A growing interest in the impact of singing on health and well-being has seen a dramatic increase in the number of research projects in this area in recent years.

This guide provides an overview of the evidence that group singing can be beneficial for people living with dementia. It also gives examples of setting up singing groups for people living in the community who are affected by dementia. This includes care-givers, family members and friends. 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing (APPGAHW) was formed in 2014. Our aim is to improve awareness of the benefits that the arts can bring to health and wellbeing, and to stimulate progress towards making these benefits a reality all across the country.

Starting a dementia choir is a rewarding project, but hard work.

Also, how challenging do you want the piece to be? What vocal range should you use? Do you introduce harmony?

Planning rehearsals is essential. If a leader comes across as disorganised, the choir will assume they can relax, and before you know if there’s a constant noise level of chat.