Children’s Chorus

Children’s Brains Develop Faster when Exposed to Music Training
Music instruction appears to accelerate brain development in young children. This has been demonstrated in the areas of the brain responsible for processing sound, phonemic awareness, speech perception (auditory processing), language development, reading skills, and verbal memory. Children who sing in a chorus are more accurate in processing sound, including speech sounds needed for spoken communication.

This Impact on Brain Development is True for All Children, Regardless of Socioeconomic Background
Neuroscientists are completing a longitudinal study in which they are monitoring brain development and behavior in a group of 37 children from underprivileged neighborhoods of Los Angeles; with exposure to singing/music training (i.e. singing in a community chorus)

Singing with Groups with Other Children and Adults Increases a Child’s Feelings of Belonging, Social Connections, Bonding, and Trust
A renewed sense of belonging cultivates community. With our mission to provide opportunities for cross-cultural and multigenerational music making, the Ottumwa Area Community Chorus is a prime example of this kind of work!

Singing in a Chorus has been Linked with the Development of Self-Control, Planning, Executive Function, and Verbal Intelligence.
These life skills are needed to make decisions, focus, plan, problem solve, and manage/juggle multiple tasks successfully.

Singing in a Chorus Dramatically Improves Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence, and Overall Well-Being, Resulting in Healthier Psychological Development During the Critical Years of Childhood.
Children who sing in choirs develop advanced skills in teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. Singing in a children’s chorus also decreases stress/anxiety levels and the often-associated physical symptoms and behavior issues. Recent studies completed with children and adolescents with mental/psychological illnesses have found positive and measurable physical response to choral singing; saliva was collected and analyzed pre vs. post choral singing. Results revealed decreased levels of cortisol (related to feelings of stress/anxiety) and increased levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA-related to the immune system) after choral singing.

Singing in a Children’s Chorus Improves the Understanding Of and Appreciation For Cultural Diversity
Songs are passed down through generations as symbols of a culture’s beliefs and values. By exposing kids to music and languages from around the world, they begin to develop a deep appreciation of other culture’s traditions.

Children Earn Better Grades Across Subject Areas
Children who participate in music performance groups (choir or band) tend to get significantly better grades in all three primary academic content areas: Math, English/language arts, and Science, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.

Better Grades are Observed, Regardless of Demographic Group
In the study referenced above, of additional interest was that the differences (in earned grades) between student musicians and non-student musicians was significant “even when the researchers controlled for demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background and prior achievement on similar exams in seventh grade.”

Higher SAT/ACT Scores
This continued and cumulative impact on cognitive development and academic achievement is evidenced by singers/musicians earning higher ACT and SAT scores than “non-singers/musicians”, in general. According to the 2012 College Board SAT report on college-bound seniors, students who participated in a music performance group (choral or instrumental), earned significantly higher scores in all three subtests. Specifically, when comparing student musicians to non-student musicians, in the critical reading subtest, student musicians earned scores that were 29 pts higher; in the math subtest, student musicians earned scores that were 26 pts. higher; and in the writing subtest, student musicians earned scores that were 29 pts. higher, on average! The same pattern was seen in a study done by the “Americans for the Arts” organization, in which students in fine arts activities/performance groups outperformed students who were not in their SAT scores (on individual subtests and on total composite scores).

Singing in a Choir Requires a Great Deal of Practiced Coordination of Skilled Movements
These movements involve many different muscles throughout the body such as those used for: healthy and stable posture, breathing deeply, filling the lungs more fully, turning the voice “on” and “off” in specific and skilled ways, and the accurate production of all speech sounds so that the words will be understood.

Impact of Singing on Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Neurologic Development

Respiratory and Cardiovascular: Singing is also considered an “aerobic” activity, as it requires increased use of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which results in increased overall physical health and strength.

Neurological: Singing requires the simultaneous use of multiple areas of the brain, including those used for: Auditory processing and encoding/decoding of information (re: to pitch, rhythm, etc.), visual imagery and emotions, the language centers of the brain (for the expressive and receptive language needed for singing with words), motor planning and motor learning (for complex coordination between the respiratory, phonatory (laryngeal), and articulatory system’s movement patterns.

Singing with Others Involves Additional Areas of the Brain that are Activated During Social Interaction
These areas are in addition to those typically activated for solo singing.