IT'S long been said that laughter is good medicine, but Griffith University’s Queensland Conser-vatorium of Music Research Centre is tuning into the way singing may improve some physical and psychological impacts of Parkinson’s disease.
For almost six months, singing groups – made up of people diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder and carers – have met weekly at three south-east Queensland locations as part of a program developed in the United Kingdom by the Canterbury Cantata Trust and simultaneously trialled in Australia, South Korea and China.
While analysis of the results will take time, the conservatorium’s music therapist Dr Yoon Irons feels a healing power every time she walks into the Kallangur group session, north of Brisbane.
“I just love seeing people have a good time and we’ve had no drop-outs so clearly, our singers enjoy themselves!” she laughed while explaining the process.
“When you sing, it engages your breathing, your vocal cords, your facial muscles and memory. So many areas of the brain are being stimulated and reconnected.”
Dr Irons said, importantly, getting together and singing together creates a wonderful sense of community.
“We all have our own voice. We use it as an instrument to create music, to express feelings.
“As researchers, we’re keen to see whether singing is a beneficial adjunct therapy, particularly for those dealing with
communication difficulties
“Communication can become an obstacle with Parkinson’s. People may stop talking out of frustration, which in turn can lead to relationships deteriorating.”
That certainly has not been the case for Deception Bay couple Terry and Robyn Atkinson.
“I was always known as Johnny One Note. I couldn’t sing to save myself,” said Terry, 76, who was diagnosed when a doctor examining him for a sore throat also noticed a shuffling change in Terry’s gait.
“I’m a lot more confident generally now; I’m singing notes. I can even shout at Robyn now!”
For carer Robyn, 72, the singing group is a social activity they can share as well as proving a stress-breaker.
“We used to dance. Now we sing together,” she said.
Tom Dawson’s dealings with Parkinson’s have so far involved limb tremors, and not his voice.
Between belting out his own rendition of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, the 61-year-old explained his participation.
“I’ll get involved in any research there is – not because it will help me but because it will bring about understanding, treatments, maybe a cure, for my children or grandchildren’s generation.
“It’s also really important to put aside the embarrassment that may come with Parkinson’s because of speech problems or tremors or movement issues and socialise.”
The three Sing to Beat Parkinson’s choirs, from Kallangur, South Bank and Toowoomba, will perform as one at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in February.