Singing in groups could make us happier
Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19 all the anxious factors have swirled around, and only a desperate outlook has been spread. But nowadays it seems that the situation is changing little by little. Not to mention the 6th wave, the future transition is still unpredictable, and it is necessary for all of us to take all possible measures to prepare for coping with corona, but in a good sense, while having room in our hearts to enjoy "a new normal." It will also be important to search for a "style." It’s stupid if we lose our physical and mental balance or get other illnesses while being constantly distracted by the corona infection. I will continue to thoroughly implement conventional corona measures such as "wearing a mask," "avoiding the three Cs(closed spaces, crowded spaces, close-contact settings)," and "social distancing," but on the other hand, after taking my own best measures, I hope to resume some of the things I had enjoyed in my daily life.
First of all, it is a reunion with nostalgic friends and acquaintances. It would be great if I could go to Nagoya, which I have never been to with the coronavirus pandemic, and have a drink with my best friends. We have continued to keep in touch with one another on Zoom, but I realized that the taste of draft beer is exceptional only when there is a face-to-face live conversation. Furthermore, I don't know how long it will take but one day we would get together and have fun ... “Singing at Karaoke." I used to belong to the monthly "Karaoke Club," which was organized from some leaders who hold "regular concerts" every year to me, having good time singing together but not really good at it. I always enjoyed listening to the songs of the unique members. The club has been postponed indefinitely due to the corona disaster, so I have completely lost contact with them. I estranged the members as well as karaoke.
Before Corona when karaoke was a part of my daily life, I have never thought about it at all. When life without karaoke has become a normal, I realize how important karaoke was for me. Moreover, I am keenly aware of how it had made my heart stabilized to interact with many members, to sing and listen each own and best repertoire, gradually to increase them, and sometimes to play in medley. At that very moment, I found the following topic on my favorite Internet homepage (Breaking News English). I deeply sympathized with the content and decided to pick it up as the final agenda in 2021. I hope we can exchange unique opinions and experiences about “singing” and "songs."
Researchers have found that singing in groups could have positive effects on reducing anxiety and depression. The research is from the University of East Anglia in the UK, in collaboration with a community singing group called Sing Your Heart Out. A research team conducted the study to examine how singing with other people affects mental health. Researchers followed a group of participants who attended free weekly singing workshops for six months. They discovered that singing in groups was an essential part in helping people recover from mental illness. In addition, it helped people feel valued, enhanced their mood and increased their confidence, social skills and feeling of well-being.
Lead researcher, professor Tom Shakespeare, said: "We found that singing as part of a group contributes to people's recovery from mental health problems." He added that: "All of the participants we spoke to reported positive effects on their mental health as a direct result of taking part in the singing workshops. For some, it represented one component of a wider program of support. For others, it stood out as key to their recovery or maintenance of health." Professor Shakespeare explained: "We heard the participants calling the initiative a life saver and that it saved their sanity." He said: "The key thing for everyone was that the Sing Your Heart Out model induced fun and happiness."
Sources: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-42431430
<Questions>
- What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'sing'?
- Who is your favorite singer, and why?
- What is your favorite song, and why?
- What do you think of karaoke? Did you have any good or bad memories there?
- How might singing improve our mental health?
- Why do we sing? Please talk freely about “singing” and "songs."
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