Think back to your time singing in your favorite choir or band. What did you love most about the experience?

You likely enjoyed the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a group that shares your love of music. Ideally, you found good friends and formed close bonds.

But did you know this feeling of community offers mental, physical, and emotional benefits that go beyond socializing?

This episode’s guest, Lisa Strong, does. An occupational therapist, professional singer, and leader of the Walton Feel Good Choir, Lisa started her singing group to raise community spirit in the Tendring area of Essex, England. As community members, which included retirees, dementia patients, and the socially isolated, joined, Lisa saw improvements in their cognition, multi-tasking abilities, and communication as they sang together and supported each other.

The group even became motivated to raise money for local charities through their performances, further nurturing their sense of belonging and interconnectedness.

These experiences motivated Lisa to conduct formal research on health and singing to show health professionals the holistic benefits of singing and how inclusive choirs can improve the health of an entire community. She shares some of her findings with Heather and Tom, revealing how choir leaders can create a greater sense of belonging in their groups by adopting a more inclusive policy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. (8:46) How Lisa started the Walton Feel Good Choir to deal with the social isolation in her town
2. (12:07) Why Lisa is building an evidence-based model to show health professionals the holistic benefits of group singing
3. (16:20) What people need to have to enjoy the mental and emotional benefits of group singing
4. (17:47) How group singing helps improve memory, attention, focus, and other cognitive abilities
5. (21:21) Why certain choirs do not foster a sense of belonging
6. (25:47) How to build a sense of belonging in your choir by welcoming and accommodating choir members of all backgrounds
7. (30:17) Why different styles of choir leadership may attract different types of singers
8. (34:32) How to effectively promote the mental and emotional health benefits of group singing to the mental health community
9. (39:28) The business benefits of creating a space for group singing
10. (42:12) The mental and emotional benefits singing instructors gain from leading a choir

Visit the Walton Feel Good Choir website and its Facebook page to learn more about its mission and Lisa’s work.

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