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Community Recovery Sing-a-long - Queensland Flood Crisis
Sandra Kirkwood presented latest research on a Queensland flood recovery singing project initiated through the Music Health e-mail group. A brief research report has been published online at the Primary Health Care Research Information Service website:
 (Click on link to Powerpoint presentation)
2011 Primary Health Care Research Conference held 13-15 July at Brisbane Convention Centre.
| Community recovery: musical inspirations, creative collaborations, and health reform |
| Author |
Sandra Kirkwood |
| Organisation |
Music Health Australia |
| Aims & rationale/Objectives |
This is a critical reflection on practice about a community recovery sing-a-long that was initiated through online Music Health professional networking with communities from 31 January, 2011 to 30 June, 2011. |
| Methods |
Members of communities which were affected by the Queensland flood disasters in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Ipswich were invited to create verses about their own flood experience to the tune of "Click! Goes the Shears." The project was monitored through ethnographic description and multi-media recording to enable critical reflection on practice with facilitators and participants. The project report reveals examples of how community members were able to discuss and solve their own problems through a community of practice. |
| Principal findings |
The findings demonstrate that communities have the capacity to create songs and to sing them in a social environment that supports local community recovery after natural disasters. Music Health professionals have an important role in initiating, enabling the creative collaboration, and mediating the creative process to encourage buoyancy and re-building of communities. The critical reflection on practice reveals that this process was a significant innovation toward reforming health care by introducing a remote method of community-based rehabilitation service delivery. |
| Implications |
This project reveals a new way of supporting communities to self-manage their own social and emotional recovery after flood devastation. The Music Health professional was able to inspire community engagement and support the creative collaboration through remote email networking. The outcome reveals that this was a low cost intervention that could be carried out by volunteers in the absence of funding allocated to community music projects. |
| Presentation type |
Paper |
| Session theme |
Primary health care in all forms |
| Citation |
Kirkwood S. (2011). Community recovery: musical inspirations, creative collaborations, and health reform. In: 2011 Primary Health Care Research Conference: Program & Abstracts. Primary Health Care Research and Information Service, Australia. www.phcris.org.au/conference/browse.php?id=7048 |
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Voices United for Harmony Project
Voices United for Harmony project aims to improve and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health in Australia. It aims to explore ways of increasing social and emotional wellbeing, prevent mental illness and chronic diseases and reduce social exclusion among the project's participants. The project was a collaboration between Griffith University and Indigenous-controlled health services in south-east Queensland.
Voices United for Harmony comprises five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community singing groups from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Warwick and Toowoomba in SouthEast Queensland.
Community singing groups are considered to be one way of improving mental health and emotional wellbeing and social inclusion, and of increasing access to and use of Indigenous health services.
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Sing Australia
Sing Australia have choral groups in every state listed on their website.
Sing Australia groups are groups with a difference. There are no auditions, there is no pressure, there is no requirement to be able to read music. It is just lots of fun! Sing Australia Pty Ltd was established in 1985 by Colin Slater OAM, to promote singing, Australian compositions and Australian artists.
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Emerging Research - Cochrance Systematic Review on singing and bronchiectasis
Congratulations to Yoon Irons for acceptance of her research poster presentation at the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Branch conference 20-24 March, 2010 in Brisbane: JY Irons, DT Kenny, AB Chang A Cochrane Systematic Review - Singing for Children and Adults with Bronchiectasis.
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Literature review - Article on Vocal Health
Heman-Ackah YD, Sataloff RT, Hawkshaw MJ, Divi V (2008) How do I maintain longevity of my voice? J Singing 64(4):467–472.
The authors recommend active preventative measures for vocalists to maintain health, consistency and reliability of the voice. This includes training, strengthening and conditioning exercises designed to build strength and coordination throughout the vocal tract - not only vocal exercises, but also professionally supervised body exercises that improve aerobic condition and strength in the support systems.
Tips to maintain longevity of the voice:
- Avoid sources of voice abuse (including conversation)
- Daily warm-up and cool-down of the speaking voice, including warm-up exercises; taught by a voice pathologist or therapist
- Adequate vocal fold lubrication depends on proper hydration, both in quantity and type.
- Minimise esophagolaryngeal acid reflux by timing one’s food and liquid intake,
- Ensure proper breath support and posture for respiration
- Optimal positioning and alignment of the vocal tract to facilitate resonance.
- Early identification and screening: Every vocal performer should have a baseline laryngeal evaluation early in his or her career; this can prove useful in preventing future problems and helpful in identifying the cause of new problems as they arise.
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International Federation for Choral Singing
Read more about activities of IFCS including: the 9th World Symposium on Choral Singing; the new Conductors without Borders program; the International Day of Choral Singing; calendar, events and meetings.
