Joining a choir the pitch perfect way to improve wellbeing

New research shows that people who sing in choirs report significant higher levels of wellbeing, says Ruth O’Connor.

A new body of research announced last week reveals the overwhelmingly positive feeling that people get from singing in choirs — that singing in a choir impacts positively on their physical, social and emotional well being and suggests the potential of choirs to improve wellbeing in settings from nursing homes to educational institutions.

“Sing Yourself Better: the health and well-being benefits of singing” research carried out by Hilary Moss, Jessica O’Donoghue and Julie Lynch at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance is the largest study of singers’ own perceptions of the health benefits of singing in a choir taking in 1,170 respondents from 14 countries including 900 respondents from Ireland.