Why We Sing

Why We Sing
Positive Benefits of Choruses and Choral Singing
for Children, Adults, and Communities

An estimated 42.6 million people in the U.S. sing in more than 270,000 choruses today — that’s far more than participate in any other performing art.  These choruses perform music that provides a means of expressing something greater than each individual participant—whether in concert halls and churches, or pavilions and town squares.  Choral singing is a thriving and growing form of artistic expression in America, and, in addition to providing great musical performances, it can be acknowledged for advancing many of the positive qualities associated with success in life both for children and adults.

People who sing in choruses demonstrate characteristics that make them remarkably good citizens.  Choral singers are much more likely
to be generous by volunteering in their communities and contributing money to philanthropic causes.  They’re far more likely to take on leadership roles, too, and participate in the political process.

Children who sing in choruses have academic success and valuable life skills.  Additionally, both parents and educators (from every discipline) attribute a significant part of a child's academic success to singing in a choir.

There is a troubling decline in choral singing opportunities for children.  Choral singing opportunities are not available, or are being reduced or eliminated from schools across the country.  Even though choral singing is an accessible entry point for arts exposure with few barriers — economic, cultural, or educational — more than one in four educators surveyed said there is no choral program in their schools, and more than one in five parents said that there were no choir opportunities for their children in their communities.  Advocating for more opportunities for choral singing locally and nationally could be an important way to address pressing social and educational problems.

Source: Chorus America 2009 Choral Impact Study