Several years ago, I bought a ukulele and looked up some chords on YouTube. It wasn’t long before I could strum a few tunes. I started practicing with our family band and eventually played music with them at nursing homes.
I often had to consult my chord chart when we played new songs with chords I hadn’t yet learned. Later I began to sing with the group and, at that time, our band was large enough that I only sang one or two songs a month. Now that our band is smaller, we sing five or six songs each time.
Singing is good for body and soul alike. Singing releases endorphins, which lifts your spirits, but when you have lung problems as my brother and I both do, it increases lung capacity and vocal cord health.
Learning melodies and lyrics are, you guessed it, good for your brain. When you sing, you use multiple areas of your brain and improve your memory. The expression “Sleep on it” is actually good advice. During sleep, your new skills move from your short-term memory to long-term memory. In between your snores, your brain is busy downloading data to your brain’s more durable storage.
Singing in a group increases connection with family or friends. Group activities also increase levels of a hormone, oxytocin, associated with bonding. Being socially active is a recommended way to improve cognitive health.
When you watch shows like American Idol or the Voice the judges often mention that a contestant sings “from the heart.” Well, singing from the heart is a good description because studies show that singing has the same effect on your heart as light physical activity. The researcher thinks that singing might eventually be incorporated into cardiac rehab.
Music has brought joy into my life. I try to squeeze out time several days a week to play my ukulele. When I listen to the radio or scroll on my phone watching music videos, I often hear a song I hadn’t thought of in years. Sometimes, I download the lyrics and chords only to realize I either can’t play the tune or sing the song. I’m not discouraged because sometimes I come back to it months later and it clicks. Or, I might be able to sing it, but not play it. When that happens, I might try karaoke. Sometimes, I might be able to play it but not be able to sing it. During our practice sessions, my brother can often find the correct key for my voice.
Due to health issues, we hadn’t played music at the retirement homes since November of last year. When we played this month, we heard, “We missed you,” and we missed them too. The reward for our family band was the joy on the residents’ faces.
How great is it to do something I enjoy while I exercise my heart and brain? Playing the ukulele and singing lifts my spirits and chases away the blues. Some of my efforts are an epic fail, but it certainly feels good when I learn to play or sing a song well. Either way, my dog always listens attentively and never rolls her eyes when I make a mistake.
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