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Let’s all sing!

Communal singing in assembly is one of my favourite times of the week, so I was delighted to participate in the boys’ practices last week, when we dedicated each year group’s assembly slot fully to practising hymns. As the wonderful Miss Gozzard led the sessions, initially hesitant and subdued voices became vigorous and bright, with boys even volunteering for solos.

Communal singing is a joy; a recent study by the University of Oxford highlighted the diverse benefits of singing in a choir. It forges and reinforces social bonds and promotes a sense of belonging and closeness with others, something which is all the more meaningful in these times. It also has a beneficial impact on the physiology of wellbeing, by improving posture, breathing and muscle tension, by promoting the release of positive neurochemicals and by reducing the release of stress hormones. After all, music and singing are found in all cultures around the world and throughout history, as social bonding, as therapy, and as an intrinsic part of many social rituals, from religion to football games.

Last week, what struck me most was its impact on character. The dynamic during those rehearsals was a powerful metaphor for what a positive and open outlook on life looks like. Each of us loves to sing. Not all of us enjoy performing in front of others, but we all love to sing. Miss Gozzard was encouraging the boys to go for it, to do something they love doing; she told them to “ignore that voice in their head”, that voice which holds us back and keeps voices sheepish by telling us we might sound silly. And the boys did indeed ignore ‘that voice’. By the end of the session, the boys’ singing lit up the room. 

It requires practice, but if as parents and teachers, we encourage the boys to be to courage, ignore the ‘voice in that voice in their head’ and embrace life, with all its joy and opportunity, we will have done a good job. 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Mr Matteo Rossetti