“Those who wish to sing, always find a song.” — Swedish proverb.

The Detroit Tigers home opener is 116 days away — during the seventh inning stretch a 40,000-voice chorus, will burst into song, “Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd, buy me some peanuts, and cracker jacks, I don’t care if I never get back.” It may seem odd to even give that a thought, at a time of singing “Jingle Bells” and eating peanut brittle, but there is a connection — community singing.

“Any singing is good singing, and anywhere we do it becomes a community center,” said Dr. Will Schmid, president, National Association of Music Educators (1994-1996).

Dr. Schmid considered “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” an example of the power of singing in groups. Joined in a song with a catchy tune and simple lyrics, there is no concern for talent or posture; people feel good about themselves and others. Third behind “Happy Birthday,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” as most frequently sung, the song was authored by Jack Norworth and composed by Albert Von Tilzer in 1908 — neither had attended a baseball game.

Songs are sung informally, around campfires, dinner tables, service clubs, and more structured venues, concert halls, and churches, for fun, entertainment, and ritual. A physiological factor might contribute to why people find commonality in singing: the heartbeat begins to match the cadence, eventually becoming synchronized within the group.

Bjorn Vickhoff, musicologist at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, discovered what he terms as respiratory sinus arrythmia, the more sophisticated the choral music, the greater the effect. The feeling of the 360-member Tabernacle (Mormon) Choir at Temple Square as they conclude George Frederic Handel’s Messiah, could be described as pumped.

“I’ve got that Lion’s spirit up in my head, here in my heart, down in my feet, I’ve that Lions spirit all over me, all over me to stay!” — Lions Club International.

The song rallies members for their weekly luncheon, but also reminds us that the spirit of community singing moves within the individual from top knot to tip toe. The foundation to camaraderie is the sense of fulfillment one gets from participating. Singing has been compared to yoga and prayer recitation — it brings a feeling of serenity by linking the mind and body through concentration and posture. There is more to it than a sense of duty that keeps people singing in a choir for decades.

Music is an integral part of the community of Alpena, with choral music being prominent in the holiday season — the Besser Male Chorus and the Thunder Bay Arts Chorus have performances scheduled. Local churches offer opportunities to sing, in an organized group or more informally, of course you won’t be able to hoist a tall boy or throw peanut shells on the floor. Season’s Greetings!

“I am the first instrument. I am the voice. I don’t imitate other instruments. Other instruments imitate me.”– Abbey Lincoln, jazz vocalist.