A few years ago, Svend Brown attended a public singing session led by inspirational choirmaster Stephen Deazley. What he saw convinced him of the extraordinarily positive effects singing can have on health and wellbeing.
“Over the course of that evening, I saw people coming in after a busy day and initially being quite closed off and tired. But by the end of the session, I saw people walking out of there laughing, shouting and talking to each other, meeting new people and just having a brilliant time,” said Svend.
Flash forward to today, and Svend and Stephen are working together to offer the people of the UK the chance to open their lungs and feel the benefits of harmonious singing.
As director of the Big Big Sing – a central part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games cultural programme – Svend is rolling out a series of free public singing days across the nation. And as the homeland of the 2014 games, Scotland will be the first country to take part in the singing days, which includes one held at Aberdeen’s Music Hall on Saturday, March 8.
For Svend, encouraging people to take part in something which may be a completely alien experience is all about keeping it as inclusive as possible.
“You can’t say to people ‘just join a choir’ in the abstract,” he explained. “So we wanted this to be fun and completely accessible for people who want to just try it out. To join in the singing days, you don’t need to be a member of a choir, to be able to read music or have any formal training.”
On the day, participants will be handed out free t-shirts before jumping straight into the activities. They will take part in a series of workshops, such as learning some traditional songs from across the Commonwealth, and bringing them together in a performance for each other.
Above all, Svend hopes that those taking part will realise how the simple act of singing can lift their mood.
He said: “If you’re singing in a choir, it changes your mental outlook. That’s because you’re not thinking about yourself – you’re thinking about yourself and a whole group of other people. So you forget about yourself, and that’s one of the most stress-busting, relaxing things you can possibly do. Singing in a choir puts you in a different place.”
There are also plenty of well-researched physiological benefits to singing which participants can take away with them. Whether it’s increasing lung capacity, soothing babies with lullabies, boosting immune systems, calming snoring, or helping dementia sufferers to temporarily regain lost memories, singing is a holistic therapy.
It’s also a powerful tool in the fight against social isolation.
“Singing is the cheapest and most effective way of bringing people together,” said Svend. “You don’t need to have anything but to be able to fill your lungs and vocal chords. Any group of people can get together without knowing each other. Being in a choir just gives people human contact.”
With such strong messages at its heart, Svend hopes that each Big Big Sing day will be packed with participants. And the high interest from the public already would suggest this will be the case.
Svend said: “It’s something you should do for yourself. It’s just like running a marathon or a 10k – you will definitely feel the benefits afterwards.”
The Big Big Sing Day at Aberdeen’s Music Hall will take place on Saturday, March 8. To find out more about the event, or about the entire project, visit www.bigbigsing.org.
Members of Aberdeen Choral Society have already signed up for the Big Big Sing Day. The group, pictured, which meets each Monday at Queen’s Cross Church, performs at key points throughout the year, including its forthcoming concert of Dvorak’s Requiem at the Music Hall on March 25.
The society was founded in 1947, and in the years following, members have enjoyed the benefits of being part of a choir, ranging from health improvements to community spirit.
Tom Walker, 67, has suffered for years from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but since joining the choir three years ago, his health has improved significantly.
“When I went back to the respiratory clinic recently, they told me there had been a 15% improvement. The nurse was speechless.”
Kirsten Smith, 25, joined the group three years ago when she moved from Lossiemouth.
“I think singing with a group is very different from by yourself. You are part of a community, and it feels like you’re experiencing something together.”
James Cowan, 28, credits the choral society as helping him work through personal issues, including problems with alcohol.
“It’s because of the friendliness of the whole committee. Many members have supported me from going downhill. It’s given me a lot of positives, and helped me be out and about, rather than in hiding and isolated.”
Rita Esson, 71, who was brought up in a musical family, has been a member for 36 years.
“I’ve sung for a long time and it’s really important to me. It’s something I love doing, and makes me feel good – I definitely go home happy after a rehearsal.”