What are the Benefits of Singing?
“I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free…….” – His Eye is On the Sparrow
For the song writer, Civilla Durfee Martin, she knows the exact reasons why she sang.
How about you?
In my opinion, we sing to express our inner feelings. One of the best ways to express your feelings is through singing. Many years of research by experts has shown that singing is good for you in many ways.
Here are 8 reasons on why it is good to sing, regardless openly, in your shower, walking, hiking or anytime when you feel like.
- It’s stress relieving
You may or may not have known singing helps to relieve your stress level. A 2017 study measured the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, in participant’s saliva before and after they sang.
Researchers in that study found that the amount of cortisol was lower after singing, an indication that people felt more relaxed after they’d belted out a tune.
Through singing we can learn to breathe more deeply and with more awareness. When stressed or anxious, exhaling for longer than inhaling helps to calm the nervous system.
- It’s stimulating and boost the immune system
A 2004 study compared the effects of singing with the effects of simply listening to music. In two separate sessions, research subjects either sang or listened to music.
Those who sang showed higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody your body secretes to help you fend off infections. Listening to music (without singing along) reduced stress hormones but didn’t stimulate the body’s immune system.
It does help fight off illness!
- It’s an anti-depressant
When you sing, your brain releases “feel-good” chemicals including endorphins which make you feel happy and uplifted.
Consequently, singing can be an excellent and effective way to boost your mood, alleviating depression, improve sense of well-being.
- It helps build your confidence
Singing is a universal form of human expression. You can choose to do it alone or participate in a choir or singing group and benefit from socially, physically or psychologically – experience a greater sense of social connection.
When you perform well, receiving praise from your friends and family may be the reason to overcome your fears and boosting your self-confidence.
You also may help to improve your presenting skills in front of a group of people.
- It improves lung function
Since singing involves deep breathing and the controlled use of muscles in the respiratory system, it may be beneficial from gaining strength in your respiratory muscles.
Research also shows, it increases the amount of oxygen in your blood.
- It helps with grief
According to healthline.com, singing in a group not only help you with physical pain; it may also help you through the emotional pain you feel after you’ve lost someone you love.
In a 2019 study conducted among people dealing with grief, researchers found that for those who sang in a choir, depression symptoms and sense of wellbeing improved greatly over time.
In fact, the choir singers felt a gradual improvement in their self-esteem during and after the 12-week study. Those in the control group who did not participate in the singing intervention did not report this benefit.
Conclusion by the researchers shows that group singing may be a good activity for people who need additional support during a time of grief.
- It helps you to have a better ear
When you learn to sing, naturally you will develop your musical ear and start listening to yourself and the singers with greater level of understanding and appreciation. You would learn to pick up the nuances in the vocal performances too.
- It’s time to express yourself!
Have you noticed young children tend to sing very easily, freely and openly without being self-conscious? As we grow up, we may experience judgement and criticism at times and we may lose the interest and passion in singing.
It is possible for us to learn to sing with freedom, more confidence and control through proper guidance from an experienced singing coach. With practice, it is no doubt we can learn to maximise our vocal potential, singing and expressing with greater range and ease.
