When you sing together, what you really get for Christmas isn’t just more socks or the latest techno gadget – it’s the real gift of joyful human connection.
Premiering in 1937 in Frankfurt during the Third Reich, there is a ritualistic force to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. This makes it a guilty pleasure for some and perfect fodder for ad jingles.
Many boys stop singing at adolescence – but with the right support, they can continue to sing through their voice change and emerge as lifetime singers.
Much like what everyone in showbiz from Lady Gaga to Lang Lang seems to be doing, school-age music students are using apps and software to play instruments and sing together.
Around the world, choirs have been linked to coronavirus super-spreader events. Online choirs can provide many of the same benefits, while protecting our health.
Did we evolve the capacity to produce sublime music simply to get more sex? Or are we driven by higher ideals related to living together in harmony? Maybe it’s a bit of both.
Children with difficulty singing can be labelled as ‘nonmusical’ by parents, teachers and pop culture. This toxic idea of ‘talent’ can deprive people of music’s benefits for the rest of their lives.