Singing in a group is awesome. The feeling of belting out a harmony with a load of other singers, particularly when they are your fellow choir or cast members and have become your friends, is something that is very hard to beat, or indeed replicate.

So what do we do when we still can’t get together to sing as usual?

Here are a few ideas I use to make sure that I top up my feel good vibes when my usual singing activities aren’t on the cards.

At Home Karaoke

There are loads of backing tracks available on sites like Spotify and YouTube. Sing along to your favourite pop or show tune and let the good vibes flow!

Vocal Workouts

Some of our favourites are Natalie Weiss’s Breaking Down the Riffs, Rachel Lynes of Sing Space and Felicia Ricci - but there are many more, so you’ll be able to find your favourite.

Five Minute Dance Breaks

Put on some pumping tunes and dance like no one is watching. Here’s our Show tunes to Workout To playlist on Spotify.

Gratitude

When the things we love doing are no longer accessible it can be easy to fall into feelings of loss. Listing three things for which you are grateful at the end of each day can retrain a brain to look towards the positive. This is a lovely task to do with a child, loved one or housemate and helps create the same feel-good radars that singing can.

Release through Meditation

Singing always leaves me feeling better about the world, so on an evening where I’ve not sung, I use mindfulness exercises to settle my mind instead. My favourite mindfulness exercise is about releasing negative thoughts and focussing on the positive. Sit or lie down with eyes closed and begin to look for positive things - anything from nice sensations to good thoughts or happy memories. When something challenging or negative pops up, simply say ‘release’ (out loud or internally). Resume the search for the good stuff. This is a lovely way to switch off from ruminating thoughts before bed or indeed at any point throughout the day.

Apps like Buddhify, Headspace and Insight Timer all offer numerous meditations and mindfulness exercises, many for free. Or try my own video on releasing thoughts.

Yoga

The physical benefits of singing can be sorely missed, and can be topped up using yoga. Since I’ve become a mother, getting to my favourite yoga classes has been a challenge. So I’ve taken up at home yoga classes on YouTube. Free, full of positivity and good for the body and mind, this is always a win-win for me. I choose a video in the morning, which sets me up for the day. I’m always more relaxed, productive and energised after a session. Starling Arts member Pippa runs Kala Yoga featuring incredible online classes which you can attend and video packages you can download to get your yoga hit. We also love Yoga with Adriene - she is so calming and open without taking herself too seriously. Plus she has a super cute dog who sometimes joins in.

Relive Memories

Watch your favourite performance videos, browse photos and connect with others who you’ve sung with before. Keep your happy singing memories alive.

Join a Virtual Choir

Eric Whitacre was one of the first to take choirs digitally, and many more are popping up around the place! Sign up to Starling’s own Nest Choir mailing list for information about our online singing offerings and events!

Find New Ways to Sing

Sing to your kids, as you wash up, sing down the phone to your Gran and make up songs about getting dressed. All of these things will allow you to use your voice, get those feel good vibes flowing, and keep you creative.

- Emily

Share any other ideas you have below!

The Starling Arts Blog