What is Soup and Sing? 

Each session begins with an opportunity to socialise over a meal, so that we get to know each other before we start to make music together.

The singing group includes gentle seated exercise, deep breathing to cleanse the lungs and activate the diaphragm, vocal warmups to nurture the vocal cords, and a jolly good sing to warm the heart and spread the smiles. There is no need for any singing experience, as you will be supported to succeed in any exercises. You will feel the thrill of using your voice to harmonise with others and we will work on getting the endorphins going.

Most of the music is unaccompanied, so that we can really listen to each other, and so that we can change the pitch for maximum enjoyment amongst the singers.

There will be some recorded music too, so that we can move to the music and dance along.

The group is run by Es Hoyle. Her background is varied, including qualifications in teaching, singing and singing for health.

Es says: “I have experience of teaching singing and music with age groups ranging from 0 (pre-birth) to 104 ( I would happily work with older people but haven’t met many recently). My music training is through the British Kodaly Association, Doremi Connect, Alzheimer’s Society and my amazing singing teacher Erika Mädi Jones. Singing is central to my own well-being…when the going gets tough I find that to put a smile back on my face and a spring in my step I just need to sing the song from my heart. People are my other great love, so I can’t wait to meet you. I hope to help find the way to make your hearts sing too.”

Music is good for the body, mind and soul, and it belongs to everyone.
The positive effects of singing are many and include:

• • • • Improved mental health
      • Enhanced Mental agility with a measurable effect on language recall and acquisition, mathematical development, memory recall, and a calmer emotional state
      • Improved physical health including the heart, lungs, brain, energy levels and a positive effect on physical coordination
      • A chance to develop friendships, decrease isolation and become part of the community
      • Increased self-confidence with more effective communication