Christmas - singing for mental health and wellbeing

Christmas carols with the PAVO mental health team

Whatever you think of Christmas it seems singing Christmas carols / songs could be good for your mental health and wellbeing.

Indeed, research has shown that group singing in particular is good for health generally. So, as choirs and singing groups throughout Powys gear up for the Christmas season, we decided to find out more about what exactly the benefits of group singing can be. And to do that, we hand over to those that know - some of the singers and choristers from a few Powys choirs and singing groups!

Castle Belles ladies’ singing group - Ceri Williams

I’ve been in the Castle Belles singing group of Castle Caereinion for 10 years now. We sing in English, Welsh and sometimes even Italian! We are not a traditional choir - we perform musical theatre mainly and carols at this time of year. We meet once a week on Tuesdays and are looking for new mezzos if anyone is interested! Over the years we have raised £25,000 + for different charities.

I believe that everyone can sing - if you think you can’t you just haven’t found your place yet. Besides which you’d be drowned out in our group!

Singing in a group produces feel-good neurotransmitters. It’s a primal thing. But you can definitely feel it. I get goosebumps singing in harmony. It’s fantastic for me. Plus, to sing in a group is very supportive. We have members who have lost partners and family members. We make friends and have shared interests. Every year we take the train for a social and meal in Shrewsbury and enjoy a big singalong on the train for the return trip!

Find out more on the Castle Belles Facebook page.

Photo credit: Sian Gwyn

Bracken Trust Singers - Chris Clarke, Leader

Our members are a very varied group of ages from mid-fifties to 92 years of age! We have singles and couples, men and women, people with cancer, people who recovered from cancer, people who have lost beloved family members to cancer and Covid. But, above all, we are a happy and sociable group who love to share our time singing and making friends.

We have performed recently for Dementia Matters in Powys. People who live with dementia respond really well to music from their era. We have since welcomed four visitors from their group who are hoping to join us each week to sing along.

Performing for Dementia Matters in Powys

“This is why we sing”, a song we included in one of our CDs, contains apt lyrics for anyone who enjoys singing: Music can tear down walls which we may have built around ourselves when feeling vulnerable and alone.

Singing enhances our breathing and lung capacity. It strengthens our core. It lightens our hearts. It brings us comfort when we most need it. It strengthens our memory.

Singing in a group encourages us to make friendships, to share stories and sometimes confidences which we feel we cannot always share with our dearest family when we are battling with illness.

Singing releases pent-up feelings. We often listen to songs which have profound meaning for us and we love to learn to sing them because expressing the words and sentiments help to improve our mental well-being.

Singing can give pleasure to others which then gives us pleasure, too. Singing in a group helps build our confidence. I know that in our group, The Bracken Trust Singers, we need our weekly dose of singing together and meeting everyone. It takes us out of the house, out of our daily lives with its cares and problems. That weekly dose is our medicine.

Find out more on The Bracken Trust's Facebook page.

Cantorion Llandrindod Wells - Hilary Cox, Musical Director

'Singing is a very special enterprise. We sing before we can speak, it costs nothing and requires no equipment. It helps us breathe in the best way and is a total physical and mental workout. It is one of those rare activities which engages both hemispheres of the brain, forging new connections and engaging our learning most powerfully. Singing with others has a powerful effect on mood and wellbeing. When those others are friendly and welcoming, the benefits multiply.’

No wonder that singing is increasingly recognised as a way to support and improve mental health for us all. A study by the Sidney De Haan Research Centre in Folkestone found that after 3 months of weekly singing, the singing groups showed statistically significant improvements both in generalised mental health and a reduction in depression.

Choir members of Cantorion in Llandrindod will vouch for the benefits of singing together. Members new to the area have found a welcome and all of us enjoy making something special happen each week at our rehearsals.

Find out more on the Cantorion Llandrindod website.

Hafren Community Choir - Charlotte Woodford

Group singing is highly beneficial for mental and emotional well-being. Choir members often report back how important it is for reducing anxiety, commonly sharing that for those two hours they think of nothing at all but enjoying themselves. The singing gets oxytocin, endorphins and serotonin moving through the body – our natural painkillers and healers, these also have a great hand in lifting our spirits.

The shared experience of singing is powerful, and facilitates other lovely times together - the tea break at Choir is an essential part of the whole evening, as is going on trips – locally or further afield. We are off to Limerick this summer to visit a host choir and have them back to Newtown in September. Singing opens everybody up, relaxes us, makes us laugh and take joy in what we are creating together, which has a knock-on effect on the forming of long-lasting friendships and a deeply supportive network within our community.

