DID YOU KNOW…

There are people who live with chronic respiratory conditions every day. Maybe you know someone who has one of these conditions.  Maybe you are one of those people. 

There is such inspiration in knowing that singing can have a powerful effect on people who suffer with COPD, asthma, and other respiratory diseases.  It can literally save their lives, both physically and emotionally.  At the very least, singing improves the quality of their lives.

The Breathless Choir performed in 2015 in New York, singing “Every Breath You Take” to an audience of family and friends.  Gareth Malone, choir master from Great Britain, spent five days working with eighteen people who had little hope of ever singing again but Gareth was not deterred as he is renowned for inspiring singing with unlikely people.  With breathing being a constant challenge, their performance was a momentous victory.  Among the choir members were two first responders to the 9/11 attack on New York City and who struggle with breathing every day.

In Gareth’s words:
“All through history, people have sung and made music because it makes you feel better about yourself. It makes you feel better about your fellow man. It comforts, it consoles, it amuses, and it’s so simple; it’s just you and your voice, and your breath.  I’m no doctor but I see the impact music has made on these people’s lives. And I see how much good singing has done in their souls and I think a little bit in their bodies as well.”

You can hear an inspiring YouTube video of The Philips Breathless Choir and read the testimonials of this choir online. 

Linda Langevin’s story  (Linda directs the Kamloops Happy Choristers choir and also sings with the Jeweltones):

We all have heard the rumors that singing is good for you. From a very personal level, I can tell you that is absolutely true. I have a chemical sensitivity that has caused serious lung issues including asthma and COPD. Every year, my lung capacity diminished until the specialist told me that my life needed to change if I wished to grow old. So began some radical changes in my life. Things like removing carpets, fabric curtains, and limiting my exposure to the outside world.  A year later, my lung capacity was stable, but still not so good.

Then I began to sing again in choirs. The specialist was amazed that I was able to recover so much and we both agreed that it was the benefits of singing.

Ron Hagerman’s story (Ron is on the Board of Directors for the BC Choral Federation and the BCCF Treasurer):

It was in the summer of 2011 when I was diagnosed with COPD, a severe lung disorder. On reflection I must have had it for years.

After I started taking my medicine and spent a week in hospital, I started to adjust to my new life. It was full of restriction including a few inhalers to make sure I could breathe.

I had sung as a boy and now I took time to listen to my brother’s choir.   I enjoyed it so much and, even though I didn’t have much breath, I asked the director if I could join. She auditioned me and said I would be more than welcome.  She knew about my breathing problems but felt singing in a choir could allow me to sneak a few extra breaths from time to time.

That was six years ago and I now sing in two choirs. I have sung solos and duets.  And the best part of all?  My doctor says I am/have been doing the best thing I could for my condition.  My illness, well described as one that only gets worse, has not done so!  Why?  Because I exercise my lungs almost every day.  I encourage you to watch The Breathless Choir.   Take it from one who knows — “Singing Works”!  Start and enjoy your new, longer, healthier life.

Submitted by Janette Walker
BCCF Vice-President

This article originally appeared in the November edition of Lifelong Singers, the BCCF’s newsletter for mature choralists.