[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/emotions-and-bone\/tune-up-your-health-with-singing\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/emotions-and-bone\/tune-up-your-health-with-singing\/","headline":"Tune up your health with singing in groups","name":"Tune up your health with singing in groups","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest [av_image src=’https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/health-benefits-singing-in-groups-BB-Blog-4-20-1030×539.jpg’ attachment=’89184692′ attachment_size=’large’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ copyright=” animation=’no-animation’ av_uid=’av-k94ibbw7′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”][\/av_image] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-1w9ths’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”] There was a time a few years back when I felt isolated and a little bored \u2014 […]","datePublished":"2016-07-26","dateModified":"2026-04-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/health-benefits-singing-in-groups-BB-Blog-4-20.jpg","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/health-benefits-singing-in-groups-BB-Blog-4-20.jpg","height":1109,"width":2120},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/emotions-and-bone\/tune-up-your-health-with-singing\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM","name":"How singing together changes the brain: Tania de Jong AM\u00a0at TEDxMelbourne","description":"Tania de Jong AM\u00a0makes the case that people singing together can change the brain. Pushing the idea that creativity is the strategic tool of the 21st century, she says how our voices have been silenced and that it's not doing us any good. She explains how singing is a survival mechanism, how it makes our hearts beat together and can help heal strokes and depression. \n\nWith singing, and the potential she believes it has, Tania dedicates herself to enhancing and promoting ingenuity and founded Creativity Australia and Creative Universe to do so. As a leading Australian soprano and through 'With One Voice', Tania works with disadvantaged communities. In 2008 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the arts and for the establishment and development of arts enrichment programs for schools and communities.\n\nConnect with Tania:\nTw: @TaniadeJong\nFB: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/taniadjongam\nLn: http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/taniadejong\nG+: https:\/\/plus.google.com\/102004449932208558046\/posts\n\nTEDxMelbourne brings a diverse group of people together to share ideas, knowledge and inspiration through a series of events throughout the year.\n\nVisit our site: http:\/\/tedxmelbourne.com \nLike us on Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TEDxMelbourne\nFollow us on Twitter: http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/tedxmelbourne\nFollow us on Pinterest: http:\/\/pinterest.com\/tedxmelbourne\/\nFollow us on Instagram: http:\/\/instagram.com\/tedxmelbourne\/\nView photos on Flickr: http:\/\/www.\ufb02ickr.com\/photos\/tedxmelbourne\n\nAbout TEDx, x = independently organized event\n\nIn the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* \n(*Subject to certain rules and regulations)","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/I_HOBr8H9EM\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/I_HOBr8H9EM\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/I_HOBr8H9EM\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/I_HOBr8H9EM\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/I_HOBr8H9EM\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2013-12-19T04:22:58+00:00","duration":"PT19M51S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I_HOBr8H9EM","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCsT0YIqwnpJCM-mx7-gSA4Q#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCsT0YIqwnpJCM-mx7-gSA4Q","name":"TEDx Talks","description":"TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere -- celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED's format and rules.\n\nFor more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request here: https:\/\/media-requests.ted.com.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/1gDPO-4YPWFErfn3yQBnv0yxpkmiud1m5CrorApkOqUYdNd9FrZQ9xB9C9VmDt4EsgArnlwqAQc=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":149327}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I_HOBr8H9EM#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1520}]},"about":["Emotions & Bone"],"wordCount":562,"keywords":["cortisol","total health","social network"],"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t[av_image src=’https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/health-benefits-singing-in-groups-BB-Blog-4-20-1030×539.jpg’ attachment=’89184692′ attachment_size=’large’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ copyright=” animation=’no-animation’ av_uid=’av-k94ibbw7′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”][\/av_image][av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-1w9ths’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]There was a time a few years back when I felt isolated and a little bored \u2014 so I shelved my concern about being anything but \u201cmusically gifted\u201d and joined our local Community Choir. After just a few weeks I found myself bonding with all sorts of people beyond my usual circle. My spirits soared and my heart opened as we sang joyful, inspirational songs calling for compassion and justice.Singing in the choir has so expanded and brightened my life, I couldn\u2019t resist seeing if it offered documented health benefits. Sure enough, there is a body literature explaining just why we feel so good when we sing together \u2014 and I don\u2019t need to remind regular readers how happiness and whole-body health support your bones.Here\u2019s the data\u2026maybe it will encourage you to sign up and sing along!Documented health benefits of singing in groups:Enhancement of positive immune factors. Research documented a 150% increase in the protective secretary immunoglobulin A during rehearsals and a 240% increase during performance.Improved lung function, breathing awareness, and memory training \u2014 all skills needed for singing, but beneficial to all aspects of physical and mental health.Spiritual uplift and enhancement of psychological well-being, leading to a substantial reduction in the stress hormones. One study reported a 30% reduction in cortisol level during rehearsals and a 37% reduction during performance.Neurological changes have been documented in groups of singers working together. Two amazing videos (when you have time) are this clip from singer Bobby McFerrin\u2019s World Science Festival panel and a longer clip\u00a0 about how singing together improves health.Enhanced social interaction promoting \u201ctogetherness\u201d based on a common experience, especially if the choir is an inclusive, community-based organization. Singers\u2019 self-reported group cohesion is even greater than that reported in sports teams.These are just a few high notes \u2014 but personally, I wouldn\u2019t miss a practice, and concerts are magically uplifting.\u00a0 Why not give singing a try and let me know your checklist of benefits!References:Beck, R. J., T. C. Cesario, A. Yousefi and H. Enamoto (2000). “Choral Singing, Performance Perception, and Immune System Changes in Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Cortisol.” Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal 18(1): 87-106.Kreutz, G., S. Bongard, S. Rohrmann, V. Hodapp and D. Grebe (2004). “Effects of choir singing or listening on secretory immunoglobulin A, cortisol, and emotional state.” J Behav Med 27(6): 623-635.Johnson, J. K., J. Louhivuori, A. L. Stewart, A. Tolvanen, L. Ross and P. Era (2013). “Quality of life (QOL) of older adult community choral singers in Finland.” Int Psychogeriatr 25(7): 1055-1064.Stewart, N. A. J. and A. J. Lonsdale (2016). “It\u2019s better together: The psychological benefits of singing in a choir.” Psychology of Music.Clift, S. M. and G. Hancox (2001). “The perceived benefits of singing: findings from preliminary surveys of a university college choral society.” J R Soc Promot Health 121(4): 248-256.[\/av_textblock]Stress also depletes key nutrients \u2014 read about how nutrients support bone health under stress."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Emotions And Bone","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/emotions-and-bone\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Tune up your health with singing in groups","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/emotions-and-bone\/tune-up-your-health-with-singing\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]