C. Choir
A community choir is a glorious thing. It’s about happiness and togetherness.
There is something primal about singing. Most of us do it at least some of the time, even if we’re tone deaf or if what comes out of our mouth is more crow-like than angelic. We seem to have an innate need to express ourselves in this way, perhaps in the car or the shower, while cooking dinner or walking the dog (no doubt much to the surprise of walkers passing by). Whether we’re happy or sad, it is an emotional release.
But what about singing with others? ‘Oh goodness, no, I couldn’t do that’, is usually the first thought of most adults, who often found singing at school a torment to be endured rather than enjoyed and were glad when it stopped. However, how many of those same adults glory in raising the roof in song at a football match or sing along as loud as they can at a music festival? I’d like to bet quite a few do. Why? Anonymity. They know no-one will hear them specifically and no-one will care. They can go for it with gusto and a grin on their face. They’re happy. Happiness is the key. Singing with others makes you smile and lifts your heart, of that I am convinced.
About nine years ago, I joined a small local community choir called Pop Chorus run by the inspirational and talented director, Yula Andrews. As you can probably tell by the name, Pop Chorus is not about singing highbrow music. Importantly, there is no audition to join and you don’t need to read music. You don’t even have to be able to sing well. You simply have to want to be part of the choir, to come together once a week (or more) and sing with backing tracks in five-part harmony with lots of other people. What do we sing? Well, anything from Abba to The Killers, Sia to Robbie Williams, Lewis Capaldi to Cold Play, Elton John, Blur, Elbow, INXS, ELO, Carole King, Lizzo . . . you get the picture, it’s an eclectic mix.
And it’s popular. From about fifteen people when I joined, it has grown to about 400+ people (mostly women, it has to be said) split over 7 groups in the region. We all sing the same songs so that at a concert or an end of term ‘Big Sing’ we can come together in a larger venue and sing to an audience or just to each other. It’s joyful, and do you know what? We sound great together! We were even invited to Latitude, and in 2017 we recorded with a new song called ‘Always’ in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, Suffolk. Songwriter, David Simon, took the words written in collaboration with patients at the hospice and we recorded it under the direction of Ian Curnow and Phil Harding (who’ve worked with many famous singers such as Kylie Minogue and Take That). It is a truly beautiful song and we even reached number 65 in the official UK download chart!
Charity is a strong part of the ethos of our choir. Each year we sing to raise money for a local charity, and we tend to do very well for them, raising thousands of pounds. But we most certainly help ourselves in the process of helping others. Singing has been proved to have huge benefits, both physiologically and psychologically. It’s just so darned good for us.
Sometimes, after a hard day, I feel I’m too out of sorts to go to choir. ‘Go,’ says my husband, practically forcing me out of the door. So I grumpily agree and drive the twenty-five minutes thinking I’d really rather be at home with a cuppa and rubbish movie. Within five minutes of being with my choir, and certainly as soon as we start to sing, I’m back to my cheerful self and grinning like an idiot as I belt out my part in the songs of our current repertoire. We are all more than the sum of our parts. It’s about togetherness. In one of our songs, ‘Giant’, Rag’n’Bone Man sings: “It was you who taught me living is togetherness, togetherness, togetherness.” How right he is.
The benefits of singing:
It makes you feel better by releasing ‘happy’ chemicals (endorphins, serotonin and dopamine) and by increasing oxygen in your blood.
It improves your lung function and capacity.
It releases anxiety and stress.
It helps improve your memory and concentration.
It can give you confidence.
A community or group choir brings you a sense of belonging and togetherness.
You can express emotions that might be bottled up.
Thanks for reading. Keep singing!
I also sing! I joined a new choir at the beginning of the year, after 14 years with another. Both choirs do an eclectic mix, like yours. The benefits are amazing. Singing has given me more confidence and I love performing. Great to meet others too. I've made some good friends through choir.