There is a proverb from Zimbabwe that states, ‘If you can walk you can dance...if you can talk, you can sing.”
Not only is singing good for the soul but there is a growing body of clinical evidence that indicates that singing, with its emphasis on deep breathing and good posture, can help to heal the body – from helping patients with Parkinson’s to strengthen their throat muscles, alleviate physical stiffness and improve motor function – to stroke patients using melodies to facilitate their speech recovery.
Oliver Sacks, well-known neurologist and author of many books, including Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, says that “music is not only one of the fundamental ways we bond with each other but it literally shapes our brains.
This is because musical activity involves many parts of the brain (emotional, motor and cognitive areas) even more than we use for our other great human achievement – language.”
This is why it is an effective way to remember or to learn. It is no accident that we teach our children with rhymes and songs.
The music burrows itself so deep in the nervous system, that even when people suffer devastating neurological disease or injury, music is the last thing they lose.
If you desire an added boost of endorphins gleefully flooding through your body (our body releases oxytocin, the ‘feel good’ hormone, when we sing) raise your voice in glorious song with Sing for Pure Joy!
The group, which sings heart-felt melodies, soulful gospel songs and rousing spirituals, meditative chants, luscious layered songs and robust rounds, is starting up again for a new season.
The first session in Campbell River is on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Lions Den (across from Thrifty’s) from 3-4:30 p.m. and on Quadra Island at the Community Centre on Monday, Sept. 14 from 3-4:30 p.m.
Members sing songs from the sublime to the ridiculous.
This is not a paper-trained choir.
No written music is used.
All songs are taught in the traditional method of call and response.
Contact director Mary at (250) 202-1003 or singforpurejoy@gmail.com for details and specific dates.