Archive for the ‘The Conductors Blogspot’ Category

I always get interested when I see the words “research has shown” attached to any article, or comment published. As a former marketing “bod”, I have used research to strengthen or mollify a particular preposition, or defined idea. Most people never ask “What is, or was the research?” They are usually content with your affirming stand and simply accept the fact that you probably would not tell them something that isn’t true. In my case, I never knowingly did lie. This is due, in large measure, to the fact that I am naturally cautious when I see a research statement used and will always put an increasing amount of effort into understanding the what, where, who and why of any research study into any subject I am interested in, or have a need to know about.

Anyone who is following the comments I am writing and posting here, will however, not be surprised to know that I have studied the following piece of research stated and offer it here for your reading pleasure. Ok, well maybe not pleasure, I can’t believe you are as sad as I dear reader, but if you do get something from this set of notes, please rest assured I am happy with the scientific basis of the points raised.

So……

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as Music Therapy, which uses music to heal. Notice I am talking about music here and not specifically singing.

Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADHD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. We should find this all pretty unsurprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. Those of you who are old enough can, perhaps, think back to the late 60’s and bands like King Crimson. I can vouch for the relaxing benefits of lying down in a dark room listening to the whole of the Court of The Crimson King album. Awesome, in fact still is. No weed needed, just a clear head and no distraction.

Getting back to this research then; The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy my happy band of researchers tell us. Read the rest of this entry »

“The only thing better than singing is more singing,” said Ella Fitzgerald. Perhaps such a statement is to be expected from a world-famous artist with an era-defining voice, but she wasn’t the only one to wax lyrical on the benefits of a good vocal performance. “He who sings frightens away his ills,” said Cervantes. Even Mr Cornflakes himself John Harvey Kellogg – -had this to add in 1931: “Singing promotes health, breathing, circulation and digestion.”

Singing might be fun, might be joyful and uplifting, might inspire poetry and paeans. But could it actually be good for you? Oh yes. It seems that Kellogg was dead right

Last year, the government announced £40m of funding in the National Singing Programme to get every primary-school pupil singing regularly. And there are, apparently, now more choirs in this country than there are fish and chips shops.

This year, for instance, Heart Research UK will run a Sing for Your Heart week to raise money and also to highlight the health benefits of singing. This event or series of events take place from December 8 to 15. Good choice of week, as the carol singing quotas will be in full flood (watch this website to find out more).

Of course, there is also an increasing interest in the physical, psychological and emotional benefits of singing. Just this last September the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health at Canterbury Christ Church University hosted a conference to explore the role of music and singing in health, social care and community development. I will post a report on their conclusions when I have read it. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are at all like me, you look at a piece of research with a mild level of scepticism. It’s not that you don’t believe what’s written, or the excitement that surrounds the findings, but more a case of “Well exactly how many people took part in the study and can it really be rolled out as representative of the whole country?”

As one who has used ‘facts’ gathered from many sources, as part of his former professional life, I am someone who adopted the Nietzsche principle on facts a long time ago.

There is no such thing as fact, there is only interpretation

I’ll leave you to ponder that statement for yourselves. For me, it’s a truism for I always like to interpret a ‘fact’ and see how the evidence affects me, or relates to my own experience. So with that in mind, let me give you some examples of research evidence that is widely available today. Where appropriate, I will comment from my personal point of view, but I would love any additional comments you may have on what is written here.

Let’s hear it for Sweden

CHORAL singing is good for health, a Swedish psychologist has reported, after conducting research into the long tradition of choral music in Sweden.

The psychologist, Dr Maria Sandren, from the University of Stockholm, presented her findings at a seminar in Canterbury Christ Church University in Folkestone, UK during 2008.

Choral singing has a long tradition in Sweden and one out of five people sing in a choir.  Results indicated that choral singing had strong effects on the well being in that positive emotions increased significantly and, in turn, negative emotions radically subsided.  In conclusion, I found that choral singers, particularly women, are happier, more alert and relaxed after a rehearsal.

The Conductors View: So do the Swedes have a magic formula? I can say absolutely, that in both the choirs I currently conduct, I have many examples of increased wellbeing that emerges from the singing experience. Even after a tough rehearsal, I have members who come up and say how much better they feel from the physical act of singing.

Dr Sandren did not comment in her research on how the content of the songs they sang affected the singers health. I have seen a lot of anecdotal evidence, albeit the words, the melody or how those two vital components combine within the piece they are singing.

Read the rest of this entry »

THE CONDUCTORS BLOGSPOT

I want to try and use this space on our website to outline some of my thoughts about singing, singers and the many benefits that can be found in ‘joining in’ with a choir or in fact, any singing opportunity.

Whilst I will express many personal views or experiences, I am never shy about quoting others, or utilising their writings as a way of highlighting shared experience.

Please visit the site often and feel free to post your own comments or thoughts on what you find written here, or even how singing has helped you.

And Finally….

I want to put this quote by Professor Graham Welch here at the start of these blog pages. I have used it before in articles and for me it shows how serious research can show in both physiological and emotional terms how singing really is ‘good for you’

Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, who has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years says,

The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting. Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour.

The Conductor – Dorian Edwards (October 2009)