The Science of Singing Along

The Science of Happiness

PRX and Greater Good Science Center

Science, Social Sciences

4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 26 October 2023

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For time immemorial, humans have connected deeply through singing with one another. We explore the science behind this, plus how group singing benefits other aspects of our health.

Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bdzkmezu

Episode summary:

When was the last time you sang with another person? This week, we’re digging into the science of singing — and more specifically, the science of singing with others, with author Casper ter Kuile. Casper started hosting signing groups in his home as a way to feel connected to others and build a community after moving to a new city. He found that singing is a powerful mode of communication that’s entirely different from talking, by letting people have fun together before even learning what the other does for work. We also hear from psychologist Arla Good, about how group singing can act as a tool for social bonding through a mood-boosting oxytocin response.

Today’s guests:

Casper ter Kuile is an author and speaker who focuses on themes of community building, rituals and spirituality.

Read Casper’s book, The Power of Ritual: https://tinyurl.com/5653xymp

Learn about Casper’s latest project, The Nearness: https://tinyurl.com/yc76wjvj

Follow Casper on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/muueecw2

Follow Casper on Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/mr2jsufk

Arla Good is a psychologist at Toronto Metropolitan University whose research specializes in the benefits of group singing on well-being.

Learn more about Arla and her work: https://tinyurl.com/3fxwsffs

Learn about Arla’s work with the SingWell Project: https://tinyurl.com/4acdhdc6

Resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

How Music Helps Us Be More Creative: https://tinyurl.com/4mj6vs44

Four Ways Music Strengthens Social Bonds: https://tinyurl.com/y257y25p

How Music Bonds Us Together: https://tinyurl.com/np3z3cn

Five Ways Music Can Make You Healthier: https://tinyurl.com/4ckbtc2e

Where Music and Empathy Converge in the Brain: https://tinyurl.com/23tehxms

More Resources on Group Singing:

BBC -The world's most accessible stress reliever: https://tinyurl.com/37atkk78

Washington Post - Singing is good for you. Singing with others may be even better: https://tinyurl.com/mv3a525d

Oxford - Choir singing improves health, happiness – and is the perfect icebreaker: https://tinyurl.com/3z78634n

Ted - Choral Connections: The Surprising Benefits of Singing Together: https://tinyurl.com/y5yu236z

Have you ever sung with a group? Email us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

Help us share The Science of Happiness!

Rate us on Spotify and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/yzazbec4

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I moved to New York just before the pandemic and so we had some friends here but not friends
0:10.4	friends.
0:11.7	I missed being with people, I missed the ease and the fun and the silliness that comes
0:17.5	along with just being in a group of regular friends and so I remember very vividly I was
0:23.5	like something needs to change because I'm really lonely and I was like what do I know
0:28.5	that will help ease that sadness you know that pain I was like I want to sing with people
0:36.4	and so I just sent an email to a you know bunch of friends and I honestly I would meet someone
0:41.4	like I invited an Uber driver like I was just do you enjoy singing like please come
0:46.4	here is my address.
0:50.4	People bring some food people bring some wine and then you know we do a quick round of
0:54.8	names where everyone just says hello and then I stopped singing with a simple round based
1:05.0	on the poetry of Rumi and it goes come come whoever you are wonder a worship a lover
1:14.2	of leaving us is no caravan of despair come yet again and everyone joins in
1:25.6	and it wasn't about perfection it was about participating.
1:49.5	This is the science of happiness I'm Dacker Keltner welcome today we're talking about
1:54.2	why singing with others is good for our health.
1:57.8	We hear what happened when returning guest and my dear friend Casper Turquil started hosting
2:03.0	monthly sing-alongs at his Brooklyn apartment.
2:05.6	We also get into the science of singing together how it affects our bodies and how it compares
2:11.2	to singing alone.
2:12.7	We know that there's social bonding capacity in group music making so what's happening
2:19.2	in our biology that might be supporting that.
	...

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