Why music & singing is so good for us
There’s not an obvious connection between a noisy football crowd and a village church congregation. But there is of course the similarity between them of one thing: singing. One might be raucous chanting and the other a gentle hymn, but the feeling given to those singing as well as anyone listening in both cases is very much the same – and it feels good.
Singing causes the body to release endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. These are the body’s “feel-good” chemicals. Of course, music is closely connected to singing. We might listen to a song and while not always singing aloud we are singing inside. The rhythm and beat of the music matching our pulse is also beneficial.
This is why even back to when our ancestors lived in caves, there would have been the banging of some sort of drum and most often an accompanied chanting too. As it’s so innate in us, it’s something we all should be aware of and make great efforts to ensure we sing and make music as much as we can.
Group therapy
When music is made collectively and singing is part of a group, even as a duo, it only increases the feel-good factor. This is due to a feeling of connection. Every mental health problem including alcoholism and other addictions gives feelings of disconnection. In fact it is said: the opposite of addiction is connection.
It works in a similar wholly positive way to group therapy or the Twelve Steps group meetings. At these gatherings, people begin to – and then increasingly continue – to feel connected to others. It is the same at a football or rugby stadium, in a church, as well as at a gig or festival.
Most of us are not in the band and are not the DJ, but we are part of it, we feel the beat and we dance and sing along. For this reason, it’s no wonder that all around the Costa del Sol and throughout Andalucia there seem to be new festivals cropping up every year, such as El Morche’s Loona Summer Festival and Nerja’s Chanquete World Music festival.
“Singing is the expression of the soul and inner self, which spends much of its time contained and restrained,” says Georgie Cullum, singer/choir leader of Costa Pop Choir ( www.costapopchoir.com ), which Georgie set up to give people of all abilities and ages the chance to sing together. “Singing allows someone to become free.”
Singing and music for inner growth
Singing and music as a form of therapy is proving increasingly popular. “Singing can be a beautiful way to connect to emotions,” says Nerja-based voice expression coach Malou Swart ( www.maloumusic.com ) who has combined her passion for music and inner growth. “The voice is a great symbol that shows whether we have learnt or dared to express ourselves freely and authentically.
“Many people only dare to sing under the shower, but don’t experience a sense of safety to sing with others around. This is a beautiful terrain to be explored. Have we been hurt in the past? Have we been told we cannot sing, which is actually impossible? Can you allow and accept your feelings? How would you express them by using your voice?
“This approach of acceptance and allowance is very healing, restorative and empowering. It’s not about sounding perfect, but about being authentic. It’s more than okay to let yourself be heard, to express yourself. That is in fact a basic need.”
In the beginning was the word…
Music alone can uplift us and cause intense emotions. This is of course why it is used so effectively in films and advertising. But this can be completely intensified when a very important magic potion is added – lyrics. Words are extremely powerful.
When I’m helping people, one vital aspect is to make them aware of the words they are using, aloud and inwardly. It reveals so much in this context that the word “devil” derives from a word meaning “accuser, slanderer”. Too many people walk around accusing and slandering themselves, often with the words that only they can hear in their mind.
Every single word we say, whether in thought, aloud to ourselves or to another person or group, and everything we sing or chant, we have to digest. It is beneficial to our wellbeing to ensure we only “eat” positive words, that we do not poison ourselves with anything that’s toxic and negative. Think of the tongue as a boat’s rudder. It steers our life into the eye of the storm or keeps us in beautiful calm waters. And always remember, all you need is love…
My article for Soltalk magazine: http://www.soltalk.com/comment/september-2022/
