A Study of the Impact on Health and Wellbeing of Amateur Choir Singers as Face-to-Face Group Singing Moved Online

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the perceived impact on the health and wellbeing experienced by amateur community choir singers as rehearsals moved from face-to-face to online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 26 volunteer participants from an amateur community choir in Scotland completed an online questionnaire. An online focus group discussion followed with seven of the participants. Results reveal many positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of singers for both face-to-face and online group singing rehearsals. Each mode of rehearsal impacts positively in different ways, advocating the use of both to suit individual singers’ needs and aspirations. Significant drawbacks were identified that provide possible avenues to further improve the experiences of singers in both face-to-face and online singing rehearsals.

KEYWORDS:

• Singing
• choir
• rehearsals
• health
• voice
• online
• COVID-19

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tara Leiper

Tara Leiper, DEd, runs an independent singing and piano teaching practice in the northeast of Scotland. She is a choral conductor, music examiner, and accompanist, and she is passionate about amateur and community music making. Since completing a DEd from Glasgow University with a thesis on the use of critical reflection as a tool in the teaching of singing, she is currently undertaking an MA in vocal pedagogy. She is coauthor with her husband of Is This Real? that tells of their lives living with schizophrenia.