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Evidence – The positive impact of singing

Singing for Mental Wellbeing

When we sing, the body has an actual chemical response which makes us feel better. We release endorphins – giving us that ‘feel good’ factor, oxytocin – the hormone released when we hug, which helps with social bonding and Dopamine – linked to that shiver-down-the-spine feeling. Singing has also been shown to reduce the body’s level of Cortisol – the stress hormone.

Singing for mental health & wellbeing; Sidney De Haan

Can singing in a choir make me healthier?; BBC

Choral Singing & Psychological wellbeing; Journal of Applied Arts & Health

The Psychological Benefits of Participating in group singing for members of the general public; Edith Cowan University 

Singing for Cancer

Singing modulates mood, stress, cortisol, cytokine & neuropeptide activity in cancer patients; ecancer medical science

Singing for Breathing

Singing for Lung Health; Primary Care Respiratory Medicine

General Wellbeing

Music, Singing & Wellbeing; What Works Wellbeing

What you can learn from being in a choir; Huffington Post

The health benefits of singing; Gramophone

Singing Changes Your Brain

Nissan

A member of my team suggested we use ‘Shared Harmonies’ for a work event to build relationships amongst the group. Honestly speaking, I was a bit nervous about the reaction we would get trying to convince 30 people that singing would help to inspire teamwork. I needn’t have been! Emma was fantastic at encouraging everyone to participate. The event was well received, engaging and a lot of fun! Comments from the team included: “It helped me see that when the team come together, we can make great things happen”, “I want to start every day with the positivity I feel now” and “Today, I’ve learned something new about people I have worked with for years”. Thank you so much for a brilliant session; Shared Harmonies is highly recommended by Nissan.

Nissan

Rachel Turgoose, Senior Controller, Production Control, Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
Bradford College

As a Senior Leadership Team we work so hard and have many different challenges and thought it would be really good to do some team-building exercises. It provided a real bond for the group. You could see at the end the group really trusting each other and expressing their voices. To see colleagues who you normally see across a boardroom letting themselves go was good fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so I might even join a singing group. We all came away feeling much happier and we valued each other’s contribution to the teamwork

Bradford College

Principle & Senior Manager, Bradford College
Northern Monk

“We invited Emma to run a workshop at our annual general meeting with our entire staff. We kept it a complete secret from everyone, to get the full enjoyment of seeing the looks on everyone’s faces when Emma told them that we were going to sing together! Emma has this incredible ability to win people over, through the warm up you’re gradually singing together and not even aware what you’re actually doing, next thing you know you’re singing in 4 piece harmony! It was really powerful, to get everyone together and create something like that. To sing out at the top of your voice you have to have full trust that your team are going to do it with you, it was really emotive. We had so much fun and I believe it’s had a lasting impact on our team.

Northern Monk

Brewery Manager
Hermes

Shared Harmonies was invited along to our half year sales meeting to support a team networking activity, With new members of the team present it was a great opportunity to get to know people and break down barriers. Emma built up trust within the group that allowed everyone to relax and join in the session. It showed the true value of putting trust in someone and that person ensuring they maintain your trust by encouraging you to try new things but not force it.
The session really made people sit up and think that individually they are good but together they can make an amazing team. Everyone really enjoyed this activity and buzzing after the event. Thanks to Emma and the amazing work she continues to deliver.

Hermes

Hermes Manager
MMU

As part of the MMU staff wellbeing initiative we wanted an activity and something different that would offer some light relief and fun at the end of the day, we wanted to include everyone and thought about several options before coming up with ‘ singing’ which is known to enhance good health, be great fun and bring a whole new social network! Emma’s ‘Shared Harmonies’ approach to an all-inclusive choir that absolutely anyone can join (with no auditions or ability to read music) to come along and sing each week is just perfect for MMU and has proven to be hugely popular and a great success. Emma herself enthuses confidence, fun and easily within moments has everyone smiling and singing! For those curious, or unsure – I would HIGHLY recommend it. Not only for your own benefit and wellbeing, but also to support a fantastic cause in Shared Harmonies.

MMU

Right Fuel Card Company

The workshop delivered by Shared Harmonies was a really great experience. Going out of your comfort zone can be a real challenge, but as soon we got going, we enjoyed every single moment of it! The exercise requires you to work in small groups, whilst knowing that you’re part of something larger and making an impact on the overall performance. It was amazing what we achieved as a group in a fairly short space of time – and very few of us could sing! A liberating experience and one we’d definitely recommend for teams and businesses to have some fun whilst doing something constructive towards team spirit.

Right Fuel Card Company

Director
Pinsent Masons

We found your session very valuable, your passion inspiring and think you are supporting a very good cause.

Pinsent Masons

Manager
Common Purpose

The process which Shared Harmonies designed for us was very effective, probably one of the best creative sessions we have had on Common Purpose. It exceeded our brief in terms of how quickly she made participants willing and able to get out of their comfort zone. Participants loved the facilitator and we will definitely make more use of Shared Harmonies on our courses.

Common Purpose

Senior Programme Director
Sinai Synagogue

Shared Harmonies provided an afternoon’s team building for the trustees of my synagogue in the form of a singing workshop. The workshop started with eight timid Brits not wanting to sing, and ended in a beautiful round of harmony singing and everyone amazed at what they achieved.
It was a beautiful, creative and effective team building event, and all down to the facilitators skills

Sinai Synagogue

Senior Board Member

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