Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'

Subject: RE: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: Ron Davies
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 12:59 AM

Great links.   Thanks, Maeve.

Ron

Subject: RE: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: GUEST,maeve
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 08:40 AM

Sorry- guest at 08:20 was meself.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 08:20 AM

Some related studies:

"Singing may be just as healthy as yoga, scientists say"


Does singing make you happy?


Choral singing and psychological wellbeing: Findings from English choirs in a cr

Subject: RE: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: leeneia
Date: 10 Jul 13 - 09:55 AM

That's interesting. Thanks for the link, YY.

Subject: RE: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Jul 13 - 02:11 AM

That's an interesting idea, and it makes sense too. For instance, when a particularly demanding section of music comes up it makes sense that each person would gear up, so to speak, and that would affect the heart rate in each, I imagine.

However, does that mean that an uninterested, along-for-the-ride choral singer (Is there such a thing?) would not be able to match the heart beat of the others? And would it be detectable?

Subject: RE: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: Ron Davies
Date: 09 Jul 13 - 10:33 PM

Heard about this at rehearsal this evening.   It makes sense, since it is certainly true that good choral singers co-ordinate their breathing.

It's truly amazing how many close ties you develop in a choral group you've been a member of quite a while--much closer than to some family members. And this is another.

Of course part of the reason is that all the time you spend in a good choral group you are working on creating something wonderfully rewarding.    Whereas it is just remotely possible that not all interaction with family members is pleasant.

On top of that, however, there is something just unearthly about making music with a good choral group--especially a cappella.

In a lot of ways, I prefer our rehearsals, with just a piano or no accompaniment, to some of the performances.   It seems sometimes that the orchestra adulterates the sound.   Though of course there are definitely times the orchestra enhances the piece (after all, the composer wrote the orchestral parts for a reason, I'll have to admit.)

Subject: Choir singers 'synchronise heartbeats'
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 09 Jul 13 - 06:43 PM

From the BBC News website: Choir singers 'synchronise their heartbeats'

An excerpt:
Choir singers not only harmonise their voices, they also synchronise their heartbeats, a study suggests.

Researchers in Sweden monitored the heart rates of singers as they performed a variety of choral works.

They found that as the members sang in unison, their pulses began to speed up and slow down at the same rate.

Writing in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, the scientists believe the synchrony occurs because the singers coordinate their breathing.

There are also links to other interesting articles - about singing - there as well.