6 October 2010
Did you know a new singing group is starting in Tauranga called The Brainwave Singers?
What makes The Brainwave Singers different?
The Brainwave Singers have neurological conditions and sing to improve their speech and voice.
Last year saw the launch of New Zealand’s first choir offering music therapy for people with neurological conditions.
The inspiration for the launch of this choir was the success of a similar choir in London.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Speech and Language therapist and cofounder of The Brainwave Singers Robin Matthews
said “We know that singing makes us feel good. Now science is discovering how singing can help people suffering from
Parkinson's to Aphasia (stroke),” he said.
Mr Matthews gave an example: Colin uses his inhaler less since he started attending a small Parkinson’s group using
singing therapy. A Parkinson's sufferer, Colin had problems with his speech and voice, so he started attending
fortnightly. The effect on his condition has been remarkable says his wife. “He breathes much more easily and has a
stronger voice”.
Through attending the group, people with Parkinson’s have learned that they can use singing as a means of holding off
the negative effects of this progressive neurological condition. “The theory is that Parkinson’s will most likely get
the better of you if you let it, so throwing vocal and breathing exercises back at it, seems to go a long way to holding
the symptoms at bay” says Robin Matthews.
The Brainwave Singers co-founder and BOPDHB Occupational Therapist, Janet Freeman says “now people can help improve
their breathing, speech and voice, and if they wish, be part of new global research that will look into the positive
benefits of singing on health and well being. Robin and I are very excited about this new initiative in Tauranga, which
is fully supported by the Parkinson’s Society Tauranga and Stroke Foundation Tauranga,” she said.
Robin and Janet are keen to include people who have neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, stroke and brain
injury into The Brainwave Singers choir.
“Singing uses different parts of the brain. To sing, you have to remember the tune and words, then fill your lungs with
air, produce a voice and then coordinate your voice and breathing whilst singing the melody. For people with
Parkinson’s, the coordination required helps produce a better, louder voice.”
“For people who have had a stroke; research shows that they can regain the ability to talk by learning to sing words
they are unable to speak. If the brain’s language centres are damaged, neural plasticity – ‘rewiring’ the brain – may
train the part of the brain responsible for singing to take over the speech functions.”
Why not come along to the inaugural meeting to discuss the choir over tea and biscuits at 11:00am on Thursday 28th
October at the BOP Clinical School Education Centre, 889 Cameron Rd, Tauranga. (The old RSA Club)
ENDS