Singing Away The Winter Blues

Singing away the winter blues!
There are now more choirs than fish and chip shops in the UK and a spate of
TV shows, The Choir that Rocks, The Last Choir Standing and Gareth
Malone’s award-winning series, suggest that at last it is being recognised that
something special happens when we have the chance to sing with others. In
New Zealand we have a number of both community and school choirs.
Group singing, for those who have done it, is the most exhilarating and
transformative of all. It takes something incredibly intimate, a sound that
begins inside you, shares it with a roomful of people and it comes back as
something even more thrilling: harmony. So it’s not surprising that group
singing is on the rise.
The benefits of singing regularly are cumulative. As the popularity of choral

singing grows, science has been working to explain why it has such a calming
yet energizing effect on people. Due to advances in neurological science, we
now have a growing body of scientific evidence explaining what community
singers have always known, that singing’s good for us! The Sidney de Haan
Centre for Research, which is part of Canterbury University, has been
researching into the health benefits of singing for more than a decade.
The benefits are multiple. Physical benefits include: Improved breathing,

speech, posture, circulation; Reduced pain levels whilst singing; an increased
sense of well-being and improved immunity levels.
Singing has psychological benefits as it assists in reducing stress levels.

Benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because
of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour.
Choral singing can maintains and improve brain function as is involves

education and learning, keeps the mind active, gives a sense of achievement
and counteracts the decline of cognitive functions.
Singing can help build a sense of Community.
The Oriana SIngers are a mixed-voice (SATB) community choir with members
from the greater Tauranga area - Omokoroa to Papamoa. The choir has 50
members. Choir members come from a variety of musical backgrounds, with
some having never sung in a choir before to those who have sung in choirs
for over twenty years. Only half of the choir members read music, the rest
learn by ear and with the aid of practice CDs and workshops.
The choir’s repertoire is varied, has wide appeal, and changes throughout the
year. The choir works towards two main concerts per year with smaller
engagements through the year as required. The choir sings works ranging
from traditional choral pieces, to jazz and popular pieces, as well as spirituals
and folk songs. The choir also works with guest artists and other community
musicians. The choir seeks to support young musicians in the community and
will often invite young artists to feature in their concerts.
The choir is on break at present and will resume mid July to start work on a
Christmas Cantata. This is a work based on well-known Christmas songs
interspersed with narration. These concerts have been well attended with
over 350 people attending over two concerts the last time this work was sung
a number of years ago.
The Oriana Singers are inviting members of the community to join with them
to perform this work. There is no requirement to read music. If you would like
to sing this work with the Oriana Singers, contact the choir via email:
[email protected] or the choir Chairperson Ken Street on 027 476
7404.
Music is supplied and practice CDs with individual voice parts are distributed
to members to practice with. Regular practices are held every Tuesday
evening from 7-9pm at St Andrews Church on Dee Street, Mount Maunganui.
If you would like any further information or would like to support our next
concert in any way, please visit our website www.orianasingers.nz.
http://www.musicinourbones.btck.co.uk/Researchintobenefitsofsinging
https://www.chorusamerica.org/publications/research-reports/chorus-impact-
study
http://ideas.time.com/2013/08/16/singing-changes-your-brain/

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Singing away the winter blues!

The benefits of singing regularly are cumulative. As the popularity of choral

The benefits are multiple. Physical benefits include: Improved breathing,

Singing has psychological benefits as it assists in reducing stress levels.

Choral singing can maintains and improve brain function as is involves

Singing can help build a sense of Community.

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