16/09/2026
Singing in a choir is often considered an optional extra, rather than a critical element of a young person’s education. However, there is now mounting evidence that participating in music has benefits that extend into every aspect of life.
🎓A project studying the brain scans of children showed measurable positive differences in the brain regarding self-control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. This means that children who study music regulate themselves more easily, have longer concentration spans and greater access to creative thinking.
Making sense of sound is one of the most complicated things we do. The brain to compute up to 9 million bits of data per second. Music develops the ability to think about an object in three dimensions. Success in STEM subjects requires this in spades – it is impossible to build a bridge without envisaging how it might fit together!
🗣 Singing in a choir builds self-esteem and boosts confidence. Performing in front of audiences in a supportive environment can reduce performance anxiety, as well as encouraging emotional expression and interpretation. Choir members learn to respond to non-verbal gestures, posture, and eye contact from conductors. These social processing skills give young people an advantage in this technology-dominated world.
☺️ Choirs are inherently friendly places! Singers bond through shared challenges, celebrations, and successes. Being part of a choir offers a safe, inclusive environment where choir members learn to work with peers of varying ages and backgrounds.
At the heart of every choir is teamwork. Good teamwork requires listening, cooperation and adaptability, which are all key skills for choral and life success!
Whether or not a young person chooses to pursue music professionally, their time in choir will echo through their classrooms, workplaces, and communities for years to come. Choir is far more than an extracurricular activity; it’s a gift for the rest of your life.
