Singing and Wellbeing Ancient Wisdom, Modern Proof [Paperback]

Singing and Wellbeingprovides evidence that the benefits of a melodious voice go far beyond pleasure, and confirms the importance of singing in optimum health. A largely untapped resource in the health care professions, the singing voice offers rewards that are closer than ever to being fully quantified by advances in neuroscience and psychology. For music, pre-med, bioethics, and medical humanities students, this book introduces the types of ongoing research that connect behaviour and brain function with the musical voice.

Part I. Singing in History, Cognition, and Parenting  1. The First Musical Instrument  2. Neural Mapping and Brain Chemistry: How Singing is Good for You  3. Womb to Tomb : Singing, Science, and the Mother's Voice  Part II. Singing for the Group, the Self, and the Soul  4. Singing Our Songs: Damon of Athens, the Blues, and Group Psychology  5. The Loss of Brain Function: How Singing Helps  6. Singing and Religion  Timeline: Selected Timeline of Vocal Healing Milestones from Mythology and History

A brilliantly thorough thesis on the topic of singings existential essence and its elemental presence in well-being. Kay Nortons compelling research shows a deeply engaged scholar ably traversing cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary perspectives in search of answers to the question of how and why singing affects us so profoundly.

Sarah Schmalenberger, Associate Professor of Music, University of St. Thomas

Kay Nortons stimulating book draws on both scientific and humanistic disciplines to explain why humans sing and the effects this has on their nature, culture, and wellbeing. With its emphasis on the promotion of health through song it is set to become essential reading for anyone interested in this topic.

Penelope Gouk, Honoralƒg