Imagine if Music Didn’t Exist?
Consider your daily routine without hearing or engaging with music in any way. What would your life be like?
Music instantly affects the way we feel. It impacts our mood. It flows through us and engages us physically and emotionally. There isn’t anything else like it! It’s historic, worldwide, cultural and forever developing and morphing, influenced by individuals, groups, trends, cultural changes and technology. One style influences another style and exciting new variants are born. Music locks directly into our being – creating a soundtrack to our lives. What’s your soundtrack? What music and which songs have become an integral part of you? Do they take you back to key moments in your life? Happy times? Significant times? Do you remember exactly where you were when you heard that song or piece of music for the first time? What memories and feelings do they evoke? Is there a style of music or song that you play when you’re feeling low? Do you feel better?
Music relieves stress. It’s been proven to do a lot more than just relieve stress but stress is a word used more and more frequently and with mental-health in the headlines regularly now, finding ways to combat stress is key for all of us – whoever we are! Rock Choir was featured recently in a BBC2’s Music Special of ‘Trust me I’m a Doctor’ where a group of our brave Members (‘Rockies’) were put to the test in a break-through experiment to see if the group of chemicals, endocannabinoids, released by the brain that create the natural high, could be achieved by cycling, dancing or singing in a group – i.e. Rock Choir. The results showed that the Rock Choir session increased the natural high of the Rockies by 40% compared to a result of 20% in cycling and dancing. I wasn’t surprised. I receive daily reports from the Rockies who want me and my team to know that because of Rock Choir they are experiencing an improvement in their health, well-being and general mood. Their relationships at home are better and they are more productive and positive. That they find their zest for life returns and health issues and medical problems are impacted positively or at the least managed more positively because of their new-found strength and outlook on life. Based on their feedback, it’s quite remarkable how something so natural as singing in Rock Choir can have such a profound effect on their well-being.
Without Music, there wouldn’t be Rock Choir
Music is the huge dramatic and positive driving force in my life. It is the driving force of Rock Choir. Without it, there is no Rock Choir! I choose up-beat stress-busting feel-good songs for the Rockies to enjoy. Their weekly rehearsals feature up-lifting, mood-changing, positive and fun songs and the style of teaching and education creates the platform for them to immerse themselves in the music. Some Members are dealing with horrendous personal challenges and some have simply lost their way temporarily. Others already know their favourite songs and can’t wait to have a big old stress-busting sing each week and leave on a happy high. Others use the experience to connect with new friends where they have a love of music in common, eventually taking to the stage with one another nervous but excited ready to perform their amazing well-rehearsed harmonies to the supporting audience of loved ones, friends and engaging public. Music is looking after us and I am able to channel my choice of music through Rock Choir to reach my Rockies. What would we do without it?!
