5 Ways Singing Can Improve Your Relationships

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The power of music is undeniable. We’ve all had those moments when an album, a concert, or a soundtrack has moved us to tears or felt as though it was connecting the dots on all of our own complex emotions and life experiences.

Music accompanies our most important moments and ties us to our most cherished memories. So how might we tap into this special potency of sound to improve all of the relationships in our lives?

Whether or not you play an instrument, you have a voice, and this makes you a singer. Your voice, which is uniquely yours, acts like a conduit between your mind, body, and soul, and any time spent using it intentionally will bring about transformation in your entire life. When you expand your range, you expand your ability to communicate; when you strengthen your breath support, you get bolder and braver; when you bring a loud full sound from your low range into your high range, you get more confident. Things that might seem like metaphors are really untapped opportunities for true growth. 

As a singer/songwriter and vocal empowerment coach, I have been able to witness these and other amazing things happen in my own and in other people’s lives from the power of singing. I’ve worked with beginners, professionals, and everything in between. Here are a few things I’ve learned about singing and how it impacts every relationship, whether it’s how you relate to yourself, your partner, your friends and family, or your community. 

01 | Singing together is a bonding experience.

There’s no doubt about it — if you sing with someone, you’re going to get closer. This can take so many forms, whether it’s singing along to your favorite songs, pulling up some classics on karaoke, or singing along with a guitar or piano, singing together helps you bond as you literally vibrate in unison or harmony.

Want to take it a step further? Try writing a song together! As you craft lyrics on shared experiences, things that make you laugh, or things that touch your hearts, you’ll get to explore not only how your voices sound together, but the stories and memories that connect you.

02 | Singing calms us.

The perfect example of singing’s calming effect is a mother singing to soothe her baby. Lullabies are a universal human ritual that helps babies go from distress to sleep with the calming magic of a parent’s voice. But not only does singing calm babies — it calms the singer, too.

The next time you’re feeling anxious or down, try taking a few moments to sing. You’ll notice some physical and mental tension releasing as a more positive, grounded version of you takes over. Whether you sing to calm someone else or sing to calm yourself, you’ll notice great benefits in all of your relationships.

03 | Singing promotes honesty.

Sometimes it can feel like there’s nothing more scary than singing in front of someone else (or sometimes even in front of yourself). Our voices are so personal and carry our emotions so transparently — if you’re sad, your voice may crack, if you are tense, it may sound stiff, if you are anxious, your pitch may wobble. To share your voice in song is to be incredibly vulnerable and raw, letting all of this out into the open, come what may.

This is a profound experience of honesty that can help us feel comfortable sharing other things we might have been holding onto, such as unspoken wants, needs, or dreams. Whether you sing alone, in front of a loved one, a stranger, or a full audience, your willingness to be vulnerable will ripple into increased honesty in other areas of your life as well.

04 | Singing connects us to our bodies.

As a singer (and all of us are singers), your body is your instrument. Singing uses not only your vocal cords and mouth, but everything from your core muscles to your nose cartilage. When you vocalize, you get to explore the feelings of your entire body and how everything connects to create your unique sound.

The resonance of your voice in your body can feel so amazing that it changes the way your body feels in mere moments. The more that you sing, the more comfortable you will be in your body, and the more comfortable you are in your body, the more positivity, energy, and love you will have to share with others.

05 | Singing connects us to our souls.

There’s a reason that singing is so interwoven with spirituality — it can truly feel as though your voice is your soul reaching toward the divine, a prayer moving through you to the heavens.

Find a way to incorporate singing into your spiritual life, whether it’s singing at church or singing at home with your meditations and prayers, and you will feel a sense of being connected to things much greater than yourself. Singing is a great source of spiritual rejuvenation and peace, which in turn inspires genuine and compassionate connection with others.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s sing!