10 Reasons Singing is Good for You

We often talk about the health and wellbeing benefits of singing, but what difference can it really make to how we feel?

As we get ready for the start of our online workshops From Couch to Chorus: The Festive Edition 2024, here’s why we think it’s well worth giving your vocal cords a regular workout.

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1. Singing makes you feel better

There’s an increasing amount of evidence that singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – the ‘happy’ chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself. Scientists believe that’s one of the reasons why people report being on a high during choir sessions and continuing to feel positive, uplifted and motivated afterwards.

“I really enjoy singing now, despite being convinced I couldn’t sing before! It’s completely joyful.”

– Participant, From Couch to Chorus

Singing also counts as an aerobic activity as it introduces more oxygen into the blood leading to better circulation – and a better mood.

3. Singing helps you beat stress and relax

As well as benefitting our lungs, breathing properly and with more awareness is good for releasing anxiety and helping us transition to a state of rest and relaxation.

“Simply by singing along to a favourite song or humming long notes can reduce stress levels and create a greater sense of internal balance.”

– Marie Claire Breen, Choral Learning Team

If you’ve had a bad day, give singing a go. We promise its stress-busting properties will help you forget your worries and simply be in the moment. Or take a few minutes out of your day and Reconnect with your body, breath and voice by following one of our wellbeing videos.

5. Singing builds a sense of community

Singing is a fantastic communal activity. Singing with other people, whether in the flesh or on screen, can help build connections and feelings of togetherness. Recent research has also shown that the sense of self-other merging we experience by synchronizing our voices with others is a great way to fast-track social bonding.

“The sense of community and belonging when singing in group settings, even over Zoom, can have a huge impact on stress reduction and can even synchronize your heartbeat and regulate your breath, so you’re all breathing as one huge lung.”

– Marie Claire Breen, Choral Learning Team

There’s also the pleasure to be found in sharing an interest, ensuring you always have something to talk about before or after the session.

7. Singing can help with pain relief

By supporting wellbeing and giving participants a healthy dose of joy, singing can be beneficial for people who experience pain. Dr Frances Cole who set up the Footsteps Festival for people living with persistent pain explains why they were keen for Opera North to offer Step into Singing sessions as part of the year-long celebration:

“Singing brings joy to people’s faces and lives. It helps them shift from yet another day ‘enduring pain’ to having joyful, fun times and feeling connected to others. We also find it helps with confidence, reconnecting people with themselves in positive, fruitful and compassionate ways, enabling them to live well.”

9. Singing features in wellbeing studies

Don’t just take our word for it! The University of Leeds is so convinced of the impact music can have that they offer a MA in Music and Wellbeing, exploring in more depth the relationship between engaging with music and the positive effects on health and happiness. Dr Freya Bailes, who leads the MA, explains why she believes this is such an important area of research:

“When we challenge our students to think critically about whether there is really anything special about music for wellbeing, the answer seems to be that music has it all! Singing with others contributes to positive mood, is engaging, promotes relationships with others, is experienced as meaningful, and can afford a strong sense of accomplishment.”