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Humming tunes is a good stress buster
 Now, a new research, conducted by Don Stewart, head of the School of Public Health at Griffith University in Brisbane, suggests that people who sing regularly are happier than their non-singing counterparts. In fact, choristers have a better quality of life than other people.
The results of the study are based on a survey of more than 1,100 choral singers in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. The research, presented at a national public health conference in Brisbane this week, involved 21 choirs, including five from southeast Queensland.
The research found that while people who join singing groups tend to be less healthy than the average person, they are in fact happier.
It found 51% of the choral singers had long-term health problems, more than twice the Australian norm. They also scored below average on a WHO scale of psychological health and social functioning. However, 98% rated their quality of life as good or excellent, and 81% were satisfied or very satisfied with their health.
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| World Choir Games 2010
Being the world's largest choir competition, the World Choir Games shall inspire people to experience the strength of interaction which is able to challenge personality and community equally by singing together. Paticipation alone is important and the greatest honour. The World Choir Games are organised for amateur choirs from all over the world, no matter which continent they come from or which musical genres are represented in their repertoires or which artistic ambitions they have. To experience this festival for choirs from all over the world means to participate, to contribute one's own performnace, to compare to others and to experience the enthusiasm of singing together.
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Report on Choral Singing Well-being and Health
Stephen Clift, Grenville Hancox, Ian Morrison, Barbel Hess, Don Stewart & Gunter Kreutz (Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health). 2008. Read more....
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Flinders’ “A-Chord” concert events to help Sydney’s Street Choir
A passion for music and a desire to support the community’s disadvantaged are at the very heart of special concert events involving MatthewFlindersAnglicanCollege students during their Sydney Music Tour in June.
The two concerts, celebrating the concordance of musical diversity and community, will be held in Sydney’s City Recital Hall, Angel Place on Friday, June 26, 2009.
Hosted by MatthewFlindersAnglicanCollege, the “A-Chord” concerts will showcase the talents of three very different groups.
Just like the combination of a “chord” (the harmonious blending of three or more individual notes) and “accord” (to harmonize or go together), this shared passion for music and desire to support the community’s disadvantaged are at the very heart of the special concert events.
Bringing their talents to the stage will be the inspiring Sydney Street Choir, the versatile University of Newcastle Choir and more than 100 students from Flinders performing in the choir, band and string orchestra.
These community concerts have been organised as part of Flinders’ 20th anniversary celebrations.
This is the College’s 15th annual music tour and the efforts to host this community concert in Sydney - a major event in the tour program - fits with the College’s endeavours to foster community spirit through music. The College’s efforts have already been recognised by a National Teaching Excellence Merit Award presented to the Music Department in 2005 in recognition of community merit.
Matthew FlindersAnglicanCollege’s Music Program has gained renown for its exceptional quality and outstanding achievements. The College’s music ensembles compete regularly in regional and state-wide competitions receiving gold and platinum awards. In 2006 the College Chorale, String Orchestra and Wind Symphony performed in the Sydney Opera House as part of the International Music Festival and were awarded gold and silver prizes. They have performed in venues including the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney Town Hall and the BMW Edge Theatre, and have also toured Europe and New Zealand.
Flinders Head of Music Nick Campbell said this year’s A Chord concerts were a gesture of support for the Sydney Street Choir, which was similar to the Melbourne-based Choir of Hard Knocks.
Since 2001, the Sydney Street Choir has been empowering listeners and themselves through the healing power of music and song to find pathways out of social isolation.
“There’s a side to music that requires musicians to be worldly, to have a greater understanding than their immediate community,” Mr Campbell said.
“This will create an opportunity for our students to reflect that even though these people may appear disadvantaged or different to themselves, they still have the capacity to work together and share and express emotion.
“Music is a common language, regardless of background. I’m hoping these concerts will create a sense of emotion in our students, and be an enrichment to their own music experience. “
Mr Campbell said the College was relying on the involvement of the audiences to support the concert events, with entry by donation and all money raised going to help the Sydney Street Choir.
Members of the Sydney Street Choir are homeless or disadvantaged men and women, and the only way the choir can continue to sing is through the generosity of people supporting it.
Choir members have been confronted with some of the toughest challenges life can present, and they inspire audiences with their personal stories of how they overcame their challenges, and realised their dreams. They perform mostly original songs in a unique theatrical style.
The choir has performed on various TV shows, at SydneyTown Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Conference Centre, and regularly visit hospitals and charity organisations. Recently they visited the Choir of Hard Knocks to join them on stage at MelbourneTown Hall.
Choir director Peter Lehner said: “Members of the Sydney Street Choir are living testament to the changes that can be made in people’s lives through the power of song and the support of the community.”
