Singing in the choir at Christmas may have more benefits than you realise 

Singing is something most of do at some point in our lives – whether as a child at school, on impulse at a party, at important ceremonies, or humming in the shower. But it is also something we can do to boost our health. Christmas is a lovely time to sing.

I have been singing in the choir at St Michael’s Church in Blackrock for over 20 years. I am not the most reliable attender and absolutely never sing in public on my own, but singing in harmony with a group is something almost anyone can do and reaps multiple benefits to heart, soul, and mind.

Studies have shown that belting out a tune and singing in a choir can boost your mood and your immunity, lower your blood pressure, and reduce feelings of chronic pain.

Research also shows singing could have similar effects to cannabis without the risk of long-term side effects. Endocannabinoids, a newly-discovered class of chemical compounds naturally found in the body, have similar components to the cannabis plant. A study involving a group of women over 50 found singing in a choir increased levels of endocannabinoids in their blood by a whopping 42%.

Further experiments in 2018 by the late TV journalist and medical doctor Michael Mosley confirmed the impact of choir-singing on endocannabinoid levels.

He invited the UK Rock Choir to join up with his BBC programme Trust Me I’m A Doctor to take part in an experiment led by Nottingham University. They were asked to take part in cycling and dancing, then a choir session, while being monitored and tested for each activity.

Although cycling and dancing released feel-good chemicals in Rock Choir members, singing released 20% more - proving a group singing session offers the best chance to experience a feel- good high at the end of a session.

Being a long-term member of a choir, I had no idea it was cannabis-like substances released from my brain that had caused me to stick with it for so long. I do know that, with four small children, I would often go out to choir tearing my hair out and return two hours later with calm and positivity restored.

Studies have also reported increases of oxytocin - a social bonding hormone - which may explain why singing in a group is such a good ice-breaker. The natural high it gives may also help with pain relief. Many people living with chronic pain report that regular singing means they need fewer painkillers.

Another surprising finding is that singing in a group, even for an hour, can boost your immune system. A 2004 study compared the impact of singing with listening to music, and found that those who sang had higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody released as a first line of defence for the immune system.

Just single sessions in a choir can lead to reductions in chronic inflammation – improving our immune system’s ability to fight infections.

Singing has also been found to help people with mental health conditions. A study among women with post-natal depression found those participating in singing programmes reduced their symptoms by 40% in just a few weeks.

Singing can have a range of psychological and biological benefits. It can boost self-confidence and reduce loneliness and anxiety. While my husband starts chuckling and shaking his head when I sing at home, my fellow choir members are always very encouraging.

Feedback from your choir is great for confidence and self-esteem. Nobody laughs and shakes their head when I sing in the choir.

Added to that, being surrounded by seasoned singers helps everyone hit the right note and stay with it. The key is to keep listening rather than forging ahead. Singing in unison is a great way to develop a better sense of pitch and rhythm. Some of us are born to sing – for others practice and listening makes a huge difference.

The power of group singing can be quite emotional, this is especially true with spiritual or religious music. Christmas is one of my favourite times to sing with the choir – with all those old-fashioned carols and many new ones - reliving the joy and nostalgia of seasons past as well as that sense of wonder that makes Christmas so special.

When you sing in a choir, you are working with others to create something beautiful and harmonious. This teaches you the importance of teamwork and co-operation. In order for the choir to be successful, everyone needs to work together, to listen to each other, to build each other’s voices up and to blend seamlessly.

In a world where there is so much talk but few take the time to listen and communicate clearly, this is a skill that can translate into so many other aspects of our lives.

But what makes the choir is the women themselves. For many years, we have sung in St Michael’s Church almost every Sunday. We are extremely fortunate to have the former Cork International Choral Festival Director, John Fitzpatrick, and his wife Jane as the driving forces behind it.

Over that time, we have sung most Sundays, organised coffee and cake for visiting choirs, supported celebrity guest singers including the wonderful Cara O’Sullivan, had regular social outings, and very occasionally travelled abroad. There have been one or two medical emergencies in the choir loft, we have sung a final farewell to some of our members, and supported each other as our children grew into fully-fledged adults.

A couple of times a year there is tea and cake. This is a Sunday afternoon devoted to home baking, lots of tea and coffee and stories. Sometimes it is in the garden in blistering sunshine, others in the kitchen with wind and rain howling outside. Now it is in front of a roaring fire with mince pies and fairy lights.

John Fitzpatrick, the only male, has the job of playing the organ, organising the itinerary, teaching us new material, keeping us together and in tune, ensuring we turn up on time and halting the chatter. Occasionally cracking the whip, he manages to keep us in line, keep the organ pitch perfect, and deliver something special on almost every occasion.

The evidence shows even five minutes of singing can have a wealth of benefits. You might find doing it at the same time each day is a good way to cement a routine. Another option is to join a choir that provides the social support to stick with the habit and keep it up.

Singing is simple, free, and has so many benefits.

This Christmas, sing without shame with an open heart and a listening ear – in the church, on the stage, around the piano, in the shower, boiling the kettle, or to little children or grandchildren, as they leave the day beyond and drift off into a world of dreams.