Contact Charlotte 07828 413 484 / charlotte@lifebulb.org for more info about the Hafren and Llanidloes Community Choirs, Singing for Lung Health & Baby Music.

Rhayader Voices in Unity - Lynda Birch

I sing with the Rhayader choir Voices in Unity. I love to hear the sound of our voices coming together to produce a sound that is a combination of our individual voices. I feel uplifted and part of something that gives pleasure to the many people who come to our concerts. I particularly like hearing the harmonies develop from our early practice sessions to the finished performance. It literally takes my breath away.

Find out more on the Voices in Unity Facebook page.

Cathy's Angels

Ponthafren Singing for Wellbeing - Cathy Beech

I am a singer/songwriter and vocal coach and for over 22 years I've been working towards demonstrating how singing frees your spirit and your mind to become who you want to be. It is a fallacy to believe it is for the few. I read somewhere recently that a study had been conducted and 96% of people can sing, that includes you, it is very unlikely that you can't sing, there has to be something really wrong for you to not be able to sing. The simple truth is, you have been trained to believe you can't sing and that is inhibiting. 

For the last 6 years I have been working on a program of Singing for Wellbeing in Newtown and Welshpool and it has become very successful. I use my program to help people at Ponthafren get their mental health back on track - it is an amazing facility for this. I also use my techniques with my own choirs and workshops and the difference it makes in people's lives is just inspiring for our community of singers, it truly opens mental doors.

The Teen Believers

As a vocal coach, I have witnessed the strength that people find deep within themselves once they have found their voice to do the one thing they always wanted. The power of singing together in front of people and sharing your voice is without doubt more important than we could even imagine right now. It's a life changer, a beautiful vibration that lifts and brings people together. But when we use it to discover ourselves then fear melts into a pool where the sun shines and a rainbow is born. You need to feel the vibration of sound. Go and join that choir, that vocal workshop. Sing that open mic church event. Be a part of your community, both performer and spectator. Free your voice. You will never look back. 

My classes are run from the Armoury in Welshpool throughout school term time on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You can find out more details on my website. 

Choirs for Good - Tiffany Evans

Choirs For Good was set up by a group of like-minded choir leaders who wanted to use the power of choirs and group singing to connect and empower people and communities. Singing is a universal and instinctive part of what makes us human, yet it does not always feel accessible; we want to change that. Singing in a choir is about transforming one's life for the better, meeting people, forming bonds and new friendships and finding support through music, as well as creating wonderful opportunities and memories to cherish forever.

Singing together is about much more than singing itself. Choirs are communities of people from all backgrounds, with all the richness and life-experience that combining large groups of people together can bring. Communities are a powerful force for change, and we believe that by placing choirs at the heart of local communities it has the potential to do good for society. Our choirs are open to all who wish to join, we are welcoming members throughout the year and always happy to meet new people and attend new events, bringing music to those who need it. Our tag line is Do Good, Feel Good, For Good.

Llanidloes choir meet weekly on a Monday evening, what better way to start the week than by being enveloped in live music and laughter? Find out more on the Choirs for Good website. 

Alive & Kickin' Community Choir - Tanya Walker

As a classically trained singer, songwriter and composer I have been leading several choirs for 10 years now. I founded and lead the Alive & Kickin’ Community Choir Brecon and the Lunchtime Uplift Choir at Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon. My choirs sing songs from all over the world including popular, contemporary and original material.

I have witnessed first hand over the years the transformational power that singing in a choir has had on the lives of participants - whether that be observing the power of singing as a catalyst to heal the wounded heart of someone recently widowed, or providing a valuable focal point and lifeline to someone recovering from extreme depression. My experience tells me that singing enhances the health and wellbeing of participants whilst also encouraging a more positive perspective on life.

My choirs also serve as vital friendship networks for the lonely and have provided a precious trip down memory lane for participants with dementia who can remember words from a song from their teenage years but can’t recognise the faces of their own family.

In some ways it is hard to put into words how music and singing together heals - except to say in every session I lead I see people coming into choir feeling one way - and witness everyone (with no exceptions) leaving feeling ‘uplifted’ from the day to day struggles of every day life.

Find out more on the Alive & Kickin' Facebook page or ring Tanya on 07723 016 837.

If you sing in a choir or singing group and feel it benefits your mental health we would love to hear from you in the comments box below.

A peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers near and far