“Who here has been told they can’t sing?” I asked when I ran my first Sing Social session in Wolverhampton. Around 80% of hands went up.
I followed up with “and who has been told they shouldn’t sing?” and there was a depressingly high number of hands still in the air.
I firmly believe that singing is a human right and nobody should feel that they aren’t allowed to do it, and it’s not just fun, it’s also really good for you.
Why it works
A University of East Anglia study followed a community singing group for six months and found that people who took part maintained or improved their mental health, with singing and socialising together creating a lasting sense of belonging.
Other studies show that singing improves memory, posture, self-expression and even lung function.
Singing isn’t a cure for illness or mental health problems, nor a replacement for professional support, but it is an affordable, accessible activity that has been shown to work.
Not just another choir
I love choirs, and some of our regulars sing in them too, but traditional choirs are built around performance: auditions, parts to learn, a concert to prepare for. That can be off-putting to anyone who hasn’t sung anywhere except in the shower.
That’s where Sing Social is different. It started in Nottingham just a year or so ago and now has 36 locations across the country. There are no auditions, no concerts, no sheet music, just songs that make you feel good. All participants need to do is turn up and enjoy themselves.
The ethos
During sessions, I say you can sing whatever notes you like, if they are the “right” ones, great, if not, who cares if you have a smile on your face.
We have become a group of friends who meet every week, have a laugh and do some singing.
Our imperfections are what make us perfect and we celebrate them at every session. It’s the highlight of my week and seeing how my group’s confidence has grown over the last few months gives me great joy and pride.
So the next time someone says you can’t (or shouldn’t) sing, I say sing louder, so the people in the back can hear that everyone’s voice is valid and valuable.
Find out more about the organisation - https://singsocial.co/