Friday, November 23, 2007

The Benefits of the Performing Arts

The performing arts offer a vast array of benefits many may not even be aware of. They range from health, emotional, to even social aspects. Whether the activity is singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or acting; each provides its own unique advantages, and John Carroll University offers all of these performing arts opportunities.

Playing Music
There are five benefits of playing music which include making you smarter, teaching discipline, relieving stress, providing a sense of achievement, and of course it’s fun. In addition, there are actually studies that back some of these benefits. Dr. Barry Bittman of the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadvill, PA led a team of researches in discovering that playing a musical instrument can reduce stress responses on genetic levels.

Singing
When it comes to singing, there are also several benefits linked to it. An obvious thing that most can attest to is that it’s natural for us to enjoy singing whether we can actually sing “well” or not, and furthermore we find it relaxing. There are also less evident health benefits. Some of these are the exercising of the lungs, sleep improvement, and the release of pain relieving endorphins. Singing also increases our self-esteem and confidence, reduces stress, and encourages creativity. Several other health benefits of vocal exercises have been sited.

Acting
Participating in drama may not have apparent health benefits, but it can help you become a well-rounded person. Some major benefits include helping to build self-confidence, improving public speaking abilities, and developing stronger interpersonal skills.

Dancing
Being a dancer increases many aspects of your health. The top four health benefits include becoming more flexible, building strength, increasing endurance, and building a sense of well-being since socializing contributes to a more positive outlook while physical activity reduces stress and tension. Other common benefits of dance include being able to strengthen your self-confidence and increase your creative potential, as well as offering opportunities to build friendships and have fun.

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