Also appearing at the evening concert will be the University of Newcastle Chamber Choir. This choir won national acclaim last year when it took first place in Channel 7’s Battle of the Choirs, hosted by David Koch.
Formed in 1995, the choir consists of students and community members, all with a love of singing and who enjoy performing challenging and varied repertoire. The choir has toured internationally four times, and performed in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, Westminster Abbey, and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.
In 2007, the choir won all three of the divisions entered at the National Eisteddfod held in Canberra: the Open Sacred Choral Award, the Open Contemporary Australian Choral event and the inaugural Australian Open Choir Championship.
The choir has a wide-ranging repertoire, from the Renaissance to music from this century and includes a number of Australian works.
The A Chord concert venue, Angel Place, while not as famous as the Sydney Opera House, has been heralded by The Bulletin as an “acoustic and aesthetic triumph”.
Based on the classical configuration of the 19th Century European concert hall, the shoebox-shape design includes gently raking stalls and two galleries that wrap around both sides and rear of the auditorium creating a sense of intimacy between audience and performers.
The 1238-seat concert hall regularly plays host to Musica Viva Australia, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – and now to MatthewFlindersAnglicanCollege.
The A-Chord concerts will take place on June 26 at 2pm and 7.30pm. Due to prior commitments, The University of Newcastle Choir will only be appearing at the evening event. Entry is by donation with all proceeds going to the Sydney Street Choir.
To book phone the City Recital Hall Angel Place on 02 8256 2222 or 1300 797 118 or visit www.cityrecitalhall.com
Matthew FlindersAnglicanCollege will hold a Pre-Tour Music Concert on Friday, June 5 at the College Sports Centre from 7pm.
For information email Flinders music event co-ordinator Kay Jackson at flindersmusic@mfac.edu.au or telephone 5477 3258.
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Esk Community Choir website
Esk Community Choir email: eskcomchoir@bigpond.com
Choir director: Alexis Fitgerald
In 1978, Esk Community Choir was formed with 6 singers and continues today with a membership of 48. This is a busy SATB choir with many fund-raising concerts, charity performances, musical productions and two overseas performance trips to its credit (one of which was completely self-funded, raising $180,000).
Gross Stiegarts: Esk Community Choir on European Tour, 2006.
After 31 years, my interest and commitment to each member of this choir, in their personal development through involvement in singing, continues more strongly than ever. With Music and singing as my “tools” I see, so often, the therapeutic benefits of singing, “belonging” and achieving.
Alexis Fitzgerald, Choir Director.
Keep singing for your good health!
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Asthma management for singers or musicians who play wind instruments
Sandra Kirkwood 13/09/2006
What is asthma?
The definition of asthma (according to Australian Institute of Health & Welfare) is:
"Asthma is a chronic disease marked by episodes of wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath associated with widespread narrowing of the airways within the lungs and obstruction of airflow. The underlying problem is chronic inflammation of the air passages, which also tend to overreact by narrowing too easily and too much in response to a wide range of 'triggers.' Common asthma triggers include: exercise, viral infections, allergens, environmental irritants (including tobacco smoke, indoor and outdoor air pollutants, and occupational dusts and chemicals), food chemicals, aspirin and other medications." (AIHW 2005 Chronic respiratory diseases in Australia online www.aihw.gov.au).
Prevalence and cause of asthma
Australia has a high prevalence of asthma when compared to other countries. Asthma is commonly managed in general practice; it is the seventh most common problem managed by General Practitioners (AIHW 2005). Australian health system expenditure on asthma was $693 million in 2000-2001. The 2001 National Health Survey (ABS 2002) revealed that:
- 11.6% of the Australian population are estimated to have asthma
- 13.9% of children under 18 years
- 10.8% of adults 18 years and over
- Asthma is most prevalent in those aged under 25 years
- Males are more likely to have asthma until adolescence, after which it is more common among females.
- Asthma is one of the most frequent reasons for hospitalisations among children aged 0-14 years, especially boys. Asthma is not a common cause of death
The cause is largely unknown. The risk of having asthma is highest in people who have a family history of asthma and genetic predisposition for allergic reactions. There is little information about the incidence of asthma among musicians, and the proportion of people with asthma choosing to sing, or play wind instruments.
Question as to whether playing wind instruments and singing benefits asthma control?
Some people with asthma may tend to steer away from playing wind instruments or singing if they fear they will not be successful. Other people, however, take up instruction on wind instruments and singing on the advice of music and health professionals to improve the control of their asthma symptoms. The research evidence seems to be lagging behind practice, because there is few studies that support or deny the benefits of music for asthma management. The studies that are available are small scale, but show some promising results.
Annotated bibliography
Lucia, R (1994) Effects of playing a musical wind instrument in asthmatic teenagers, J Asthma, 31 (5), 375-385.
