Ode to Joy, Health, & Better Grades

Not so long ago you were perhaps in the high school chorus or a church choir and now you are away at school - missing the feeling that singing gives you. Don't despair, the Pemigewassett Choral Society invites you to come join us and get your weekly "singers high."

The Pemi, as we are often called, is a community chorus of around 100 singers that perform 3 concerts twice a year (December and May). We rehearse Mondays from 7:30 - 9:30 pm at Silver Center in the choral room. It is an investment in time and talent but not one that is burdensome or should hinder your studies or other activities.
The Pemi is open to all students not just those in music or other arts programs. We are a mixed group of adults from many walks of life gathering from all around central NH, who like you, enjoy participating in organized singing.

Outside of your love for singing; why should you join us?

Music and Academic Health
There is a reason that there is music in all those educational TV programs you watched growing up. Music targets a specific area of the brain that stimulates the use of spatial-temporal reasoning, which is useful in mathematical thinking. Rhythm emphasizes items like proportions, patterns, and ratios which are also important concepts for mathematics. Singing improves your ability to listen. The process of learning to sing and singing, especially with others, dramatically increases attentive listening; it requires focus and attention to those around you. We are no longer busy thinking about our responses, only understanding. Learning to sing songs from beginning to end improves your reading skills and your motor skills, by developing the coordination between your brain and your body. Links to improved "multi-tasking," critical thinking, self-discipline, motivation, and teamwork have also been shown; all skills that come into play as you complete your degree.

Music and Physical health
Singing is exercise! While singing you have to control your breathing, maintain good posture, use your lower body for support. To sing you must involve muscles; and is way more fun than that stair climber. Singing increases the amount of oxygen you take into the body as you take deep breaths. This produces a feeling of alertness as more oxygen gets to the brain. As you sing, you articulate and use facial expressions, so you improve muscle tone in the face, throat, neck and jaw, thereby promoting a youthful appearance. Improving the muscle tone in the larynx, which singing does, also helps to calm snoring, which improves sleeping and counters insomnia. We all know better sleep in turn increases our well-being and health. Additionally, singing is a natural pain killer and your immune system also gets a kick, thanks to influence on several neurochemicals and hormones.

Music and Mental Health
There are reasons to join Pemi rather than just singing in the shower or belting out some karaoke and leaving it at that. Studies have found that group singing releases oxytocin, a chemical that manages anxiety and stress, and according to McGill University professir Daniel Levitin, singing enhances feelings of trust and bonding.
Singing helps to calm negative mental 'chatter' - the distracting unhelpful thoughts we can all have at times - because you are focused on the job of singing, and this stops us dwelling on life's issues and problems. It is utterly absorbing and radically different from usual school-related tasks shifting minds away from usual patterns of thinking, even away from quite pressurized and stressful attitudes.

Music and Emotional health
Singing is the ultimate mood regulator. It lowers rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness (are you homesick), while at the same time amplifies happiness and joy. Be proactive and combat that worrying about a project or test with night at rehearsal. It might be more help than you think. Singing can make you cry; ignite your passions; make you laugh - and if you want more of the stuff that makes you feel good naturally - you will be encouraged to know that singing releases natural opiates, endorphins creating a "singers high." Group singing provides an environment to share your triumphs and relieve your woes. The value in the community of the group should not be minimized.

Music and Financial health
The Pemi has scholarships available for students who participate with the choir. The Board of Directors will award select students one of the Underwood Scholarships available each semester. This scholarship process is simple, sing with Pemi (missing three or less rehearsals and attending all performances) and you will be eligible to be selected.
With a love of singing plus all these benefits don't you think you should come join the Pemi? While we cannot promise you will reap all these rewards, consider what you can gain from this small investment of your time. Rehearsals begin Sept 9th at 7:00pm - 9:30pm (for registration - 7:30pm Monday evenings thereafter) at Silver Center in the choir room. If you miss the first one don't despair, you are welcome to give it a try on Sept 16. You will be glad you did.
For additional information or questions send The Pemi an email at contactus@pemichoral.org.