Over the last ten years there has been an increase in the number of community choirs in Northern Ireland. According to British Choirs online, there are around 34 community choirs in Northern Ireland with websites or Facebook pages listed (choirs.org.uk, n.d.), however this may only be a fraction of the actual number of community choirs operating in the North . Ireland. Community choirs have been shown in numerous studies to offer a wide range of benefits not only to the participants but to the community as a whole. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Before we can examine the processes and methodologies used by music professionals to create and maintain these community choirs, we must first understand what community music is. The concept of Community Music has never really been defined by either arts professionals, arts councils or music organisations, however for the purposes of this research project Community Music should be interpreted as a means of bringing together a community of people by offering a music service or a music hub to unite those who wouldn't normally gather together. Community Music draws on the deprivations and experiences of people in society who are vulnerable or insecure. In summary, “Community music is a group activity that brings people together.” (Cahill, 1998) To expand our understanding of the relevance of the benefits of community choir in the modern world, it is critical to delve further into the context of the topic and have some knowledge of a community arts professional who has researched these benefits. Through researching the various benefits that come with having a community choir in society, Professor Graham Welch's work appears to concisely formulate the benefits of a community choir. Professor Graham Welch holds the Chair in Music Education at the UCL Institute of Education, University College London. As a renowned music professional, Professor Welsh is an ideal example of what a professional should be. In a recent presentation given at Gresham College, London, he highlights what he thinks the benefits of being in a choir are, which I have focused on as research for this Literature Review. Social The social component of being in a community choir is probably one of the most important benefits. It allows a participant to feel part of the community and to have the feeling of being just as important as another participant in the choir. Another key component of social media is communication with others. Perhaps, a choir member is usually homebound for medical reasons, for example, and being part of a community choir is his only activity during the week, this allows him to be sociable and communicate with others, make friends and cultivate relationships with others. Furthermore, community choirs are a great example of group belonging, which allows each member to respect and value other members, creating an inclusive space for all. as increased release of the hormone oxytocin, which has previously been implicated in intimate social bonds” (Welch, 2013). This is because a community choir is a diverse group of members. Finally, social integration is a valuable benefit of a community choir. According to sociologist Émile Durkheim, “people's norms, beliefs, and values ​​constitute a collective consciousness, or a shared way of understanding and behaving in the world. Collective consciousness unites individuals and creates social integration." (courses.lumenlearning.com, n.d.) I believe this is the most important benefit of a community choir sincelearning in a community choir occurs within a social process. This component is discussed further in the Education component. However, it is clear that in the everyday world, “Musical sounds are a powerful human resource, often at the center of our deepest social occasions and experiences. People in societies around the world use music to create and express their emotional inner lives, to bridge the gulf between themselves and the divine, to woo lovers, to celebrate weddings, to support friendships and communities, to inspire movements mass politicians and to help their children fall asleep" (Turin, 2008) Psychosocial According to the Oxford English Dictionary, psychosocial is ''pertaining to the influence of social factors on the mind or behavior of an individual and to the interrelation of factors behavioral and social'' (Lahelma, 2002). There are several psychosocial benefits of being in a community choir; Intrapersonal communication is communication with a person. Catharsis is the release of held emotions or feelings. Interpersonal communication is communication that occurs with two or more people. Each of these psychosocial benefits are equally important. These benefits are a means of:Distraction- “Certainly there is evidence that music can distract the listener and performer in many ways, for example through the immersive state of 'flow' (Csíkszentmihalyi 1996), and in doing so can provide health benefits” (Raymond MacDonald, 2012) This is crucial for the community arts practitioner to understand that some choir members are there for social benefit and distract from other life situations, e.g. home life, work or the family situation. Positive thoughts and feelings - “Singing strengthens health, broadens culture, sharpens intelligence, enriches imagination, makes you happy and gives life an extra zest.” (http://www.barbershop.org/education/vocal-health/health-benefits-of-singing/, n.d.) Emotions: Music can affect our mood and emotions; can have a positive effect. Ambiguous: Music is ambiguous as it can have different effects on different people and some may listen to a piece of music in a different light than others. Music influences behavior: Music has been described as a universal language. , where people of all ages and abilities can come together as one. MusicalMusic is omnipresent. Especially with the level of technology today. We can listen to music anywhere on our phones, TVs, computers or tablets. For a music professional, allowing music education during a choir rehearsal or session is one of the main strategies. There are many musical traits that the practitioner may wish to consider when teaching a choir; Understanding music such as phrasing and structure to create expression. This is an ideal concept to identify a performing choir. The development of musical memory. For example, people suffering from dementia may benefit from singing in a community choir. Singing can improve memory and simulate memories of forgotten times. “Even when someone can no longer speak, music becomes a way of communication and engagement. It appears to access parts of the brain that are not affected by the damage of dementia.” (https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/dementia/demenza-and-music/, 2018) Through research it has been stated that “10-20% of the general population is inaccurate when singing a melody from memory or in intonation tasks. (Simone Dalla Bella, 2011) However, casual singers tended to sing at a faster tempo and with more pitch and tempo errors than professional singers... but... when.