• People of different backgrounds enjoying singing together in a group outside

Connecting Through Song – The Role of Singing Leadership in Public Health

In part 15 of her AOTOS Keynote speech, Dr Gillyanne Kayes turns her attention to singing, public health and group leadership.

“Singing leadership and social health. You know, it feels right that I should finish commenting on the changes with an upbeat note. And it is this – the potential of singing to impact social health.

It seems that, despite much of the world being digitally connected 24/7 we’re becoming more and more socially isolated. And the World Health Organisation has recently identified a new global crisis of Social Health.

Singing leadership and social health. Image of a group of people from different backgrounds singing happily together. Text states: Social connection is crucial for mental and physical health. Singers can be leaders in rebuilding social connections through community group singing activities. Singing and music are practices of care that build social connection and reduce loneliness and isolation. Group singing promotes a sense of belonging, improves mental health, and fosters social connections.

We’ve known for at least 10 years that singing is ‘a healthy habit’.  An activity that allows us to synchronise breathing patterns and heart rates, lower our blood pressure, improve our lung health and our brain function. And for this reason many teachers have diversified their skills into group leadership

New research is revealing the important role that singing leadership can play. I’m quoting here from an article by Dr Melissa Forbes, who identifies music and singing as caring practices and urges us to consider community singing as part of our career portfolios.

She says: “Singers and singing teachers are an untapped public health resource who can be mobilized right now to help address some of the most pressing health concerns of our time, including the crisis of social connection.”

 

Gillyanne’s Further Reflections

Perhaps one of the most poignant times of our era was to see voices being silenced during the pandemic. It wasn’t just about the loss of income for performers, teachers and choir leaders, it was also about the loss of social connection. Sadly, it took a while for research to ascertain that singers were not necessarily ‘super spreaders’ – at least not more than 4000 people yelling in a football stadium. And in the meantime we saw James Sills launch the Sofa Singers, and many other choir leaders navigating new territory either online or singing outdoors.

In 2023 the World Health Organisation estimated that one in four older adults experiences social isolation, and that between 5% and 15% of adolescents experience loneliness. Loneliness and social isolation can have a devastating effect on both our physical and mental health. And it is a great irony that in this era of so-called ‘global connect’ the WHO has declared a crisis in social health.

I think it is time to stop separating the skills of ‘singing teacher’ and ‘singing leader’. Specialism is all very well at a certain level but if singing truly IS for all, then we need to celebrate and nurture the skills of those who are singing animateurs, singing leaders and choir leaders appropriately, just as we have been nurturing the skills of singing teachers for the last few decades.

Melissa Forbes’ excellent article on this topic is free access and very readable. Perhaps you might see yourself there if you are currently leading a choir!
Melissa Forbes (20 Jun 2024): Addressing the Global Crisis of Social Connection: Singers As Positively Energizing Leaders Who Create Belonging in Our Communities, Voice and Speech Review, DOI: 10.1080/23268263.2024.2368961

 

What do you think about the World Health Organisation’s identification of social health as a pressing global crisis?

How do you think vocal educators can play a role in addressing social health concerns?

How would you combat social isolation today?

 

Click here for part 14 of Gillyanne’s AOTOS Keynote – From Boomers to Zoomers: Bridging the Tech Gap in Singing

Click here for part 16 (the final part) of Gillyanne’s AOTOS Keynote – Staying True To Your Values – a singing teacher’s guide to change

 

If you’re eager to understand more about what we can do to assist our students when they’re dysregulated, click here for our new online 2-hour Pop-up course with Franka Van Essen  Creating a safe space: insights from polyvagal theory for vocal professionals

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If you’d like to see the diversity of teacher backgrounds and specialities in our own Registered Teacher community, head to our Meet The Team page

And feel free to contact Gillyanne for a Discovery call to find out more about our next Accreditation cohort here