SOTA^TM Adult Rock Choir sings from the Valentine’s heart…to raise more funds for Heart Research UK’.

For the third year running the SOTA^TM Adult Rock Choir (SARC) have raised funds for Heart Research UK by recording a charity single. This years song is 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and sales of the CD raised £270 for the charity that funds research into Heart Disease.  In previous years our fund raising efforts raised £260 in 2010 and £350 in 2011. 

SARC, which meets every Thursday evening at Southcote Primary School, had only been running for five weeks in February 2010 when they recorded their first charity CD, a special version of the romantic anthem ‘Better’, written by Tom Baxter, which later became a hit for Westlife. Choir members bought copies of the CD to give to their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, raising £260 for Heart Research UK as part of their ‘Sing For Your Heart’ campaign which is raising funds to find a cure for heart disease. 

SARC in action, lead by Juliette Caton, recording 'Better' in 2010.

In 2011, Bob Dylan's 'To Make You Feel My Love', a smash hit for Adele, raised £350 as the choir grew and more people supported the project.  

This year the choir was at it again; recording a special version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. "We like to choose a song that isn't so much a romantic love song but is something that you can give to anyone you love or care for on Valentine's Day." says SARC founder Juliette Caton. "Bridge Over Troubled Water is a really stirring number which speaks of really being there for someone. In these austere and difficult times we felt the message of support and care for loved ones was what we wanted to share this year."  

Members of the SOTA^TM Adult Rock Choir in Reading - Recording their 2011 Valentines Song. (Photo courtesy of Evening Post)

There is evidence to show that singing is good for the heart...

Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, who has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years says, “The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting. Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour.”

Singing is a great work out

Regular exercising of the vocal cords can even prolong life, according to research done by leading vocal coach and singer Helen Astrid, from The Helen Astrid Singing Academy in West London. “It’s a great way to keep in shape because you are exercising your lungs and heart. Not only that, your body produces ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins, which rush around your body when you sing. It’s exactly the same when you eat a bar of chocolate. The good news with singing is that you don’t gain any calories! Not only can it increase lung capacity, it improves posture, clears respiratory tubes and sinuses, and can increase mental alertness through greater oxygenation. It even tones the muscles of your stomach and back, that is if you’re singing correctly.”

Sing for the heart