Music has always been an integral part of my life. I was an abysmally poor clarinet player, a reasonably good dancer, and a singer with a choir. I was a chorister for five years in school and another five with the Capital City Minstrels (CCM) in Delhi and have been performing in India and abroad for 22 years, with members from across the world. Many of us have experienced how choral singing is more than just singing in unison; it also benefits one’s mind, body and soul.
We have an addictive WhatsApp group, which, apart from inane chatter, features articles on music. On such article had a pictogram that showed the physical benefits of singing, from keeping vocal cords exercised so you sound younger, to getting an oxytocin high (a happy hormone). Another interesting piece was a research by the Tenovus Cancer Centre, which analysed saliva samples of singers with cancer and found that just one hour of choral singing increased levels of immune proteins, reduced stress and improved mood.
It made me think how many singers might have been impacted in similar ways, socially, psychologically and biologically. Many of us have personally experienced the benefits of singing. After losing my father, the devastation and helplessness I felt was savage and relentless. But almost on auto-pilot, I returned to rehearsals soon. The exhilaration that filled me as different voices and parts blended in harmony and the camaraderie of the group gave me peace, joy and stability during the upheaval. Another member referred to a difficult time when she lost her brother, tragically on a rehearsal night. It took her some time to re-join the choir but when she did, she sang her heart out in a cathartic outpouring. She says, “I don’t pray anymore; I sing with my choir.” Returning to the stage a couple of days after losing his father, Neeraj Devraj, another choir member, mentioned how important it was for him to sing with the choir at the time as a tribute to his father.
Others talk about choral singing which has helped them cope with illness or work pressures that result in hypertension, insomnia or stress. Dr. George Mathew, Reader with the Nehru Homeopathic Medical College, describes the rejuvenation he feels after rehearsals as a great stress buster. Another member, whose husband fell ill, joined CCM in the early 2000s and explains that she felt “refreshed and renewed through the songs”.
Yamini Joshi, a musician and music therapist, found singing when she had fallen sick in college and was in need of an anchor. “Having a choir family allows you to share and be surrounded by positivity. I find that the act of going to rehearsal on an evening after work, just brightens my day.”
Choral singing is also a great equalizer. You can be a great soloist, a corporate bigwig or a struggling artist — you sing as one with the rest of your section. Aasish Francis, who describes his job as more of a single contributor in a smaller organisation, feels that being a part of a large choir not only “helps you understand your place as part of a larger whole, but also teaches you to guide and motivate others as they make the same journey.” So while we may not have saliva samples to prove it, most choristers will vouch for the power and healing of singing in unison.
