Better Together: Promoting Healing Through Group Singing
You know that moment at a concert, usually near the end, when the band plays one of their best songs and then suddenly stops singing—only for the entire crowd to join in? The lights dim, people stop looking at their phones (or wave them like flashlights), and voices rise together in unison or harmony. What is it about that moment that feels so captivating and moving? The synchrony of all those voices creating a shared experience can be deeply motivating. In that instant, we feel alive and connected.
You don’t need to be in a giant stadium with a famous band to experience that feeling. While surrounded by thousands of people can amplify it, the core elements that make group singing so compelling are the same whether you’re singing in a small trio or amidst a sea of voices at a Coldplay concert.
When voices lock in harmony, dopamine—a neurotransmitter tied to reward—is released. Harmonically rich sound created through shared singing can even lead to goosebumps, which are associated with joy and meaning-making. Tight vocal harmonies and crescendos in group settings make these experiences even more likely (Pearce et al., 2015).
It seems to be in our nature to seek out these healthy, rewarding experiences. Group singing offers myriad benefits, including reducing stress, fostering social connection, elevating mood, improving respiration, and regulating heart rate—thereby promoting healing.
Researchers István Molnár-Szakács and Katie Overy suggest that when we listen to music, our brains respond as if we’re actually feeling the emotions and intentions behind the sounds. Together, we explored how this idea applies to music therapy and live music-making in the chapter we contributed to the book Musical Imaginations: Multidisciplinary Perspectives On Creativity, Performance, and Perception (Oxford University Press, 2012) (https://academic.oup.com/book/12594/chapter- abstract/162456125?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false).
In our chapter, “Shared affective motion experience (SAME) and creative, interactive music therapy,” we discuss how vocalization and physical gestures in music-making, activating the mirror neuron system in the brain, can effectively build empathy without needing words. In this way, researchers are beginning to develop a more nuanced understanding of how making music with others can be a powerful tool for building empathy and connection. When we sing together, we coordinate our voices, breathing, and emotional expression, becoming literally more “in-tune” with one another.
You don’t need to be a professional singer—or even particularly skilled—to reap the benefits of group singing. In fact, many cultures have long recognized the importance of group singing in rituals throughout the life cycle. More recently, the role of “lead singer” has been professionalized. While we greatly benefit from the music professionals who create and perform, the notion that only professionals should make music can leave some feeling inadequate about singing together.
I’ve worked with clients who were told as children, “You can’t hold a tune… don’t ruin it for everyone else,” or some version of that. Having your voice dismissed can be hard to overcome, but learning to trust and sing again is possible. There are many opportunities to join in group singing—from concerts and religious or community gatherings, to school choirs.
It’s not about creating the best sound—it’s about taking a deep breath and joining in together.
