It's a new year! Like many others, you might be experiencing these signs of needing something new in your life. Could choir be the cure?
Read more to find out!
1. You're feeling stressed or anxious.
No lie. Several studies demonstrating the effects of music on your overall physical and mental well-being seem to indicate that singing (and particularly singing in a choir) enhances your quality of life and reduces stress and anxiety.
2. You're feeling lonely.
Research suggests that singing in a choir can help you feel included, socially connected, and feel a sense of belonging which also contributes to your overall well-being.
I'm not promising that joining a choir is going to give you the friendship equivalent of this^ Central Perk crew (because F.R.I.E.N.D.S. isn't real life, okay?!)... but it's definitely going to help you meet new people and forge meaningful connections along the way.
3. Your brain needs a good challenge.
I'm not necessarily claiming that singing in a choir is going make you Einstein or anything. But making music requires complex brain functions which not only help develop specific areas of the brain but also enhance cognitive functions. Skip the mind challenge apps and learn how to make music instead!
4. You're lacking culture in your life.
Brahms, Bach, or Beethoven - who are these guys? Is clapping between movements acceptable? What's a movement? Join a choir and you'll find out. You're sure to be cultured AF in no time!
5. You want to be better at your job.
Being a part of a community arts program helps foster creativity and teamwork in individuals, critical skills in today's workplace. Both lend themselves to enhanced problem solving abilities, making you better and more efficient at your job.
If you experience one or more of these signs, my prescription to you: join a choir. Take one rehearsal a week for the foreseeable future. I promise you, it's an easy pill to swallow!
Tori Cook is the former Director of Sales & Marketing at Chorus Connection, an active board member of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium, and a soprano with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. In a past life, she was the Music Director of the Harborlight Show Chorus and President of Chorus pro-Musica. When not making music, she daydreams about adopting a golden retriever puppy and scuba diving to exotic locations around the world.