I led a workshop at the world headquarters of a multi-national bank last week. This was the handout I gave to the participants and thought you might find some (all?!?) of it interesting and, perhaps, relevant. I am going to explore singing and health a lot more in the coming weeks!
Shhh, don’t say anything…
‘Keep a stiff upper lip’, ‘man up’, ‘keep calm and carry on’, ‘big girls don’t cry’! there are many phrases that encourage us to bottle up stresses and anxieties.
In the professional world, susceptibility to such perceived weaknesses has been proof that someone could not do their job optimally. Fortunately, many companies are appreciating the benefit of addressing these challenges with the advent of wellness programmes.
There is a way…
Well-being skills are now becoming popular stress and anxiety management techniques: mindfulness, teaching people to ‘be in the moment’ not dwelling on past problems or predicting future ones; exercise, such as walking where the mind and the body have space to re-charge, and yoga, which is based on ancient principles promoting health of mind, body, and spirit. The introduction to well-being skills not only gives people tools to cope with work pressures but encourages a cultural openness and acceptance, all of which creates happier staff and a more effective workforce.
The arts and music are increasingly being used to provide well-being benefits. Christine Descher of Cuckoo Studios who is running this workshop, knows first-hand about the pressures of a busy corporate environment. I trained as a singer and singing teacher at university but then left the profession 10 years later ‘by accident’ and spent 15 years working in IT Security in the Banking environment. I returned to music and now I teach singing at various locations in London and at my home studio in Kent. In a short time, I have seen the benefits of singing for the busy professional person.
However, the evidence is not only anecdotal. There are now many conclusive medical studies which correlate group singing with mental well-being. Singing is the perfect ‘happiness cocktail’ as it raises endorphins - ‘feel good’ hormones and also raises oxytocin – ‘stress relieving’ hormones. And it is fun!
Finding your voice…
Do you sing in the shower or in the car providing those vital backing vocals to pop songs? Would you then sing unaccompanied alone or even in a group? Many people wouldn’t, using the age-old excuse of ‘being completely tone-deaf’. If I had a pound for every person who told me, ‘no one can teach me to sing!’ (They are wrong, by the way!) The cause is lack of confidence which has root causes as varied and numerous as all of us who deal with it.
Many of my students don’t want to be on stage or to perform a solo but what they want to do is immerse themselves in a fun hobby and to gain is confidence and be able to say that satisfying statement ‘I can do that.’ Singing is a great physical workout, too. It promotes better posture, better lung function and lower heart rates. Singers are more confident and fit while having FUN. Win – Win – Win.
Teaching someone to sing whether in a group or as a soloist is more than learning a song or to sing beautifully. It is a holistic process which includes a mind/body/spirit connection which can be achieved just by the act of singing. Singing is an amalgam of many parts:
And this is only a short list.
A fun and rewarding way to health and well-being…
What I hoped you gained from today’s session is that learning to sing is an antidote to pressures and stresses caused by a busy life. Also that it enables someone to take a little bit of time out for themselves and build confidence whether individually or with a group of like-minded singers. A singer gains many useful personal skills but professional ones also. And, whether an early beginner or a seasoned veteran, singers get the same benefits from the act of singing!
Interesting Links
A lot has been written on the subject of singing and well-being. Here are just a few interesting links to read/watch:
Sidney de Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/sidney-de-haan-research-centre/sidney-de-haan-research-centre.aspx
Telegraph Article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10496056/Choir-singing-boosts-your-mental-health.html
NHS (video in bottom right corner)
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/improve-mental-wellbeing.aspx
Thank-you for coming, today. This session could be a big step to feeling good. This is my favourite subject and I love comments and questions about it. If you have any, please contact me at:
Christine Descher
[email protected]
www.cuckoostudios.com
Shhh, don’t say anything…
‘Keep a stiff upper lip’, ‘man up’, ‘keep calm and carry on’, ‘big girls don’t cry’! there are many phrases that encourage us to bottle up stresses and anxieties.
In the professional world, susceptibility to such perceived weaknesses has been proof that someone could not do their job optimally. Fortunately, many companies are appreciating the benefit of addressing these challenges with the advent of wellness programmes.
There is a way…
Well-being skills are now becoming popular stress and anxiety management techniques: mindfulness, teaching people to ‘be in the moment’ not dwelling on past problems or predicting future ones; exercise, such as walking where the mind and the body have space to re-charge, and yoga, which is based on ancient principles promoting health of mind, body, and spirit. The introduction to well-being skills not only gives people tools to cope with work pressures but encourages a cultural openness and acceptance, all of which creates happier staff and a more effective workforce.
The arts and music are increasingly being used to provide well-being benefits. Christine Descher of Cuckoo Studios who is running this workshop, knows first-hand about the pressures of a busy corporate environment. I trained as a singer and singing teacher at university but then left the profession 10 years later ‘by accident’ and spent 15 years working in IT Security in the Banking environment. I returned to music and now I teach singing at various locations in London and at my home studio in Kent. In a short time, I have seen the benefits of singing for the busy professional person.
However, the evidence is not only anecdotal. There are now many conclusive medical studies which correlate group singing with mental well-being. Singing is the perfect ‘happiness cocktail’ as it raises endorphins - ‘feel good’ hormones and also raises oxytocin – ‘stress relieving’ hormones. And it is fun!
Finding your voice…
Do you sing in the shower or in the car providing those vital backing vocals to pop songs? Would you then sing unaccompanied alone or even in a group? Many people wouldn’t, using the age-old excuse of ‘being completely tone-deaf’. If I had a pound for every person who told me, ‘no one can teach me to sing!’ (They are wrong, by the way!) The cause is lack of confidence which has root causes as varied and numerous as all of us who deal with it.
Many of my students don’t want to be on stage or to perform a solo but what they want to do is immerse themselves in a fun hobby and to gain is confidence and be able to say that satisfying statement ‘I can do that.’ Singing is a great physical workout, too. It promotes better posture, better lung function and lower heart rates. Singers are more confident and fit while having FUN. Win – Win – Win.
Teaching someone to sing whether in a group or as a soloist is more than learning a song or to sing beautifully. It is a holistic process which includes a mind/body/spirit connection which can be achieved just by the act of singing. Singing is an amalgam of many parts:
- Technique – Improves concentration
- Theory - Memory gets a work-out
- Musicality – Creativity at play
- Enthusiasm – An injection of positivity
- Working with others – Team-work and team building
- Listening – Something which always needs tweaking
- Breathing – Promotes calm and lung health
- Community – Gives a sense of belonging
- Confidence – Key to self-esteem
And this is only a short list.
A fun and rewarding way to health and well-being…
What I hoped you gained from today’s session is that learning to sing is an antidote to pressures and stresses caused by a busy life. Also that it enables someone to take a little bit of time out for themselves and build confidence whether individually or with a group of like-minded singers. A singer gains many useful personal skills but professional ones also. And, whether an early beginner or a seasoned veteran, singers get the same benefits from the act of singing!
Interesting Links
A lot has been written on the subject of singing and well-being. Here are just a few interesting links to read/watch:
Sidney de Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/sidney-de-haan-research-centre/sidney-de-haan-research-centre.aspx
Telegraph Article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10496056/Choir-singing-boosts-your-mental-health.html
NHS (video in bottom right corner)
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/improve-mental-wellbeing.aspx
Thank-you for coming, today. This session could be a big step to feeling good. This is my favourite subject and I love comments and questions about it. If you have any, please contact me at:
Christine Descher
[email protected]
www.cuckoostudios.com
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