A programme exploring the power of singing together to benefit

wellbeing and mental health

Singing for Our Minds is a transformative programme for choir leaders exploring the power of group singing to improve well being and build community

Singing and creating with others has been proven to enhance well-being, reduce stress and create powerful bonds. The Singing for Our Minds programme blends action research, leadership training, and learning resources to support people who lead, or want to lead singing in any form, whether that be a choir, school, university, professional or community setting, to build an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere which positively impacts mental health.

The Singing For Our Minds podcast series explores a wide range of topics such as mental health, mastering your choir’s group dynamics, wellbeing for leaders, impact of trauma on the voice, the art of leadership and much more. Each episode features discussions and interviews with some of the UK’s leading experts on conducting, singing and mental health.

Illustrator Annalees Lim has created three visual summaries and timelapse videos for selected episodes of the Singing for Our Minds podcast. These illustrations highlight key themes and insights from each episode, providing an accessible and engaging way to explore the content.

The leader of group singing has the potential to contribute significant positive impact to the group’s dynamics of 

inclusion, accessibility and co-creation. Singing For Our Minds offers a development programme for anyone who leads singing, whether in a choir, school or other setting, supporting them to embed techniques for promoting positive mental health outcomes in their leadership approach, and in doing so to build diverse, inclusive communities within group music settings.

Please contact us if you would like to host a Singing For Our Minds training session, and watch this space for our full training programme, coming soon.

Programme partners and practitioners include Mind and Soul Choir at the Maudsley Hospital, Nicola Wydenbach, Aga Serugo-Lugo, Jeremy Haneman, Nadine Benjamin and Darren Abrahams, and the mental health training team from SLaM (South London and Maudsley hospital).

The Singing for Our Minds Leadership Development Programme was developed with a steering group of professionals and singers from across the singing and mental health sector, including Nicola Wydenbach, Jeremy Haneman, Kushinga Hare, Aga Serugo Lugo, Sandeep Gurrapadi, Rachel Perera, Emily Foulkes, Dr Amy Bebbington, Darren Abrahams, Dr Yoon Irons, Dr Michael Bonshor, Kolbassia Haoussou, Storm Janssen, Nadine Benjamin, Sheila Woodward and Louise Rogers.