Whether it’s in the shower, the car, a choir or your local karaoke bar, many of us love to sing. It’s free, fun and makes us feel good.
Singing and the Human Body
Singing isn’t just about your voice — it draws on multiple systems in the body. According to the London Singing Institute, singing engages our lungs, heart and diaphragm, and the abdominal, back, and rib muscles involved in respiration, as well as our vocal tract, lips and tongue. Think of it as a mini workout. It’s great for your body, brain, posture, immune system and circulation.
You may be pleased to learn it even burns calories. A 68-kilogram person can expend around 140 calories an hour through singing, according to the London Singing Institute.
Singing also releases beneficial chemicals. The Journal of Voice reports that it boosts levels of endorphins (the “happiness” hormone), oxytocin (which promotes bonding) and immunoglobulin A (which supports immune function).
Disease Improvement
Given these effects, it’s not surprise that singing can assist with a range of health issues — from easing pain to improving communication in stroke patients.
Studies led by Professor Jane Davidson at the University of Melbourne found that singing benefits people with lung disease, Parkinson’s, quadriplegia, dementia and mood disorders.
One key area of research focuses on dementia. As reported by Julia Holtz for the BBC in 2026, studies show that music enhances focus, memory retention, lucidity and mental clarity in people with dementia. It even fosters neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new neural connections.
Emotional Boost
Singing is a great stress buster. Several studies, including one on cancer patients published in Ecancermedicalscience, show singing reduces cortisol (the stress hormone). As a focused, creative activity, it increases feelings of flow and can be likened to a form of mindfulness meditation.
Singing with others amplifies these benefits even more. Research from the University of Melbourne found that choir singing enhances feelings of social connection and belonging while reducing depression. It can help people cope with grief, loss, trauma and illness. Many individuals report similar emotional lifts when singing solo.
How to Build More Singing into Your Life
Don’t compare yourself to pop stars. In many modern societies, particularly in the West, singing has become associated with performance and competition, discouraging everyday voices.
In The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth, author and musicologist, Professor Michael Spitzer, suggests that music preceded language. Calling it a “universal language” and a form of “vibrational energy,” he defines music as organised sound deeply connected to emotion and meaning. In short, we’re all naturally musical.
Should we avoid sad songs? Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, in a September 2023 episode of the podcast Huberman Lab, notes that melancholy music can help us process emotions and work through grief or trauma, while upbeat tunes can elevate mood.
Find your own groove — whether it’s spiritual hymns, chanting, humming, composing melodies, joining a choir or crooning along to your favourite songs at home. You can weave singing into your daily routine: after work, in the shower, while driving, or as part of your social life. Just sing.
Sing Song Social Club, Singapore
Sing Song Social Club is a community choir that welcomes singers of every level. Members meet monthly to explore different musical genres, make friends and share the joy of singing. There are no auditions, just an open, welcoming, pressure-free space where voices unite in creative expression. Through song, participants create harmony, connection and a shared musical moment.