Group singing could boost children’s mood and sense of belonging, according to early findings from a new pilot study.
The study, VoxFresh IMPACT!, involved 80 children aged eight to 16 from community singing groups in Newbury and Basingstoke, as well as three other groups in England.
Over one term, children took part in more than 600 before-and-after session check-ins.
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Kat Penn, founder of VoxFresh and lead on the study, said: "Every week I see children walk into our sessions in Newbury and Basingstoke one way and leave another, and I wanted to know whether that holds up when you measure it carefully.
"Our singers have been brilliant research partners.
"These are early pilot findings, not proof, and because I run two of the groups myself, the next phase will bring in an independent academic partner to test them properly."
Children reported a mood lift after singing, with 90 per cent describing their mood as "good" or "great" after sessions, up from 74 per cent before.
Jules Knight, a parent of a VoxFresh participant, also shared positive feedback.
Jules said: "Singing and music has a huge impact on my son’s mood.
"He leaves choir happy and bouncy and even though we don’t live close by he has made strong bonds with other singers and feels very much part of the group."
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