Singing for Pleasure

Leaders: Sarah Allsopp & Peter Taylor

From 17th October the newly reformed Singing for Pleasure group will be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month.

The group meets at La Gare, Eymet from 13h45-15h30 (with a break for refreshments).

We are an informal group, with an emphasis on fun! We sing along to a huge variety of songs in French and English, covering various popular/favourite artists, spanning multiple decades and genres.

The song list and song sheets will be provided via email in advance of each meeting, so that you can print them off, or use your phones/tablets to view them on the day.

There will be a short break to have the chance to meet everyone.

This year we will be looking at inviting guests to come along to host an afternoon to enable us to sing to live music – there may be a small charge to cover this (tbc).

If you enjoy singing, this is for you, no matter what your level! There is no audition to join the group and no previous singing or musical experience is needed. All we need is your enthusiasm, your smiles and your willingness to have a good time.

Singing together is also good for your health!

Singing is a surprisingly terrific form of exercise, and group singing in particular has been scientifically proven to lower stress, relieve anxiety, and elevate endorphins.

The benefits of singing regularly seem to be cumulative. In one study, singers were found to have lower levels of cortisol, indicating lower stress. It turns out you don’t even have to be a good singer to reap the rewards. According to one 2005 study, group singing “can produce satisfying and therapeutic sensations even when the sound produced by the vocal instrument is of mediocre quality.”

Group singing is cheaper than therapy, healthier than drinking, and certainly more fun than working out. It is the one thing in life where feeling better is pretty much guaranteed.  Even if you walked into a session exhausted and depressed, by the end of  you’ll walk out high on endorphins and good will.

On a practical note, these are the things you will need to bring with you to a meeting:

• Song lyrics which have been emailed to you, can be printed at home or saved on a tablet or device,
• A bottle of water or squash to keep hydrated throughout the session, and
• A sense of fun!

Finally, there is no expectation that members have to attend every week. It is a very fluid group and is open to all ACFAA members. All nationalities are very, very welcome.  There is a modest charge of 1€ to cover the costs of guest appearances.

If you want to find out more and sign on, then we hope to see you at the open evening on the 5th September 2024.