Fancy spreading joy, making new friends and reaping health benefits too? Join a choir! as Michelle Higgs explains
“From choral societies, community choirs and operatic societies through to rock/pop choirs, youth choirs and gospel choirs, there’s a singing group to suit all tastes”
“Singing with a choir is an incredibly joyful experience, especially if you’re performing in front of an audience. It’s all-round feel-good activity that has so many benefits for your health”
“Joining a choir is a wonderful way to combat loneliness because you’ll meet new people from all walks of life – all linked by their love of singing”
Facts/stats
Two-thirds of choirs do not audition their members
(Voices Now Big Choral Census, 2017)
There are around 40,000 choirs in the UK with 2.14 million singers
(Voices Now Big Choral Census, 2017)
In 2017, there were 300,000 more people in choirs than playing amateur football each week
(Voices Now Big Choral Census, 2017)
We’re a nation of singers and to prove it, there are thousands of choirs up and down the country, encompassing all genres of music. From choral societies, community choirs and operatic societies through to rock/pop choirs, youth choirs and gospel choirs, there’s a singing group to suit all tastes.
Whether the repertoire is songs from the musicals, well-known chart-toppers, an operatic work or a full-blown choral symphony, choir members always learn something new and have fun at the same time.
Singing with a choir is an incredibly joyful experience, especially if you’re performing in front of an audience. It’s all-round feel-good activity that has so many benefits for your health. So why not join a choir yourself?
Physical health benefits
Believe it or not, singing in a choir can help to improve your physical health, even though it might appear to be a sedentary activity at first glance. Singing in a group is actually an aerobic activity that exercises muscles in your upper body. It can also help improve your breathing, which may benefit anyone with asthma or lung problems.
Choirs usually sing while standing up straight and this will automatically improve your posture; this is particularly beneficial if you suffer with back issues or you spend most of your working day sitting at a desk. (If you can’t stand for long periods, it’s usually possible to sit through a performance while singing.) Learning new songs or pieces gives your brain a workout too and can help to improve your memory. It also aids your concentration and your ability to focus for longer periods.
Boost your mental health
The benefits of choral singing to mental health are perhaps more obvious. Joining a choir is a wonderful way to combat loneliness because you’ll meet new people from all walks of life – all linked by their love of singing. Being in a choir is very much a social activity. There’s plenty of time to chat before and after rehearsals, and also during the break in the middle. Singing is a great ice-breaker too!
As well as making new friends, there’s a strong feeling of togetherness and being connected with others when singing in a choir. This can give a huge boost to your confidence and self-esteem. And if you’ve had a bad day at work, there’s nothing like a good sing to reduce any stress and anxiety; singing is also known to lessen the effects of depression. The reason for this is that singing with a choir will increase your levels of ‘happiness’ hormones: endorphin, oxytocin and serotonin. There’s also a natural ‘high’ from taking part in a choral performance that is clearly enjoyed by the audience.
Local choirs can be asked to perform at all kinds of events, from singing for residents at a care home, and visitors at a school fete, through to music festivals where several choirs might be involved. There’s a lot of singing in the community and this may give you a greater sense of belonging.
How to join a choir
If you want to join a choir, do your research first before going along to a rehearsal. There are lots of different types of choir, so it’s important you find one that’s right for you. Many groups have their own websites that tell you a bit about them and how to join; alternatively, your local library will have lists of choirs in your area.
In particular, try to find out whether you’re expected to read music or not. This is usually a requirement of traditional choral societies, chamber choirs, operatic societies and church choirs. Then there are community choirs, gospel choirs and rock or pop choirs where reading music may be less important. If you can’t currently read music, it doesn’t matter because it’s easy to learn with practice; the more choir sessions you attend, the quicker you’ll pick up the notes and rhythms.
Some choirs are open to all, regardless of their singing voice, while other groups ask potential new members to audition. This might sound daunting but you’ll probably only be asked to sing a few lines from a well-known song. Usually, the choir conductor will simply want to know whether you can hold a tune and if your voice is alto, soprano, tenor or bass.
Which choir is right for you?
You might feel nervous about joining a choir if you’ve never sung in a group before, or it’s been a long time since you last did. But there’s no need to be. Most choirs will let you attend a few rehearsals or ‘taster’ sessions as a guest. This will enable you to see what the choir and people are like.
After a certain period of time, you’ll be expected to commit to a subscription. Always check beforehand how much it is to make sure it’s affordable for you. Subscriptions generally cover the cost of sheet music, the rehearsal venue, and fees of the choir conductor and accompanist.
When you’ve attended a couple of meetings, ask yourself if you felt welcomed by the group and if you enjoy the type of music and repertoire they sing. If the answer’s ‘yes’, go ahead and join. If it’s ‘no’, go back to your research and look for a different choir to try. You’ll know when you’ve found the right group.
Think you can’t sing?
Many people are told during their childhood that they can’t sing, and that can put them off singing for life. But, as an adult, you might find out that your voice is fine. Even if you’ve been told in the past that you’re tone deaf and can’t sing, and it’s still the case, there is a network of ‘tuneless’ choirs that will welcome you with open arms. If you decide that being in a choir isn’t for you and you’d rather not sing in public, you can get lots of the same benefits from singing along to the radio, including those wonderful happy hormones.
5 tips for choir singing
- Attend every choir rehearsal
If you turn up every week, you’ll become a regular which shows a certain level of commitment. It also means you won’t miss out on the fun!
- Pay attention
Listen carefully while you’re singing and while the conductor is speaking so you don’t miss any important instructions.
- Practise at home
The more you practise, the better singer you’ll become and the more confident you’ll feel. Set aside time at home to go through what you learned at the previous rehearsal.
- Never miss a concert
Choir performances are usually booked months in advance, so put the dates in your diary to avoid accidentally double-booking yourself.
- Enjoy it
Singing in a choir is great fun and will quickly become the highlight of your week!
