Table Of ContentSINGING AND WELLBEING
Singing and Wellbeing provides evidence that the benefits of a melodious voice go
far beyond pleasure, and confirms the importance of singing in optimum health.
A largely untapped resource in the healthcare professions, the singing voice offers
rewards that are closer than ever to being fully quantified by advances in neuro-
science and psychology. For music, pre-med, bioethics, and medical humanities
students, this book introduces the types of ongoing research that connect behav-
iour and brain function with the musical voice. It also synthesizes medical findings
with Western music history, musical ethics, aesthetics, and ethnomusicology.
The centrality of the inflected voice in human existence will be examined
through the lenses of anthropological, evolutionary, historical, musicological, phil-
osophical, psychological, and emerging medical evidence. The book contributes
to the interdisciplinary bridge-building already underway among musicians, music
therapists, healthcare researchers and providers, and caregivers interested in the
effects of singing. Discussion points, links to further reading, and audio and video
resources illustrate applications of central concepts.
Kay Norton is Associate Professor of Musicology at Arizona State University.
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SINGING AND
WELLBEING
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Proof
Kay Norton
First published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2016 Taylor & Francis
The right of Kay Norton to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Norton, Kay, author.
Singing and wellbeing : ancient wisdom, modern proof / Kay Norton.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Singing—Therapeutic use. 2. Singing—History. 3. Singing—
Physiological aspects. 4. Singing—Social aspects. 5. Singing—
Psychological aspects. 6. Singing—Religious aspects. 7. Music
therapy. I. Title.
ML3920.N678 2016
783—dc23
2015000799
ISBN: 978-1-138-82531-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-82532-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-74006-5 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Keystroke, Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton
For all who sing and all who heal.
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CONTENTS
List of Figures xi
Notes on Contributors xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xxiii
PART I
Singing in History, Cognition, and Parenting 1
1 The First Musical Instrument 3
Singing in Pre-human Ancestors 3
The Elusive Documentation of V ocal Music 7
The Physiological Voice 9
The Meaningful Voice 11
Individuality and Community 12
Conclusion 14
Musical Illustration 14
Rhetorical Illustration 14
Discussion Points 15
Notes 15
References 16
2 Neural Mapping and Brain Chemistry:
How Singing Is Good for You 18
Antecedents and Milestones in Neurological Research 19
Music Therapy and Medical Environments 22
Neuroplasticity 25
Mirror Neuron System Theory 26
Oxytocin 31
Conclusion 33
viii Contents
Film Illustration 35
Video Illustrations 35
Discussion Points 35
Notes 36
References 37
3 “Womb to Tomb”: Singing, Science, and the
Mother’s Voice 42
Caveat: Lacan and French Post-structuralist Thought 43
Evolution and Mothering 45
Oxytocin and Parenting 49
Conclusion 51
Film Illustration 53
Discussion Points 53
Notes 53
References 54
PART II
Singing for the Group, the Self, and the Soul 57
4 Singing Our Songs: Damon of Athens, the Blues,
and Group Psychology 59
Ethos and Blues 61
The Downhome Blues Aesthetic and Group Bonding 66
Bonding and Blues Elements 69
Singing Our Songs 76
Social Identity 79
Conclusion 81
Musical Illustrations 84
Film Illustrations 84
Discussion Points 84
Notes 85
References 86
5 The Loss of Brain Function: How Singing Helps 90
General Considerations about Research and Dementia 91
Reporting on Dementia Patients’ Quality of Life in Singing
Interventions 93
Singing with Dementia Patients: Special Considerations
and Benefits 96
Contents ix
A Summary of the Ways Singing Can Help People with
Dementia 103
“Jackie’s Voice: Keeping ‘Songs of the Self’ Alive while
Living with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)”:
A Case Study by Robin Rio, MA, MT-BC 106
“Desperately Rediscovering Susan”: A Case Study by
Annamaria Oliverio, PhD, Music Therapist 114
“At the End of Life”: A Hospice Case Study by
Jan Dougherty, MS, RN 119
Conclusion 123
Film Illustrations 126
Video Illustrations 126
Discussion Points 126
Notes 127
References 129
6 Singing and Religion 133
Singing in Esoteric Traditions 135
Vocal Melody in the Most Populous Religions 142
Conclusion: The Cultural Work of Belief-Based Singing 163
Musical Illustrations 168
Discussion Points 168
Notes 168
References 171
Selected Timeline of Vocal Healing Milestones from
Mythology and History 175
Index 195
