Singing brings immense joy to many people – but did you know that your passion for singing can also lead to incredible benefits in your physical, emotional, and social health? Here are some reasons why singing is good for you. Enjoy!

Physical Benefits of Singing

Singing strengthens the immune system.

According to scientific research conducted at the University of Frankfurt, singing boosts the immune system. The study included testing professional choir members’ blood before and after an hour-long rehearsal singing Mozart’s “Requiem.” The researchers found that in most cases, the number of proteins in the immune system that function as antibodies, known as Immunoglobulin A, were significantly higher immediately after the rehearsal. The same increases were not observed after the choir members passively listened to music.

Singing is a workout.

For the elderly, disabled, and injured, singing can be an excellent form of exercise. Even if you’re healthy, your lungs will get a workout as you employ proper singing techniques and vocal projections. Other related health benefits of singing include a more muscular diaphragm and stimulated overall circulation. Since you pull in a more significant amount of oxygen while singing than when doing many other types of exercise, some even believe that singing can increase your aerobic capacity and stamina.

Singing improves your posture.

Standing up straight is part of correct technique as you’re singing. As your chest cavity expands and your shoulders and back align, you’re improving your overall posture. So good posture will become a habit with time! 

Singing helps with sleep.

According to a health article in Daily Mail Online, experts believe singing can help strengthen throat and palate muscles, which relieves snoring and sleep apnea. If you’re familiar with these ailments, you know how often it is challenging to get a good night’s sleep!

Psychological & Emotional Benefits of Singing

Singing is a natural anti-depressant.

Singing is known to release endorphins, the feel-good brain chemical that makes you feel uplifted and happy. In addition, scientists have also identified a tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus, which responds to the frequencies created by singing. The response creates an immediate sense of pleasure, regardless of what the singing sounds like. In addition to that, singing can simply take your mind off the day’s troubles and improve your mood.

Singing lowers stress levels

Making music is relaxing. Singing releases stored muscle tension and decreases the levels of a stress hormone, cortisol in your bloodstream.

Singing improves mental alertness.

Improved blood circulation and an oxygenated bloodstream allow more oxygen to reach the brain. This improves mental alertness, concentration, and memory. The Alzheimer’s Society has even established a “Singing for the Brain” service to help people with dementia and Alzheimer’s retain their memories.

Social Benefits of Singing

Singing can widen your circle of friends.

Whether you’re in a choir or simply enjoy singing karaoke with your friends, one of the unexpected health benefits of singing is that it can improve your social life. The bonds you form singing with others can be profound since there’s a level of intimacy naturally involved.

Singing boosts your confidence.

Stage fright is a familiar feeling for new singers. However, performing well and receiving praise from your friends and family may be the key to eventually overcoming your fears and boosting your self-confidence. With time, you may even find it easier to present any type of material in front of a group with poise and good presentation skills.

Singing broadens communication skills.

According to an article in The Guardian, singing to babies helps prepare their brains for language. Music is just as important as teaching reading and writing at a young age to prevent language problems later in life. If you enjoy writing your own lyrics, honing this talent can improve your ability to communicate in different ways!

Singing increases your ability to appreciate other singers

Sometimes, you don’t realize how difficult something is until you try it yourself. As you grow from an amateur to an intermediate student and beyond, you’ll be looking to the masters for inspiration. You might even find a new style of music to appreciate that you wouldn’t usually listen to!

The delights of singing go beyond merely enjoying the beauty of your vocal talent. These health benefits of singing may make you want to join a choir or start taking voice lessons right away! So don’t hesitate to get started – have fun with it, and do what you enjoy!

REFERENCES:

11 Surprising Health Benefits of Singing. (n.d.). TakeLessons. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://takelessons.com/live/singing/health-benefits-of-singingRusso, C. (2018). Health Benefits of Singing. Cristina Russo. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://www.cristinarusso.net/health-benefits-of-singingWhy you should sing more. (2020, June 1). PCEA Nairobi East Presbytery. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from https://pceanairobieastpresbytery.org/why-you-should-sing-more/

What’s the easiest key to sing in? How do you know what the best key is for your voice?As a singer, you’re probably well aware of your vocal range. You feel comfortable singing in a particular key, and you know the high notes and low notes you’re going to struggle with. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you’ll always be limited in your vocal repertoire.If you’re singing with a band, you’re lucky in that you can ask your bandmates to play a song in a different key, resulting in a lot more options for songs to sing!Sometimes, though, finding the appropriate key to sing in can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you through this process of finding the easiest or perfect key to sing in.

Step 1) Determine Your Range

First things first: you’ll need to know the limits of your vocal range. Picking a song that is too low or too high for your voice will feel very uncomfortable for you to sing, and the audience will likely notice your stress. By knowing the general idea of the highest note you can sing and the lowest note you can sing, you right away should be able to tell when looking at a new piece of sheet music if it will sound good within your voice type. If you’re not sure of how to find your vocal range, start off on the piano, singing up and down the scales, and see where you feel comfortable singing!

How to Find Your Vocal Range

Here’s a great video that guides you through the process of finding your range:

Step 2: Test Out Different Keys

Try out a few different keys when singing a new song. Try singing a song in 3 different keys before you make a decision. You can try singing the song in three similar keys, close in pitch, or challenge yourself and try a lower key or a higher key. Sometimes a song may sound more interesting if it is flipped around. Trying something completely different can give the song a fresh, new element. Have fun with this and explore!

