Medical Mysteries of Music

Apparently, there are physical and mental health benefits of singing in the shower

Here’s another one of those surveys from the UK that’s actually a commercial in disguise. In this case, Harvey Water Softeners (who make–well, you know) commissioned a study on singing in the shower. Does it actually help with a person’s wellbeing?

The sample size was small–just 10, so take this with a grain of (water softener) salt–but the results are nonetheless interesting.

These 10 volunteers were asked to shower in silence for five days and then spend the next five days of showering singing. Along the way, they were asked to answer the 11 questions in the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire to determine their state of happiness. The questionnaire rated things on a scale of 1 to 6.

  • The score went from 2.96 (pretty neutral) in the first five days to 4.5 for the second five days. So singing seems to have worked.
  • Week one delivered the most negative responses in terms of engery and alertness.
  • Week two–the singing week–the volunteers said they fell really alert.
  • Week two also say increases in the happiness, engery, and wellbeing scale.

More information can be found here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 37984 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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