Don't give up singing—research shows that we need it

Singing releases happy hormones, reduces stress hormones and strengthens muscles and bones. You improve your posture when standing and singing, whether in a choir, at school or at home in the shower. When you hear someone sing, it makes you feel happy too. This is supported by research conducted by Professor Anne Haugland Balsnes, most recently in a chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Community Singing.

Balsnes, a music professor at the University of Agder, encourages singing with young children, in schools and letting song accompany you through life.

"The voice is the only instrument that's part of your body. We're all born with a voice that can easily harmonize with others. Young children sing spontaneously; it's an innate part of being human. Singing simply brings happiness. But it needs nurturing, otherwise, it fades away," she says.

Even though singing offers many practical benefits, Balsnes believes the most important thing is that singing, as a human and aesthetic form of expression, holds intrinsic value.

Voice shame and singing confidence

It's unfortunately not uncommon to experience voice shame. You might feel your voice isn't good enough and therefore hold back from singing. We encounter music and singing in various settings, which often leads us to compare ourselves to others. According to Balsnes, many people struggle to distinguish between having a performer's voice and simply joining in with group singing.

"The opposite of voice shame is what I call singing confidence—being comfortable enough with your voice to start a song among friends or join in with group singing," she says.

Enhancing language skills and concentration

Singing can be used in learning. Students might sing multiplication tables or songs about the community. When you learn songs with varied phrases and sentence structures, it helps you understand sentence structure. It's a clever way to learn a language because it's easier to learn a song than to memorize a text or speak.

Balsnes has studied singing in schools and believes it helps improve concentration.

"When a lesson starts with singing, students have a shared focus," she says.

However, her research shows that singing is less common in schools today. Music is no longer a compulsory part of teacher training and must be chosen as a major subject. Singing also doesn't feature prominently in the national curriculum.

"I see that schools often rely on a few passionate individuals. That's why there's a lot of variation in how much singing happens from one school to another. And if such a teacher leaves, there might not be anyone to take over," she says.

She believes there's quite a bit of singing in music lessons and at larger gatherings, usually led by music teachers, but there seems to be less singing in regular classrooms. Sometimes it's due to voice shame, but it can also be because teachers aren't used to it if they didn't have it in their training.

"If you go through school without singing and then start teacher training, chances are you won't learn much about singing there either. When you eventually start teaching, you naturally won't sing. It becomes a vicious circle," she says.

In her surveys, few teachers express negativity towards singing, but many don't feel confident enough to sing themselves. Often, when teachers need music, they resort to karaoke versions on YouTube.

Singing unites

To Balsnes, singing isn't about meeting quality standards; it's about community and traditions. It's tied to cultural heritage, self-expression and communicating emotions, though focusing on quality still holds value.

"We sing at football matches, parties and religious events. And of course on Constitution Day! Singing is essential here, as we must be able to join in singing national anthems together. Losing this communal bond would be very sad. We need songs for celebrations and gatherings, in both sorrow and joy, and singing helps to shape identity," she says.

Choirs—a great place to connect

"I like to call choir singing the sound of community. You can hear that people collaborate and blend their different voices," she says.

As a researcher, Balsnes has interviewed many choir singers in various life situations, including those with chronic illnesses, refugees and pensioners.

"Some I interviewed, who had chronic illnesses and could no longer work, valued the sense of community. Other choir members became like colleagues, and the choir became a place where they weren't just patients. Singing doesn't necessarily cure illness, but it nurtures the healthy part of a person. Participating in a choir can also prevent loneliness," she says.

Many people appreciate having a regular activity to attend, and for some, it feels like a haven and a revitalizing experience. Being part of a choir provides something to look forward to, especially when rehearsing for concerts, and it offers opportunities to make new friends. However, it's crucial to have good leadership, an inclusive environment and a suitable repertoire. Not every choir suits everyone; you need to find one that matches your level and interest.

Singing and dementia

Many people watched NRK's series Demenskoret [The dementia choir] and saw the joy that singing brought to the choir members. Dementia does not affect the part of the brain where songs are stored, allowing those with dementia to remember songs they learned before the onset of the illness. If singing is to be a resource in the later stages of life and when dementia strikes, you need to start while young.

"I usually tell my students that their homework is to reach out to their grandparents and discover at least one song they cherish. Then, you should learn that song so you can enjoy it together," says Balsnes.