Can Singing Make You Happy?

I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free!

Those are the lyrics from the song, "I Sing Because I'm Happy." Often times when I'm at home I'll start singing and my children will ask/tell/shout for me to stop. My response is always, "I sing because I'm happy."

An Australian study done in 2017 had some interesting findings as revealed through an article written for the The Tabernacle Choir blog.

From the blog:

A study published in Australia compares the deep breathing aspect of singing to an aerobic activity, giving the body more oxygen in the blood, which improves our overall mood by releasing endorphins. Also, the concentration required in singing reduces the stress of having to worry about the problems we face on a daily basis, such as money or work stress. “Learning is also part of the process -- learning new songs, new harmonies, new methods of keeping tempo. Learning has long been known to keep brains active and fend off depression, especially in older people.”

The study revealed good news for choral singers: “On average, choral singers rated their satisfaction with life higher than the public -- even when the actual problems faced by those singers were more substantial than those faced by the general public.” Making a connection between the social aspect of singing and happiness, the article suggests “The support system of being part of a group, and the commitment to that group that gets people out of the house and into the chorus every week -- these are benefits that are specific to group singing. And they seem to be a big component of why choral singers tend to be happier than the rest of us.”

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How often are you singing?

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