Step 3: Listen to the Song

After experimenting with a few different keys, record yourself and listen to how the song sounds.If you can hear yourself feeling and sounding vocally fatigued, perhaps this key is not for you.If you hear yourself missing notes or not quite reaching them, you will want to try a more comfortable key. These are just some of the indicators that will help you when choosing a good key to sing in.Listen to your gut as well; if you are feeling any pain or discomfort when singing a song in a particular key, find a more suitable one. Try going more in-depth with learning about the style of the song you are singing. For example, an opera aria meant for a soprano may not sound the best in a low key like a jazz standard will. For these specific styles, try to stay as true as you can to the song and its original key.Here’s a recap of the steps for finding the right key to sing in:Finding the appropriate key to sing in may take some time and effort, but in the long run it will be worth it! 

https://takelessons.com/live/singing/what-key-should-I-sing-in-z02

5 Important Vocal Health Tips

5 Surprising Things That Affect Your Singing Voice

You’ve practiced for months, and you’re ready to share your music with an audience. But before you step on stage… did you know there are other factors that can affect your performance? Here, online voice teacher Tyler J. shares his tips for getting adequate sleep, what to eat before singing, and more…Being a modern singer can place a lot of demands on the voice. For me, it’s often necessary to sing for two to four hours straight several nights in a row, or even rehearse for long periods of time. Whether you’re a hobbyist who simply loves to sing, a touring artist or band member, a local rocker, a Broadway star, an opera singer, or if you sing in a choir, you know the importance of having a healthy voice that’s ready to deliver an all-star performance every time.In addition to basic vocal health tips such as staying hydrated with at least 64 ounces of water a day, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and properly warming up, here are five things that may have an effect on your voice, for better or worse.

Sleep

Are you getting a full eight hours every night? If not, you may be risking vocal strain and damage. Every night, our bodies require a certain amount of rest to recharge as well as relax, and by day we have to stay focused and energetic to perform. When your body is tired, your voice is tired too, and will be fatigued much faster. Singing while experiencing vocal fatigue will eventually damage your voice, resulting in a lack of clarity, loss of volume, and diminishing tone quality. So make sure to always get a full, restful night of sleep!

Diet

I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that “you are what you eat,” but as a vocalist, you sing what you eat, too! There are certain foods to avoid before singing, ones that seem to impact a singer’s voice more than others, including dairy, spicy foods, fried foods, and anything particularly fatty. Not only can they increase phlegm in your throat, but they can also cause vocal cord inflammation. Vocalists with acid reflux or heartburn should be particularly careful about their diet as well; stomach acid can wreak havoc on your vocal cords. As far as what to eat before singing, stick to fruits and veggies that are rich in nutrients, and lean meats that aren’t fried.

Coffee

Coffee contains caffeine, and while caffeine has a pleasant way of “perking up” the day, it’s a diuretic, which means it’ll dehydrate you and leave you with dry, irritated vocal cords. I know it might be hard for many of us to give up our coffee habits, so if you can’t quit, you should make sure to drink a big glass of water with every cup to compensate for its dehydrating effect.

Clearing Your Throat

Sometimes when you feel extra phlegm in your throat (maybe from eating dairy or spicy food… see number two above) the natural response is to make an “ahem” sound and clear the throat. Of course it may work temporarily, but the actual action of clearing your throat requires that your vocal cords violently smack together! This will cause your vocal cords to swell and lead to a strained sound and vocal fatigue. If you feel as if you need to clear your throat out, resist the urge to do so and try an alternative such as sipping water or caffeine free warm tea. Personally, I’ve always found that drinking tea with a few drops of lemon juice does the job without causing any damage.

Exercise

Every time I start working with a voice student, I insist that he or she starts a workout routine that includes full-body aerobic exercise such as running, swimming, or even walking at a brisk pace. Aerobic exercise not only builds a strong heart and healthy blood circulation, but it helps to expand the lungs and keep the airways clear. As singers we need our lungs to work for us, not against us, and you can increase your lung capacity by getting regular exercise. For best results, aim for getting at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, five or six days a week. Your voice will thank you!Overall if you take anything from this, the key factor is leading a healthy, active lifestyle. If you’re paying attention to what you are putting in your body and getting enough exercise and rest, you will be better prepared to practice, rehearse, and perform. Making healthy choices and getting instruction and working with your vocal coach will undoubtedly help to keep your voice leaving audiences amazed, night after night.

Throat comfort tea 

Non acidic Vitamin C  

Zinc Okinawa

Coral calcium

Chlorophyll (in liquid form) best for healing 

* Vitamin b12 

Vitamin A helps regenerate cells

Protein shakes

Lemon 🍋  

Honey 

Ginger root

Wellness formula ——

Evolution defense up juice (it isn’t non acidic vitamin c- however knocks out whatever is trying to attack your immune system- if you are sick it works wonders to help knock things out- however try not to go overboard on this because it does have quite a bit of sugar and in general you want to stay away from sugar as much as possible)
Super Greens from YOR Health are really great to get your daily dose of all those healthy greens you need as well and are great mixed in with Defense Up or Apple juice

Things to Stay away From

smoking 

alcohol 

caffeine

carbonated drinks  

spicy foods 

sugar