Why a good singalong is so good for you
Singing can:
Significantly improve your mood
Leave you feeling good even after you’ve finished singing
Make you feel more alert
Make you feel included and stop you from feeling lonely
Give you the opportunity to interact with other people
Leave you feeling energised
Improve your breathing and posture
Help you cope with stress
Bring a sense of achievement
Help you to communicate
Improve your quality of life
Help with memory
Reduce anxiety – you have to ‘be in the moment’ when singing
Boost your confidence and self esteem
Give you an outlet to express emotions
Strengthen your immune system
Support overall health – it’s an aerobic activity
Help to manage pain
Singing with others has been shown to be so good for you that people who sing regularly have been able to reduce medication for depression, stress, anxiety and pain relief.
Who can sing?
Anyone can sing – in fact, there’s a saying that if you can speak then you can sing, despite what many of us have been told at school or by friends!
In fact, singing is so special that it’s likely that you’d be able to sing even if you were unable to speak (for example, if you’ve had a stroke) because speech is controlled by the left-hand side of the brain, but singing engages both sides. Studies show that stroke survivors who lose their speech are better able to regain it if they attend group singing sessions.
And it doesn’t matter if you think your voice isn’t good enough. The beauty of group singing is that it really doesn’t matter what you sound like – just that you take part and add your voice.
Finding a singing group
You’ll find there are lots of different types of singing groups in your area, from community choirs that sing pop and rock songs to choral societies and groups that are specifically run for people living with dementia.
The trick is to go along and try a few and find one that suits you best – or ask friends who sing which groups they enjoy. Most groups are happy for you to go along for a taster session.
Libraries are also a great place to look as some groups advertise on library noticeboards or your librarian might have a list of choirs and groups in your area. Many singing groups rehearse in churches and church halls, too, so check out church websites.
You can also take a look to see what’s on in your area here <link to What’s on> or ask others on our forum here <link to Conversations>
You can also try:
The Alzheimer’s Society’s Singing For The Brain sessions
Age UK run dementia support groups and some offer singing as an activity. Call Age UK on 0800 678 1602 for information
The Music Can directory can help you to find groups in your area
If you want to improve your singing voice or feel you need a few lessons to boost your confidence, search for a singing teacher here
Singing at home
If you’re not ready to sing in a choir or with a group there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy singing at home. You’ll still enjoy some of the benefits, including improving your mood, memory, concentration and posture. Here are some tips to get you started:
Put the radio on and hum along
Create a playlist on your device of favourite songs and join in
Search up the lyrics if you’re not sure of them – try Shazam or Lyrics Library. On some apps and devices you might find the lyrics are displayed on the screen, for example Alexa and Spotify.
Once you’re confident with a song, search up a karaoke version on YouTube - the lyrics will flash up on the screen and you can either sing along with the artist or find a version with no singer and you provide the vocals.
Get started by finding a singing group or choir near you here