your computer. By the time you get to your choir rehearsal, you’re a nervous wreck.
But, sitting up straight, relaxing your shoulders and breathing from your diaphragm is a great way to return to your center and leave the day’s stress behind you.
MEET NEW PEOPLE
Nowadays people make “friends” without ever meeting in person. Joining a choir is an old-school way to meet nice, like-minded people interested in having a good time together. What a concept! The modern world is one where people are increasingly isolated. Social media networks offer a semblance of community but the lack of contact with people in real time and space can intensify feelings of alienation. Singing has been central to religion and ritual as a way of connecting communities since ancient times. Being part of a group working towards a shared endeavor, can fulfil this human need for belonging and union. Recent research reveals that group singing helps forge social bonds, and it does so particularly quickly, acting as a powerful icebreaker. People feel valued and inevitably make friends with individuals from a diversity of backgrounds, so horizons are broadened, and social cohesion is improved.
YOUR LEARN TO LISTEN
While it’s fun to belt it out like Björling, a key to good choral singing is paying attention to what’s going on around you — listening. (It’s a good thing to do outside choir, too.) A rule of thumb is, if you can’t hear the person next to you, you’re singing too loudly. You learn to listen to the sound of your voice, the sounds of the voices of the other choir members, to the voice and direction of the director, and to the promptings of the Spirit. Singing elevates the soul, making it more sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.
WORKOUT FOR YOUR BRAIN
Choir members will learn basic music-reading skills, which are known to increase the capacity of your memory, sharpen your concentration and improve your spatial organization. You hit the gym three times a week to keep your body in shape (right?). Think of choir as boot camp for your brain.
EXERCISE IN TEAMWORK
A choir is the perfect manifestation of the adage “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” You don’t need to have a particularly beautiful voice to contribute to a beautiful, collective sound. Being part of something bigger than yourself is both humbling and motivating.
NO NEED TO BUY EQUIPMENT
All you need to sing in a choir is your voice, a bottle of water and a pencil for marking your music. Simple and cheap! A proper singing session is a wonderful workout for the lungs. The actions of warming up, breathing deeply, and opening the diaphragm all oxygenate the blood, creating more white blood cells, which strengthens the whole body. The breathing rate slows and deepens, releasing endorphins and increasing a profound sense of well-being. All this lung action reduces the chance of illness and is excellent for people who suffer asthma, and emphysema. Singing also improves your posture and tones your stomach muscles – a strong core supports the spine so your body will be less prone to injury as you age.
LEARN A LOT OF CHOIR JOKES
Q: How many altos does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: None. They can’t get that high.
Q: How does the director change a light bulb.
A: No one knows; they’re never watching.
UPLIFTING
Every day, we’re bombarded with bad news: tragedy, terrorism, scandal, etc. While singing in a choir doesn’t make those things go away, it’s the perfect way to bring something positive and uplifting into your life and into the lives of others.
