Resilience - the hidden benefit of the choir

This International Stress Awareness Week we’ve been reflecting on this year’s theme of ‘Resilience; the power to succeed.’ 

Resilience might not be the first word you associate with choirs, but our experience of singing with groups for ten years has taught us that singing has a tangible impact on our resilience and our ability to bounce back stronger when challenges arise. 

CONNECT

Part of the secret lies in the connection between music and people. A choir provides an uplifting musical experience that is intensified by its teaming with an active social network. When music and people work in tandem, this allows and encourages us to thrive even in the face of adversity. 

Choirs by nature are all about connection, collaboration and community. You can’t have a choir with only one person, after all! The music is the glue that brings - and keeps - so many people together. Having a network is seen as an important pillar of wellbeing and happiness and the strong sense of social cohesion developed through singing with others boosts our ability to face up to problems with the help and support of the group around us. 

STRESS RELIEF 

Many studies have revealed the positive impact of singing on stress reduction. The act of singing, especially when done alongside others, helps us recover from stress, or prevent it from escalating. We have all had a stressful day and been lifted by a choir rehearsal, feeling the surge of endorphins paint over the negative feelings. 

For many choir members, the music follows them into the week - I for one leave choir with a spring in my step and the tunes in my head. The buzz continues for days. With a positive mindset, we’re less likely to be knocked by small challenges and rise up to them with courage and calm. Choir helps us surf the waves. 

RELEASE AND CREATE 

We often hear people describing choir as ‘me time’. Singing provides a release from the challenges of day-to-day life, and time to express yourself creatively. The confidence, self-esteem and sense of identity that come with this are priceless - not only do we feel better after a good sing, but the positive emotional changes in turn amount to a valuable resource for managing our emotions. For singers, choir can be an outlet, vehicle for change or simply a chance to escape for an hour or two.  

MAKE MISTAKES 

Singing in a choir rehearsal setting allows us to make mistakes in a positive environment, without the pressure to succeed that is often found in work or home life settings. In a rehearsal process you have to sing to learn, and inevitably mistakes will be made and challenges will be encountered. But instead of these being seen as problems, they can be viewed as part of the process, one filled with hurdles but also rewards! This process is a valuable blueprint for how to live, showing that we develop through a process of learning, and mistakes are not only OK but can be fruitful. 

PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE

Standing on a stage in front of a room of strangers sounds terrifying, and many people get nervous when faced with a performance. The ‘what ifs’ can pop up: “what if I fall over?”, “what if I forget my words”, or “what if slip on an important harmony?” 

The choir process teaches us to look at the positives - “what if I really enjoy myself?”, “What if I feel great at the end of the show?”, “What if my friends and family feel really proud of what I’ve achieved?” Whatever the outcome, there is so much to be learnt through performance, and many people who’ve come to us swearing never to sing solo in public learn to battle these nerves and, however bumpy the ride, take huge personal steps towards the type of person they’d like to be. That’s resilience. 

Over the last ten years, we’ve witnessed some incredible resilience within our choirs and we’ll continue to evolve the way we run choirs to make sure that we don’t only provide a place to sing, but a home for people to connect, create and grow.  

We’re currently celebrating ten years of group singing, with a grand celebration at Starling 10! Join us to witness the power of group singing with your own eyes!

- Emily