Singing In Community Choirs

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On a recent Wednesday evening, in a Williamstown hall, about a dozen women are warming up. After stretching and breathing and humming, some burbling and trilling and little bit of waggling, leader Steph Payne gives the signal, and the Willin Women’s choir begins to sing:

Hey Ladies, I’m gonna take a little time to unwind
Hey Ladies, I’m gonna leave all my troubles behind

On any given night, across Victoria, hundreds of people are singing in community choirs. Singing is as good for you as yoga, and as beneficial as meditation. Singing in a choir just multiplies the benefits, says Chris Phillips, a member of the Willin Women for nine years. “You get such a buzz, it feels fantastic to be in harmony with the people around you.”

Like most community choirs, the Willin Women have a ‘no audition’ policy. “I wouldn’t dream of asking anyone how old they are”, says Phillips, “We’re all somewhere between 30 and 70. Some read music. Some – like me – don’t. Women don’t need any level of musical ability at all, we all learn as we go.” …show more content…

“Who is doing the dum-de-dums?” choir leader Steph Payne called out. “Where are the bom-de-boms? Ok, let’s go.” Payne doesn’t stop smiling as she conducts and the atmosphere is a combination of high spirits and deep concentration. The choir kills some parts of the song, and fumble through others, and everyone laughs, and they start

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