Folkestone Seminar Explains How Choral Singing Boosts Health And Well Being, Folkestone, UK
April 7th, 2008 | by admin |Choral singing has a profound and positive effect on health and well being, according to Dr Maria Sandgren, who will present her findings on Tuesday 29th April in Folkestone.
Dr Sandgren’s seminar, entitled ‘Singing, Stress and the Endocrine System’, is free of charge to the public. It takes place between 1pm and 3pm at the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, which is situated at the new University Centre Folkestone, Mill Bay, Folkestone.?
Dr Sandgren will draw upon her research into solo and choral singing and look at how intimately emotions, self-esteem and vocal performance are connected to singers.? She will also discuss the importance of singing on health and well being - both for amateur and professional singers.
Dr Sandgren, a registered psychologist from the University of Stockholm, Sweden, explained: “Choral singing has a long tradition in Sweden and one out of five people sing in a choir.? I found that, although choristers participate in the same rehearsal, their level of well being might differ depending on gender, health status and choir level.? Results indicated that choral singing had strong effects on the well being in that positive emotions increased significantly and, in turn, negative emotions radically subsided.? In conclusion, I found that choral singers, particularly women, are happier, more alert and relaxed after a rehearsal.”
Dr Sandgren will also present her dissertation entitled: ‘Becoming and being an opera singer: personality, health and skill’, which found that vocal expression had multiple meanings for an opera singer.? According to Dr Sandgren, vocal expression gave them the opportunity to perform in front of an audience; it displayed their professional competence; it improved their singing technique; it was an indicator of health problems; and it gave them a strong emotional experience.
Dr Sandgren explained: “Singing is often regarded as a very sensitive, artistic activity.? The singer might experience intense feelings of joy and pride when the singing performance succeeds.? On the other hand, the singer might also experience shame and discontentment when the performance fails. Singers can be very sensitive to risks of failure, due to their singing performance.? They are anxious about being negatively evaluated by the audience.? These emotions are difficult to cope with and singers worry about vocal indisposition due to health problems.? However, opera singers reported low levels of performance anxiety, but were preoccupied with the health status of their voices, for example, they tested their voices several times a day to ensure that it was functioning correctly.? My data also shows that singing has more of an existential meaning for opera singers than that of performing in front of an audience.”
Dr Maria Sandgren
Dr Maria Sandgren, PhD, is a registered psychologist who works in the Department of Psychology, University of Stockholm, Sweden.? Her dissertation (2007) ‘Being and becoming an opera singer: personality, health and skills’ was awarded ‘Best Dissertation’ in the Department of Psychology.? Her current research interests focus on emotions and well-being in the music-making process among singers and musicians.? Another area of her research looks at the skill acquisition process among musicians.? Dr Sandgren also lectures in developmental and gender psychology.? In addition to her academic work, Dr Sandgren works as a psychotherapist in her private practice.
Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health
The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health is part of Canterbury Christ Church University and is situated at the University Centre Folkestone.? The primary aim of the Research Centre is to promote the value of music and the arts for the wellbeing and health of individuals and communities.
Established in 2004, with funding from the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, the Centre is located in the rapidly developing Creative Quarter in Folkestone, Kent.? It is a joint initiative of the faculties of Health and Social Care, and Arts and Humanities at Canterbury Christ Church University.
During the first year of its operation, the Centre worked with Making Music South East to establish a number of Silver Song Clubs in East Kent, enabling musicians and volunteers to come together with groups of elderly people to participate in singing and music making.
Following the successful launch of the Silver Songs Clubs project, an independent charitable company was established - Sing For Your Life - to undertake the management and development of this initiative.? There are now clubs operating in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.? The aim is to have a network of Silver Songs Clubs operating across the South East of England.
University Centre Folkestone
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