Is singing good for you?

How joining an online choir can boost your health

If you love to sing - in the shower or along with the radio - the good news is that now you can join an online choir and belt out some tunes at home! Singing with an online choir means anyone can join, wherever you are, no matter what your level of skill or experience. You can learn songs and improve your singing ability, become part of a community and have fun along the way.

As well as an enjoyable hobby, singing is proven to have benefits for your mental and physical health.

What happens to your body when you sing?

When you sing, your brains releases endorphins and oxytocin which naturally relieve stress and lower anxiety levels. Singing can also help to lower blood pressure and produce a calming effect on the body.

“I’ve been a Some Voices member for around 5 years and the weekly rehearsals have been such a constant mood-lifter in challenging times. The online choir has reminded me of the amazing power of a good sing, and I’ve felt so much better for doing it.” Eleanor

Singing is an aerobic activity that exercises major muscle groups including the lungs and diaphragm, helping you improve your cardiovascular fitness and encouraging you to take in more oxygen which can make you feel more alert.

Singing has also been proven to boost your IQ and improve your memory. So not only can you learn those lyrics to your favourite songs but doing so will help your memory skills and cognitive ability.

Does singing make you healthy?

The positive effects of singing can help to strengthen your immune system by counteracting stress which lowers your ability to fight off illness. Singing has also been shown to increase immune-boosting antibodies and research has shown the extra airflow can reduce the risk of bacteria in your respiratory tract. 

Singing improves your lung capacity and helps you breathe more easily. Breathing exercises as part of online choir rehearsals are a great way to improve your singing skills and let you sing louder and longer without damaging your voice.

Standing up straight to sing improves your posture. As part of online choir sessions, you join in with a physical warm up to make sure you are engaging your muscles and singing with a good posture which has positive benefits for both your singing skills and your physical health.

Singing has been proven to relieve pain as endorphins act in a similar way to morphine – without the risks. Although our members find that singing can also be addictive!

“I just pray that people realise how much singing can lift your mood, whether you’re a great singer or never sung before... Believe me.... It helps so much. I'm so grateful for our Some Voices community.” Elizabeth

Is singing good for your mental health?

As well as physical benefits, singing is proven to reduce anxiety and depression, especially when singing together with others.

“I joined the choir having never sung before. I have had the best time - it has helped me manage my anxiety like nothing else has ever done. I’ve found having to focus on learning a song has really helped my anxiety.” Carrie-Ann

When you concentrate on singing, you are focused solely on the activity which allows you to ‘turn off’ from distractions and negative thoughts. Mindful activities like singing are proven to have benefits including stress relief and improved focus. 

Singing is a great way to increase your confidence and self-esteem. By singing from the safety of your own home, you can improve your skills and learn new techniques, all without an audience so no nerves or judgement. By joining in with an online choir, you can connect with others who enjoy singing and become part of a community. Our members find being part of Some Voices choir makes them feel less isolated.

"I’ve made loads of great friends through Some Voices and being able to get together every week and sing online has made a world of difference and stopped me feeling so lonely.” Sarah

By learning and practising a range of songs with different moods, you can express your emotions in a safe outlet. Taking part in our virtual performances is a great way to be creative from the comfort of your own home and our videos and Spotify albums are something you can be proud to be a part of.

How can I join an online choir?

Some Voices have a series of online rehearsals on our YouTube channel for free, including learning songs, finding your voice part and our Virtual Voices videos where you can practice your part.

You can also book a virtual rehearsal for your team or company event - this is how it works: https://youtu.be/qazKABDuSV4

Find out more at www.somevoices.co.uk/book-our-choir

Some Voices raise £6k for Prince’s Trust with help of Andi Peters and Pat Sharp

In December 2019, Some Voices went back to the 90’s in style! We hit the iconic stage at London’s Troxy with three nights of soul-shaking nostalgia and some very familiar faces, all in aid of the Prince’s Trust youth charity.

Hosted by 90’s TV legends Andi Peters and Pat Sharp, our Top of Your Pops Christmas Special took the audience on a trip to a TV studio of the past. With battles raging over Christmas number 1, between girl and boy bands, and between ‘Fresh Prince’ rappers, this was no ordinary choir Christmas concert. Classic tunes from Blur to Britney, Meatloaf to The Spice Girls were performed by 500 singers and a live band in an unforgettable performance that left the crowd dancing and screaming for more.

Every term, Some Voices choir members choose a charity to support, and in Winter 2019 we chose youth charity The Prince’s Trust. The trust helps vulnerable young people who are unemployed or struggling at school to get their lives on track. Thanks to our generous audience and our choir members who also hosted a 90s quiz, we raised £6058.58 for the Prince’s Trust. We were also lucky enough to hear from young people whose lives have been transformed by being supported by the trust and we thank them for sharing their stories. Find out more about The Prince’s Trust.

Some Voices feature on BBC One #xmaslife advert

BBC One’s #XmasLife Christmas advert debuted on TV on 1 December 2019, a fast-paced mix of animation and live action featuring BBC stars including Graham Norton. The soundtrack is a re-recording of Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc by members of Some Voices, produced by Native Music Soho.

The theme of the advert is all about living your best “Xmas life” whether by indulging in gingerbread, staying in pyjamas all day, avoiding political chats or binge-watching TV. The BBC Creative team wanted the music to be uplifting and joyous, and who better to provide a fun, choral rendition of a classic track than Some Voices. So one night in November, over 70 choir members lead by Lea Cornthwaite got together at Native Music Soho to record the track.

Helen Rhodes, executive creative director of BBC Creative, said:

"Christmas doesn’t officially start until BBC One release their Christmas campaign, so we hope we’ve done the nation proud with a film that shakes off the shackles of 2019 and embraces our favourite time of the year."

Some Voices’ Gorillaz cover from the advert was popular with BBC One Breakfast Show host Greg James who played it several times:

“The very talented Some Voices - love that!”

Watch and listen to more Some Voices performances in our gallery.