Choir archive

NOTES FROM THE ORGANIST

Brits find comfort in singing...

Research commissioned by The Royal Voluntary Service in support of it's Sing your heart out fund raising campaign suggests that over 2.8 million British people are currently in a choir or singing group around the UK, and that numbers are growing. With 58% of the population admitting to enjoying singing and 41% having been in a choir at some point in their lives, over the past 5 years there has been a vast increase of choirs of all types.

According to John Pearson, Chief Operating Officer of RVS "Working with choirs and celebrating the power of singing was a natural choice for this campaign. Music and singing can have such a great impact on the life of an older person*. We've seen this at first hand through the work of our volunteers and how it can be a powerful tool when dealing with dementia, as well as simply lifting spirits."

(Extracted from "Choir and Organ" November/December 2015)

*A footnote from Mike...

Personal experience, aside from current research evidence, suggests that music making, including singing, amongst children and young people, enhances academic potential and performance.

Do you enjoy singing?

St Mary’s, Mellor, needs you!

Who can join the choir?

· Children from 6 years of age

· Adults who enjoy singing

What will you be singing?

· A wide range of music to suit all tastes

What are the benefits?

· Free musical training

· Enjoyment

· Personal development*

· Regular social activities

· Payments for young choristers singing at weddings

When and where do we meet?

· Wednesday evenings in church from 7 to 8.30 p.m.

How do I join?

Contact the Organist and Choirmaster

Mike Wilcock

· at church after Sunday services or before choir practice on Wednesdays

· by ‘phone on 01254 581816

· by email lizwilcock@fsmail.net

We look forward to meeting you!

* A page for parents ...

SINGING AIDS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

· Singing causes the brain to perform multiple tasks at once. This helps to develop the memory. From remembering lyrics to remembering a cue to start singing, the brain learns to be able to handle more tasks that it is required to perform simultaneously.

· Singing encourages deep breathing, thus getting more oxygen to the brain

· Singing teaches opposites, from fast and slow to loud and quiet. A child will learn to be able to differentiate between opposite tasks.

· Singing gets the endorphins flowing in the brain. This causes the body to feel good and increases the brain’s activity

· It helps a child to learn to concentrate on a task

· It will help to develop a child’s imagination and creativity

SINGING AIDS LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

There are many parts to a child’s language development that singing helps to develop.

· Self expression

· Vocal imitation

· It gives self confidence and helps aid a child in wanting to communicate with others

· It helps to strengthen the lips and tongue through exercise, which is then stored through muscle memory

· It helps a child to speak more clearly and helps to teach a greater variety of vocabulary

· It helps a child to learn how to keep rhythm and learn how to rhyme words

· Children learn the importance of listening in order to learn their favourite songs. They learn how to enjoy listening to things and how to think about things while they listen.

· Being part of a group or choir can give children a feeling of belonging and can help them to make friends