Did you know that singing can make you smarter? Research suggests that singing may help to grow and enhance the cells in your brain that are responsible for learning.
Dr Brian McDonough says that during a study conducted examining young song birds using “high-resolution imaging revealed structural changes to the brain within 24 hours of learning their first song. Cells related to learning in the brain became larger and there are similar changes in human brains” shown in human trial results.
The research conducted some eight years ago is still entirely viable today as we see more and more community choirs blooming. This phenomenon can be seen all over the world with groups of people coming together to sing in a multitude of different ways, growing their mental learning centres, improving their memory and developing their social skills.
So it might be that singing from an early ago might improve your ability to learn and so enhance your chances with education and cognitive development, however it is not only young people that might benefit.
Studies have shown that singing can even stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Results have been quite effective, but it isn’t just the science that you must inspect: music tutor, Nancy Salwen, has first hand experience of the disease and how music can help. She says that whilst teaching a early music class in a nursing home, “Some of the residents who attend have dementia and don’t seem to be that aware of what’s going on. But once we start singing, tapping out a beat, and particularly if we sing a song they know from their past, they join right in! The know the words; they smile, they look around. They connect”. This could mean massive advancements in the treatment and prevention of both conditions and could mean saving the memory of hundreds of thousands of people.
Studies like the above and many more around the world have great meaning and show that singing, whether you think you can carry a tune or not, can make you a healthier and potentially a better learner.
If you’re interested in anything you’ve read above or just want to try out a fun packed and social choir who sings a wide variety of music and asks only for enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, pop down for a free trial rehearsal or contact us with any queries.
Sources: CBS, The Fear of Singing Breakthrough Project
Background reading: Uplift Connect, BBC iWonder