I believe singing can change your life.

Singing has played a fundamental role in the development of spiritual traditions throughout the world. Its role has rarely been merely decorative, instead it has acted as a catalyst for direct healing and spiritual experience, whether as part of Buddhist meditation or Sunday hymn singing.
It focuses the mind and the breathing, and unites participators, the singers producing simultaneously many voices and one single sound.

The therapeutic potential of singing workshops is far reaching and operates on many different levels.

On a physical level, singing is recommended as a stress-relieving activity; the breathing techniques you use are deeply relaxing and healing. By opening your mouth and simply making sound, it is possible to free emotion and anxiety that is held in the throat area. The medical profession has shown that endorphins are released in the brain when a person is singing, this is regardless of whether they are in tune or not!

As a confidence booster, singing can help people to learn to face their fear and manage their anxiety . The vast majority of people experience at least some embarrassment about singing in public and for many, it is an extremely challenging situation. When you attend a singing workshop, these issues are dealt with in a fun, creative, and considered way, (giggling is permitted and even encouraged), and by the end of a session, most people are surprised at themselves, how easy it is, and how much fun they had, how good they sounded. On a deep level, they have faced a fearful situation and come through.

This is an immensely empowering experience.

Singing as part of a group reflects our lives as part of a community. We all have a small but crucial role to play, and truly, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. When you spend time creating beautiful harmonies with other people a non-verbal bond is made. The whole sound will not be right unless everyone is ‘in-tune’.

The way the participants respond to this challenge, reflects their role in a social environment. This is an extremely useful tool at somewhere like Rhoserchan, where the support and experiences of the fellow residents plays a large part in the recovery process.

But for me the best thing about a singing workshop is that all of this is achieved unconsciously, because we sing for fun. The primary aim is to have a good time, to enjoy ourselves, to enjoy the songs and the music we are creating together.

This is not voice therapy, this is simply being there and having a go, this is simply singing together.

As we start the 21st century the opportunities to sing together seem only to diminish. We no longer go to church or make music in a traditional way, yet, I assert that those cultural rituals provided a vehicle for the deeper needs of individual, the need to sing as part of a group. What we create is sound vibration and resonance. The use of ultra-sound in modern medicine shows that the power of sound goes beyond what we can hear and should never be under-estimated. Some people arrive at the workshop feeling tired, they always leave feeling invigorated and energised.

At the absolute least, the singing provides an enjoyable break from intense thinking and talking, and introspection. There is also a physical warm-up which is very grounding and relaxing.

The potential role of a singing workshop in the recovery process cannot be quantified. However, I have seen a transformation in people who absolutely believe they cannot sing, but find they can do it as part of a supportive group.

Singing is a life-affirming, enriching experience, and for some, it is a life changing experience. When this is explored in a safe and fun environment the possibilities are limitless.