Singing for Success

How well I remember the singing! How glad I am that as a child, my pre-school had me - and everyone else - singing about the Grand Old Duke of York, who had ten thousand men, and marched them up to the top of the hill and marched them down again! I am sure that you, dear reader, have heard your child singing along with you (and the TV) and later with the pop stars of the age. For me, singing continued through elementary school and high school and, to this day, I recall with ease the words of many songs, hymns, and anthems. I confess to loving anthems, whether they be those of nations or of soccer teams. The best part of an international rugby match for me is the anthem singing before the kick off - there is nothing quite like the choirs of thousands asking God to defend New Zealand or exhorting Australia Fair to advance, or willing to deity to keep Our Land, Glorious and Free. Nor is it possible to remain unmoved when the Liverpool Kop (Soccer allusion) belt out You'll Never Walk Alone to their team.

I had never thought deeply, however, about why my schools may have made me, and everyone else, sing. What I do know, though, is that it greatly enhanced my language learning. One expert explains it as follows:

'The development of communication and language is at the heart of children's learning. Singing encourages communication and increases vocabulary. Songs have very clear articulation and develop awareness of rhyme and meter. Singing also provides children a way to explore their vocal range, and to find a natural, expressive speaking voice,' while another expert answers her own question thus:

How does singing benefit kids? 

• Helps develop the brain. Singing is one activity that gets different parts of your brain running.

• Improves communication skills.

• Improves respiratory and cardiac functioning.

• Improves cognitive processes.

• Helps boost self confidence.

These are not simply opinions, they are corroborated and expanded in the research that can be found at this address here.

If you would like to experience some examples of the joy and emotion of singing, YouTube has it: try these two for starters.

How Can I Keep from Singing - NYC Virtual Choir and Orchestra.

You Raise Me Up - cover by COLOR MUSIC Children's Choir of Ukraine.