In Praise of Choral Singing
How choral singing can boost our mental health, build our social networks, and help our communities.
There is something about the weekly routine of heading to choir rehearsal and evensong on a Sunday afternoon that sets me up for the upcoming week in the best way possible. The choral evensong tradition is steeped in ritual. While I wouldn’t say I’m a religious person, I have an immense appreciation for the familiar format of the service, the time for reflection it provides, and the formulaic order of the musical interludes. It is rare in modern life that we are encouraged to slow down in this way, to engage collectively in a shared routine.
In psychology, the term ‘flow state’ is used to describe the experience of being absorbed in an engaging task, losing any sense of time and self-consciousness that might otherwise be held. Choral singing, for me, is an easy way of reaching this flow state. It requires just the right level of challenge to maintain focus on the music, for complete absorption. It is an immensely enjoyable way to spend time, and has been shown to promote psychological health and wellbeing.
I moved to London in 2019 knowing only a couple of people. I have never felt lonely during my time here. I put this down in part to the connections I made when I joined my evensong choir a couple of weeks after I made the move. The tiny interactions with people in your section during rehearsals, and at the pub after, can blossom into the most lovely friendships, rooted in a shared passion. Not only does choral singing promote connection, but it has also been shown to strengthen community ties, in turn promoting economic growth. A study by Robert Putman found a strong connection between the number of choral societies in Italian states, and their economic growth, theorising that such growth was aided by the social accountability that community singing promotes among its participants.
Of course, all these benefits aren’t only to be found in choral singing. Any group based activity that encourages a shared routine, flow state and a common goal, is likely to be just as effective in promoting positive mental health outcomes. So go and join that sports team, art class or choir. It might be the best thing you ever do.
