Joining Alexa this week is Sarah Summers, who is a musical director, choir leader, and vocal health first aider based in Swindon, UK. Sarah runs four choirs, including one for unpaid carers and another for staff and retired employees of the Great Western Hospitals Trust. She is currently studying on the MA Vocal Health pathway with the Voice Study Center and has published some of her work with the Singing for Health Network. Sarah's research focus lies on the emotional well-being benefits and ethics of running a Community Choir.
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Sunshine Singers is a daytime choir for anyone who wants to sing with others, regardless of ability or singing experience.  They sing well-known pop songs from all era's, in a relaxed environment where all voices are valued.  Harmonies are taught to those who wish to have a challenge and all abilities are catered for within this nurturing environment.
The Carers Choir is for people who are caring for family members or those who have sadly lost the person they are caring for. People come to the choir for respite and to get some time to themselves. In this environment they can talk to and sing with people going through similar things to them. 
As part of her MA at the Voice Studies Centre, Sarah has researched the emotional benefits that choir members gain from singing together. From this she was incredibly surprised to find the level of respect and understanding that carers showed towards each other, even after incredibly tough days looking after a loved one. Sarah was also shocked at how little the carers got financially for all their work. 
Choirs are great for emotional wellbeing and there are some studies which suggest that the choir leader plays a huge role in this. Sarah is looking to do further research to pinpoint what the choir leader can do to support and enhance the wellbeing within their community. 
When running her choir for carers, Sarah works as hard as possible to be accommodating to everyone and their needs. By making things as easy as possible for them it doesn’t add to any stress they may have and allows them to stop worrying for a short time and relax. Sarah is also understanding and lenient with attendance and learning because carers can’t commit fully to being there every week and having the time to learn the songs. This is where the community spirit comes into play and the more confident singers help those who have had less time to learn the music. 

BEST MOMENTS‘It’s inspirational that they care for people at home but have this unlimited care for each other as well’‘Carers come into the choir room with all of these things on their shoulders so I try to make things as easy for them as possible’ ‘Some people need help themselves to feel confident singing in the choir’ ‘We try and change things to be uplifting when it needs to be’ ‘Learning as you go is just as important for the choir leader as it is for the choir’ ‘They come to the choir as much for the community as for the singing’
EPISODE RESOURCES Website:

www.happyhealthyvocals.co.uk

Relevant Links & Mentions: 

Voice Study Centre: https://voicestudycentre.com/
The Singing for Health Network Publication: https://www.singingforhealthnetwork.co.uk/post/getting-to-know-the-community-behind-carers-voices-a-choir-for-unpaid-carers
Building Community Through Song: The Therapeutic Hospice Choir: https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/119/0e0/BJMT---Building-Community-Through-Song.pdf
Who Cares… For the Carers? By Mike Kelly: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-6686.2010.00139.x

ABOUT THE GUEST Sarah Summers is a choir leader and Vocal Health First Aider based in Swindon. As a leader of community choirs, her work is largely informed by her training in Vocal Health. Working with a choir of Unpaid Carers' in her locality, Sarah has recently researched this specific community to explore how she can best cater for their needs as singers. Sarah also leads a choir of staff and retired employees of The Great Weste