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The health benefits of singing
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Recommended: The health benefits of singing
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.”
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“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
“National Women’s Conference.” Off Our Backs 8, no. 1 (1978): 2-3. Accessed February 12, 2012. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25792578.
The social, cultural and political history of America as it affects the life course of American citizens became very real to us as the Delany sisters, Sadie and Bessie, recounted their life course spanning a century of living in their book "Having Our Say." The Delany sisters’ lives covered the period of their childhood in Raleigh, North Carolina, after the "Surrender" to their adult lives in Harlem, New York City during the roaring twenties, to a quiet retirement in suburban, New York City, as self-styled "maiden ladies." At the ages of 102 and 104, these ladies have lived long enough to look back over a century of their existence and appreciate the value of a good family life and companionship, also to have the last laugh that in spite of all their struggles with racism, sexism, political and economic changes they triumphed (Having Our Say).
Clara Barton’s ‘The Women Who Went to the Field’ describes the work of women and the contribution they made on the civil war battlefield in 1861. Barton highlights the fact that when the American Civil War broke out women turned their attention to the conflict and played a key role throughout as nurses. Therefore, at first glance this poem could in fact be seen as a commemoration of the women who served in the American Civil War as its publications in newspapers and magazines in 1892 ensured that all Civil War veterans were honoured and remembered, including the women. However, when reading this poem from a feminist perspective it can be seen instead as a statement on the changing roles of women; gender roles became malleable as women had the
Showalter, Elaine. "Tradition and the Female Talent: The Awakening as a Solitary Book." Martin 33-55.
Showalter, Elaine. "Tradition and the Female Talent: The Awakening as a Solitary Book." Martin 33-55.
Bailey, Thomas Andrew, David M. Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. "Chapter 16." The American Pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. N. pag. Print.
“Dis train boun fo Glory/ Dis train, Oh Hallelujah/…Ef yuh ride no need for fret er worry/ Dis train, Oh Hallelujah (…) When the song ended they burst out laughing, thinking of a train bound for Glory. ‘Gee, thas a good ol song!’ ‘Huuuuummmmmmmmmman…’ ‘Whut?’ ‘Geee whiiiiiiz…’ ‘Whut?’ ‘Somebody don let win! Das whut!’ Buck, Bobo and Lester jumped up. Big Boy stayed on the ground, feigning sleep. ‘Jeesus, tha sho stinks!’”
Lefebvre, Eliza. "Choir gives voice to kids’ confidence." Buffalo News 14 March 2013, n. pag.
...y uses anecdotes and stories of women in the 17th and 18th centuries to provide evidence to the reader and demonstrate the roles women filled and how they filled those roles. Furthermore, she illustrates the individuality in each woman’s story. Although in several of the stories the women may be filling the same roles, the uniqueness of the situation varies from woman to woman. Ulrich’s use of period stories helps add to the credibility of the arguments she makes. She makes the reader feel the weight of responsibility on the shoulders of colonial New England women. A sense of appreciation is gained by the reader for the sheer number of roles fulfilled by the women of New England. In addition, Ulrich’s real life accounts also give valuable insight to life as it was during this time period in American history and the silent heroes behind it – the wives of New England.
Peggy Seeger, a musician practically since she was born in 1935, is one of the most successful and celebrated female folk singers in twentieth century America (Good 5). In addition to performing classic American and British folk songs, she composed many of her own tunes as well. Written for a festival in early 1972, “I’m Gonna Be an Engineer” is Peggy Seeger’s first and most famous feminist song (Good 43–44). The piece exposes and explores societal expectations of femininity: contrasting what it means to be a lady and what it means to be woman. Despite presenting a powerful message against the “cultural scripts” that govern and reinforce feminine behavior, Seeger
It is too soon to gauge Spears' lasting influence on young women and the feminist movement. However, by making comparisons to girl groups of the early 1960s, who's influence can now be analyzed, then perhaps Spears can be better understood in the present. In her piece Why The Shirelles Mattered, Susan Douglas reflects on groups like the Shirelles and their impact on the girls who listened to them. Overall, Doug...
On Wednesday, May 23rd, I attended the College Choir concert in the Reamer Campus Center. The choir performed a variety of songs, ranging from pieces in Latin to traditional American folksongs. Two of the pieces featured solos, and one even featured percussion instruments. Mrs. Elinore Farnum provided piano accompaniment for each of the songs, and performed beautifully. I was extremely impressed by the talented choir members and their ability to sing such a varied range of songs.
Tenth Muse Lately sprung up in America, The . By a Gentlewoman in those parts. (London: Stephen Bowtell, 1650): 3-4. Representative Poetry On-line: Editor, I. Lancashire; Publisher, Web Development Group, Inf. Tech. Services, Univ. of Toronto Lib. RPO 1997. © I. Lancashire, Dept. of English (Univ. of Toronto), and Univ. of Toronto Press 1997. available at http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/rp/poems/abrad1c.html. accessed 12/6/01.
In this year of our Lord 2002, many issues beset the Church. Christians have always been called to interpret the ways of the world, and to live lives worthy of Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord. One of Christ’s commands was: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed with the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Today in America, this commandment is more than usually relevant, with the rise of popular or mass culture, which of necessity affects many Christians. But all Christians are concerned with popular secular culture, whether or not we admit to or are an active part of it. We need to not only decide how to interact with popular culture on the most obvious level, but also what to do with it when it enters into our sacred places and worship services.
The vocal folds, that are commonly known as vocal chords are very interesting parts of our body. Very often, people don’t realize that they are the most important source of us being able to produce musical sound as we do. As air passes through these cords, they open and close rapidly; this rapid vibration is what allows us to produce sound. They are housed in the larynx, commonly referred to as the “voice box” (which is the Adam's apple for men).