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The science behind singing

Singing is everywhere. You can hear people singing on the radio, at parties, in the shower, in choirs, at religious events. Singing is the core of many traditions, such as Christmas carols or yodelling, and for many it is an important part of their lives. But how does singing actually work – and why do we sing? What is the connection between singing and social life?

Luisa Mehrgardt

To produce sound, our bodies function in a similar way to many instruments. Different components make up the whole sound:
First, we need air. Our lungs provide this by breathing, acting as bellows. Correct breathing technique is essential for singing.
The second is the larynx. This is where the vocal cords are located. You can think of them as the strings of a violin. As the larynx vibrates, the sound is produced. You can change the pitch with the help of your vocal cords.
Your chest and head cavities amplify the sound.
Finally, we use our teeth, tongue and palate to articulate words.
This is a simplified explanation of how singing works – but it might give you an idea of how many different components have to work well together to produce musical sounds with your voice. And because each person has a different body, vocal cords, palate and tongue, your voice is absolutely unique.

Now we know how we are able to produce musical sounds. But why do we sing? Scientifically, the reasons have not been definitively identified. However, there are many theories that are very likely to be true.
Since ancient times, scientists have been trying to understand how humans started to sing. Did we start singing and then speaking? Or vice versa?
There are opposing views. According to the famous English biologist Charles Darwin, humans started singing first and language developed later.

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Many other scientists and philosophers, such as C. Stumpf or Herbert Spencer, thought it worked the reverse way. We can hear the similarity between speech and singing, all languages have a characteristic cadence and intonation. Stumpf believed that singing evolved from these musical characteristics of language.
The explanation of why we sing is linked to the question of why humans enjoy and make music in general. As far as we know today, music directly affects our brain, the limbic system. It is in this area of the brain that our emotions are processed – so there is a direct connection between music and emotions. Studies have shown that even babies can tell the difference between harmonic and disharmonious sounds. This means that music must be something very fundamental to us humans. What could be the reason for this?
It is often said that the human is an ” animal sociale”. We cannot survive without relationships and some kind of group to which we belong. Music may have developed to strengthen our social bonds and help us build a sense of community.
Singing together is also more organized and louder, and therefore more impressive, than just each person shouting, which may have been an evolutionary advantage to scare off wild animals. Thus, musicality may have evolved through synchronization of the group.

We still don’t know much about the origins of singing. But what we do know proves the essential role of music and singing for us humans and our social life. Music touches us deeply, and making music together deepens our relationships. This is probably why music is at the core of so many traditions. The next time you sing karaoke, remember that even if it does not sound perfect, expressing your feelings, having fun making music together and strengthening social bonds is more important than hitting the right tune.

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