Written by Joe Raposo and immortalized by the Carpenters, “Sing” is about as apt a song as you can think of regardless of whether your day’s been good or bad. And now science is confirming what many have known all along – singing helps people relax and puts them in a better frame of mind.

Why sing? And why sing for fun? There is no real definite answer to that question. But many would still venture to answer.

Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong
Singing loud and strong causes you to take in deeper breaths that in turn cause your lungs to expand. By singing regularly, you exercise your lungs, which in turn helps you breathe easier. This is particularly good for people who may be incapable of strenuous exercise.

Sing of good things, not bad
Singing has been found to greatly reduce tension. A study on road rage shows that drivers who sing along to music playing in their cars exhibit fewer tendencies for confrontation as opposed to their less musically inclined counterparts. One music director explains the effect this way: “You can’t sing and hate at the same time.”

Sing of happy, not sad
There seems to be more cathartic effects in singing as opposed to simply speaking. Not only are the words more emotive (seeing they are lyrical), but there is the element of music as well, which is largely motivated by emotions. By expressing emotions more fully, a person becomes less frustrated.

Make it simple to last your whole life long
Children learn faster when singing is incorporated in their lessons. Senior citizens who sing regularly exhibit less tendencies toward of senility. The more you make singing a regular part of your life, the greater benefits you reap as you age.

Don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear
Not everyone is a Pavarotti or a Streisand and yet, the benefits of singing are similar to these great singers. Even the kind of music isn’t a factor to the benefits. Whether you sing pop or country songs, religious hymns or classical arias, the effect is basically the same – a balm to the singer’s ears that brings calm.

Just sing – sing a song
The basic reason people sing is because it makes them feel good. It lets them have the opportunity to express themselves and to release bottled-up stress. So avail yourself of these benefits and just belt out a song whenever it strikes you. The tune you’ll be singing will lead to a healthier, happier you.

Tags: Music General, Musical Performance, Singing