Lucia's study examines whether teenage asthmatic wind instrumentalists exhibit fewer broncho-constrictive symptoms, panic-fear responses and changes of mood, and fatigue symptoms than non-wind instrument players. Eight teenage asthmatic wind instrument players were compared with a control group of ten asthmatic non-wind instrument players. They kept a diary of asthma symptoms. The outcome revealed that panic-fear responses and mood changes were significantly higher in the non-wind instrument players. A general health profile suggested that the wind instrumentalists had a better asthma-health picture, perceiving themselves to be better able to cope with the disease. than the non-instrumentalists did. It appears that playing a wind instrument has the potential for being of long-term therapeutic benefit for asthmatics. This does not suggest the need to go without asthma medications.
Engen RL The singer's breath: implications for treatment of persons with emphysema, Journal of Music Therapy. 2005 Spring; 42 (1): 20-48.
Engen's study investigated the effects of group singing instruction on the physical health and general wellness of senior citizens with emphysema. Seven people participated in six weeks of group vocal instruction that emphasised breath management techniques. Descriptive analyses showed a clear and dramatic shift in breathing mode from clavicular to diaphragmatic breathing that was maintinaed two weeks after the treatment period. The findings of this study support the idea that vocal instruction, inclusive of breathing exercises, may help to improve the quality of life for senior citizens with emphysema.
Cochrane systematic reviews on usefulness of breathing exercises for people with asthma.
Holloway E & Ram FSF Breathing exercises for asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Review 2004 (1).
Due to the small number of studies that met the criteria for inclusion in the review, and the small sample size in the studies and diverse intervention strategies, no reliable conclusion can be drawn as to the beneficial effects of breathing retraining in asthma. There is, however, a general trend toward improvement that is noticeable.
Ram FSF; Wellington SR; Barnes NC Inspiratory muscle training for asthma, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006 (3).
In moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is good evidence that a generalised loss of muscle bulk occurs (including the respiratory muscles). It is possible that similar loss of respiratory muscle strength also could occur in asthma, particularly in more severe asthma requiring high doses of steroid therapy. Thus, respiratory muscle training may be useful for people with asthma, but there is insuffficient research at present to support this theory.
Discussion
Asthma may affect the choice of musical instrument and may produce performance limitations for wind instrumentalists and singers. Asthma may result in time off work and school, and may restrict participation in physical and social activities. A multi-disciplinary approach to asthma management is necessary for musicians and singers because the Cochrance reviews indicate that breathing exercises alone, may not be sufficiently effective.
The aim of therapy and education is to support and enable people to self manage and adapt to their health condition. Music and health professionals work collaboratively to ensure that people's functional ability is maximised. Practical strategies discussed in this paper, however, do not replace the need for medication and it is essential that people continue to seek medical advice regarding their individual circumstances. Medication is still the primary intervention for the effective control and management of asthma.
There is the potential for using music both within health care environments and in community settings. A report of the Australian Council for the Arts (Dunn, 2006) indicates that participation in community-based arts has three major benefits: health and well-being; education and the arts; and community harmony. Community music and arts have been recognised as legitimate modalities for community development that can promote people's health and well-being. Music and health professionals with expertise in respiratory health can support people's musical participation in community settings, such as singing in choirs or playing wind instruments in a band. Participation in music, as an individual or in a group ensemble, can make a difference to people's quality of life.
Conclusion
The evidence available to date suggests that there are indications that wind instrument playing and singing may be beneficial for control of asthma symptoms. There is a need for large scale randomised-controlled trials involving breathing retraining and the use of wind instruments and singing, to determine the effectiveness of participation in musical activities as a control strategy for asthma symptoms. Qualitative research, such as case studies and surveys, are also valuable to determine whether people perceive there are benefits to their participation in musical activities.
Further reading
AIHW 2005 Chronic respiratory diseases in Australia online www.aihw.gov.au
Dunn A, 2006 Community Partnerships Scoping Study: Creative Communities available online at http://www.ozco.gov.au/arts_resources/other/cpss_report/
Eley, R & Gorman D, 2008 Music therapy to manage asthma. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal. 31 (1): 9-10.
Engen RL The singer's breath: implications for treatment of persons with emphysema, Journal of Music Therapy. 2005 Spring; 42 (1): 20-48.
Holloway E & Ram FSF Breathing exercises for asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Review 2004 (1).
Lucia R Effects of playing a musical wind instrument in asthmatic teenagers, J Asthma, 1994; 31 (5): 375-385
Ram FSF; Wellington SR; Barnes NC Inspiratory muscle training for asthma, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006 (3).
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Commenced 12 May, 2009. Last updated 13 Nov, 2011.
© Sandra Kirkwood, 2008.
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