The West Australian published a great article on June 22nd 2021 about the benefits of singing. Here’s an extract of what they said.
Do you love to sing? Whether or not you can carry a tune like Katy Perry, singing comes naturally to us all, like walking or talking. In fact, many experts believe we could sing before we could talk. Singing makes us feel good on the inside, but it can also help us in many other ways.
The Power of Song
Chair of vocal studies at The University of Western Australia and chorus director for the WASO chorus, Andrew Foote, explains how singing can give your brain a multisensory workout. “Singing helps you develop multiple skills such as your listening, your language - the way you form words for speaking, and the language of music” Andrew says.
“You get to use your brain in a different way to other subjects in school or the sports you play.”
“We know these skills help you develop into a better all-round person. Singing is also good for your health as it improves your breathing and helps you to de-stress”
Why singing is good for you
It releases feel-good hormones.
Singing releases endorphins, which are the chemicals in your body that make you feel happy.Boosts your immunity.
Research shows singing helps strengthen the immune system (the network of cells, tissues and organs that protect your body and fight off sickness.
Improves your breathing.
The simple act of singing helps improve blood circulation and oxygen flow to your body. Andrew adds: if your dad snores, get him to sing - it almost always helps!
Lowers anxiety and stress.
Making music is relaxing. Singing releases stored muscle tension and decreases the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol in your bloodstream.
Singing is fun.
Andrew says singing is great fun anywhere, even in the classroom. “When you sing you can express your uniqueness. In the classroom you can share emotions with classmates and you can work as a team to create something bigger than you otherwise would on your own.”
Singing = brainpower.
Just like your muscles, your brain gets stronger the more you exercise it, but does singing make you smarter? “Well, no, not exactly. But scientists have proven that people who sing can usually think clearer. Singing can help your brain develop better, or in different ways” Andrew says.
Widens your circle of friends.
Singing in a group is a great way to make new friends. “When you join a choir, you become an important member of a team. Everyone in the team brings something special and different. You also find new friends who you may not have found doing other activities”, says Andrew.
Builds confidence
The act of learning a new skill and singing with a group helps boost your confidence, courage and self-esteem. Think you can’t sing? Think again!
Can anyone learn to sing?
Absolutely. We spoke to Gemma Begley, vocal tutor from Rock Scholars in Osborne Park - where young musicians can learn to play and sing contemporary music styles - and one of her students, 12 year old Bella Reece, to discover what singing lessons are all about.
“Singing is similar to playing a sport. Before we start moving, we always stretch to warm up our muscles. In singing, we use our vocal cords, which are muscles found in our larynx (part of our throat), so we have to warm then up in order to give the best performance” says Gemma.
“I teach my students funny vocal exercises that seem a bit silly, but it shows how to warm up your voice in the correct way. If you don’t warm up properly you could end up with a very sore throat and even damage it.”
”The vocal exercises I do with my students help shape and refine their voices so they get even better at singing. During a lesson we’ll explore different songs and vocal techniques that demonstrate how to hit the right notes as well as help the student find their own distinct singing style.”
Top singing tips
Want to become a better singer? Here are some of Gemma’s tips and vocal exercises you can try at home:
Always start by doing some deep breathing. Breathe in through the nose for four counts, hold your breath for four counts and then breathe out through the mouth for four.
Stay hydrated. Drinking water regularly keeps your vocal cords nice and lubricated. Avoid milk or sugary drinks (such as lemonade or juice) because it can cause mucus in your throat to thicken, which makes it harder to sing.
My favourite exercise to gently warm up the vocal cords is called a “lip trill” and is like blowing bubbles through our lips. I like singing along to my favourite song through a lip trill as a warm-up.
Similar to lip trills, try singing one of your favourite songs but instead of singing the words replace them with “ooh”, “ah” or “ee” sounds. It’s another fun, gentle and easy way of warming up.
Rock Scholars is Perth’s favourite contemporary music school and we specialise in putting kids and teenagers together in a creative, stimulating environment where they can find their voice and make music with other young musicians. We provide singing lessons and one on one tuition in lots of other instruments too. If you’re looking for Perth singing lessons, or singing lessons for kids, please call us today on 0437 806 109 or complete an enquiry form here.
