By Stephen McCoy, IMC’s Executive Director
Why a recent book reminded me that singing is about much more than having a good voice.
When I tell people what I do for a living, the response I hear most often is some variation of, “Oh, you work for a chorus? Well, I can’t sing!”
I usually laugh it off. But what I really want to say is, “Yes, you can. And yes, you should.”
It’s remarkable how many people are convinced they can’t sing. Somewhere along the way, perhaps after an unfortunate elementary school music experience or an overly honest friend, they decided singing simply wasn’t for them. And for many, that was the end of it.
I’ve spent much of my professional life working with choirs, so perhaps I’m a little biased. But I’ve always believed that singing is something everyone should experience, whether or not they ever set foot on a stage.
Recently, I finished reading Sing: The Power of Singing Aloud in an Increasingly Discordant World by Sacha Langton-Gilks, a singing teacher who has witnessed firsthand the ways singing can change people’s lives. Her central argument is simple: singing isn’t just for people who think they’re good at it. It’s something we can all do, and something we might all benefit from doing more often.
When Did We Stop Singing?
One of the questions posed by the book is deceptively simple: When was the last time you sang out loud?
Not along with the radio when nobody was listening, necessarily, but really sang. With other people. Without worrying whether you sounded good.
For much of human history, singing was simply part of everyday life. People sang at home, at work, in places of worship, and at community gatherings. Music wasn’t always something performed by a few talented individuals for everyone else to enjoy. It was something people made together.
Today, we’re surrounded by more music than ever, but we often experience it as listeners rather than participants. We have instant access to virtually any song ever recorded, yet many of us have become increasingly reluctant to use our own voices.
And some of the places where people traditionally sang together are becoming less common. As religious participation has declined and music education programs have faced budget pressures, opportunities for communal singing have become less accessible.
It’s an interesting contradiction: We consume more music than ever, but we may be making less of it ourselves.
The Science Behind the Song
What makes Sing particularly interesting is that Langton-Gilks explores not just the emotional appeal of singing, but also the growing body of research into its potential health benefits.
Studies have associated group singing with improvements in mood, reduced feelings of isolation, and greater psychological well-being. Researchers have also explored its potential benefits for people experiencing conditions ranging from chronic pain to memory loss and respiratory difficulties.
Not every finding is conclusive, and singing certainly isn’t a cure-all. But the research suggests that something as simple as using our voices together may have meaningful benefits for both our physical and emotional health.
One study from the University of Oxford found that singing together helped strangers develop social connections more quickly than participants in other group activities. Researchers described this as an ice-breaker effect, suggesting that making music together can help people feel connected even before they’ve had much opportunity to get to know one another.
For anyone who has participated in a choir, that probably sounds familiar.
More Than the Music
At the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus, we have more than 100 singers who gather each week to rehearse. Of course, we’re working toward a musical goal. We want to perform well, challenge ourselves artistically, and create memorable experiences for our audiences.
But there’s something else happening in that rehearsal room.
Friendships develop. People support one another through difficult times. Singers from different backgrounds and generations find common ground. And individuals who might otherwise never have met become part of one another’s lives.
That’s not incidental to what we do. It’s central to our mission.
The Indianapolis Men’s Chorus exists to entertain, educate, and promote inclusive community through musical excellence. I’ve always appreciated that our mission recognizes both the artistic and human sides of singing together.
And the two are deeply connected. Creating beautiful music requires listening, cooperation, vulnerability, and trust. Those same qualities help build meaningful relationships.
An Invitation to Use Your Voice
Reading Sing reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time: We shouldn’t think of singing as something reserved for people with exceptional voices. Of course, I recognize that some people have physical limitations that make singing difficult or impossible. But for so many others, the biggest barrier isn’t their ability to sing. It’s the belief that they can’t.
You don’t have to be a professional musician. You don’t have to read music. You don’t even have to think you’re particularly good at it.
You can sing in a community choir, at church, with friends, in the car, or in your kitchen. The important thing is to give yourself permission to do it.
Because singing isn’t just about producing beautiful music. It’s about expression, connection, and the simple pleasure of participating in something that has brought people together for thousands of years.
So the next time someone tells me they can’t sing, maybe I won’t laugh it off quite so quickly.
Maybe I’ll tell them what I’ve been thinking all along.
Yes, you can. And yes, you should.