Why sing?

I’ve always sung. At home, in the bath, in my bedroom, in the car, walking down the street, along with music in the shops, in church, in choirs, in bands.

It’s like I always felt how good it was for me. My mum tells of how, growing up, I would complain I didn’t feel well, but I would walk back upstairs to my bed, singing. I wasn’t feigning illness; I guess just knew implicitly that it would make me feel better.

I found my voice early. It has taken time and tenacity to get it trained, but I know what I sound like. And most importantly, it feels like joy to me.

It feels like freedom. Flying. A way of expressing an emotion so complex that it would take hours to explain the feeling to someone, yet I can feel it in song.

Singing has the capacity to lift the soul. It’s not what it sounds like so much as what it feels like.

It genuinely always makes me feel better – whether it is done alone or in a group of people. The choice of music is important: sometimes it is a release of pent up emotion and I will sing along to a really sad song (think Nothing Compares to You), or if I am angry, it can make me spit out the annoyance (read What About Us); needing to feel empowered? Try Defying Gravity.

You don’t need me to remind you, I am sure, of these difficult times in which we currently find ourselves. Covid- 19 has changed the way we currently live and, for many of us, the way we are viewing the world. People are worried about getting ill. They are worried about where they might catch the virus. They are worried about being told they must stay inside. You are probably thinking that now is not the time to take up singing (to be fair, it got some bad press at the start).

But let’s not overlook the positives. This is exactly the time to be singing. If you are already using singing at home, to banish the blues, or to express yourself – fantastic. I salute you. If you have forgotten that you love a good sing along – go and do it, this instant (ok, yes, I know, it might be 11 o clock and you have neighbours and 2 sleeping children – maybe tomorrow is a better time. Don’t forget!)

Maybe reading this has ignited (or reignited) a flame of desire to sing.

Singing has been scientifically proven to be good for your health. A study by scientists at the University of Frankfurt in Germany, published the US Journal of Behavioural Medicine, looking closely at members of a choir, found that proteins in the immune system which function as antibodies – and hydrocortisone, an anti-stress hormone - increased significantly during the rehearsal. So, basically, singing can make you less stressed and anxious!

Despite the fact that this is research done on a choir, the hydrocortisone will still appear if you sing at home. And, at the moment, it is safer to do it in your own home. It will improve your circulation, get the sinuses working and oxygenate the cells – all of which help to ward off infections.

Let your stresses go. Find that genuine joy which comes from opening our mouth and singing. My sister once said to me, as I sang along to the radio in her car, “Not every song has to be sung like you’re onstage at Wembley you know.” Sorry, but I disagreed then. And I disagree now. Let it out. I do believe that every song should be sung like you are at Wembley stadium. And I don’t mean that every song should be sung loudly, to the annoyance of others around. I mean that every song should be sung like you mean it. Like you own it. Like, for that moment, you are that song.

Rachel Riley. Vocal Coach.

Lessons available on zoom, from your own home.

Unlock your voice; unlock your soul.