Well the summer is already in full swing and its amazing how quickly time flies. It's just 6 weeks to go before JUNCTIØN18 has its first practice. I have been speaking to villagers and many have been very enthused by the thought of singing with us and we are looking at between 20-30 ladies coming along on the first night. Don't be nervous, we shall all be in the same boat ... trying something new out and perhaps singing outside of our homes (and comfort zones!) for the first time. I thought it would be a good time to re-emphasis the positive benefits of singing in a group.
A recent report from the University of Oxford made the following points:
''A decade ago, any mention of a choir would probably have brought Sunday morning hymns to mind. But there’s been a revolution in attitudes towards joining the local choir. Adding well-known, mainstream music to the repertoire, the small screen appeal of television choirmaster Gareth Malone, and the increased visibility of community choirs have attracted a new crowd to the idea of the communal singalong. It is estimated that an incredible 2.8m Britons are now members of a choir.
.........group singing not only helps forge social bonds, it also does so particularly quickly, acting as an excellent icebreaker. This is particularly valuable in today’s often alienating world, where many of our social interactions are conducted remotely via Facebook and Twitter.
......... music-making can create a strong sense of well-being
...........music making exercises the brain as well as the body, but singing is particularly beneficial for improving breathing, posture and muscle tension.
...........listening to and participating in music has been shown to be effective in pain relief, too, probably due to the release of neurochemicals such as β-endorphin (a natural painkiller responsible for the “high” experienced after intense exercise).
............ music can play a role in sustaining a healthy immune system, by reducing the stress hormone cortisol and boosting the Immunoglobin A antibody.
..........singing has also been shown to improve our sense of happiness and wellbeing. Research has found, for example, that people feel more positive after actively singing than they do after passively listening to music or after chatting about positive life events.
...........even if we don’t necessarily talk to everyone in our choir, we might experience a general feeling of being connected with the group, leading to our sense of increased community and belonging.
[Credit Jacques Launay, Postdoctoral Researcher in Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford]
So we should get rid of any inhibitions and come along on 9th September and have some fun ..... it's good for you! For more details, go to www.junction18.org .... you can even 'sign up' to say you are thinking of coming along ...... but don't worry, there is no pressure or commitment ..... just so we can enjoy ourselves on those dreary winter Monday nights! lololol
Comments