Why Workplace Choirs?
Everyone can and should sing. I firmly believe that every one of us must find time to sing, even if it is only in the shower! It is good for our health (think breathing), it is great for our emotional life (expressing ourselves), and it gets us doing something joyous, fun and safe with others. And that is only the beginning of the personal benefits!
The Sum of the Parts is offering people in the Lower Hunter
the
chance to sing during their work lunch hour. It's a shame that
we have taken so long to recognise what other (particularly
African)
cultures have done for centuries ... that being musical in the
workplace is a wonderful thing to do!
- Access music lessons and singing in a time and place that is more convenient
- Get to know their colleagues in a totally different light
- Benefit mentally and physically from the act of singing
- Develop a new skill.
So too are the benefits for the workplace.
- Build a stronger sense of community in the workplace and between the employer and employee
- Build an improved sense of staff loyalty and commitment to the employer
- Put a predictable work-related highlight in the working week
- Improve staff morale.
Mark Jackson has conducted a Trade Union Choir (the Newcastle People's Chorus - 1988-1990), a prisoners singing group and Singing Groups for people with psychiatric disability. He was also a member of Victorian acapella and folk-pop band voicepopfoible. From 1996 to 2008 they performed at festivals all over Australia. Mark also enjoys singing accompanied and unaccompanied by himself and with others! (See the gigs page or here for more info on what Mark is doing or has done).
Sing!!!!