✔️Singing and Health

Question 1

Singing and Heath topics

Answer 1

1 universality of singing
2 three processes of vocal production 
3 study on universality of singing
4 flow
5 Parkinson’s disease
6 group singing and quality of life study
7 improved breathing study
8 SIgA study
9 professional/amateur study
10 is it the singing?

Question 2

Universality and differences

Study

Answer 2

Singing is the most universal musical activity yet the hardest to adjust from one culture to another

(Potter and Sorrell 2012)

Question 3

3 processes of vocal production

Study

Answer 3

Respiration, phonation and articulation

Tan et al. 2010

Question 4

Study on universality of singing

Answer 4

Dalla Bella et al. (2007)

Seems to be widespread skill- study showed that most people can carry a tune

Occasional singers sing in time but with less pitch accuracy- great improvement when asked to slow down

Question 5

Flow

Answer 5

Being fully immersed in present activity

Csik szent mihalyi 1975: flow is optimal psychological state

All unrelated thoughts and emotions seemingly disappear

Benefits include increased motivation and creativity

Question 6

Parkinson’s disease

3 points and 3 corresponding studies

Answer 6

Basic vocal warm ups help improve diaphragm and chest extension
This improves breath depth and stability of posture (Wiens et al. 1999)

Improvement of voice production (Evans et al. 2002)

Psycho social well-being in group context, better acknowledgement and expression of emotions and self (Pacchetti et al. 2000)

Question 7

Group singing & quality of life study

Study + 5 points

Answer 7

Coulton et al 2015

• Aged 60 or over
• Cost effectiveness- social care budget
• Compared with usual methods of trying to improve quality of life in elderly
• 6 months later, quality of life measured, significantly in favour of group singing
• Also found to be more cost effective than usual methods

Question 8

Improved breathing study

2 points

Answer 8

Clift and Hancox 2001

• University choral singers asked benefits of singing
• 41% reported increased control over breathing

Question 9

SIgA following singing study

5 points and associated study

Answer 9

Beck et al 2000

• To determines if there was an increase in SIgA after singing
• SIgA is the body’s first line of defence against respiratory infections
• SIgA was previously found to be connected to positive mood (Pressman and Cohen 2005)
• SIgA only found to be increased in performances, not rehearsals & specific increase when satisfied with a certain performance
• Therefore, satisfaction associated with singing performance found to boost immune system in the short term

Question 10

Effects of singing on professional singers and amateurs

Study
and
3 measurements

Answer 10

Grape et al (2003)

• HRV considered an indicator of cardiac health
• Found greater HRV in professionals than amateurs
• Stress measured by cortisol levels
• Cortisol found to be higher overall in professionals
• Oxytocin has been linked to social bonding
• Increase of oxytocin levels in amateurs

Question 11

Is it the singing?

Answer 11

Group singing involves active participation in a physical, creative and social activity.

Coordinated behaviour may lead to interpersonal emotional regulation- may not be unique to singing (e.g. playing in an instrumental group may have similar effects