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A choral group finds lifting their voices seems good for their health

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

By Pohla Smith, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

There they are, 30 to 40 women, stretching, kicking, waving their arms in the air. Walk into the opening minutes of a Greater Harmony Chorus rehearsal at Richland Elementary School and you might think you've stumbled into a fitness class by mistake.

Michelle Riggi-Smith of the Greater Harmony Chorus, with other members during a rehearsal at Richland Elementary. (Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette photos)

You wouldn't be far off.

"It may be a little bit of a stretch but not too much," voice doctor Clark Rosen said when asked if the women were engaging in a good fitness activity with their pre-rehearsal warm-up.

Rosen is director of the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center at UPMC's Eye & Ear Institute and "team doctor" for the Pittsburgh Opera.

"Probably the reason we call singers vocal athletes is because they perform at great intensity and they train," he said. "As for [whether there is] a change of heart rate and respiration I don't know, but the whole respiratory and posture aspect of singing is healthful. A singing teacher will tell you that singing starts at the knees and ends at the head. It takes virtually the whole body."

Add three hours of choreography, Rosen continued, "and then there's the wonderful emotional aspect of singing. ... That will have a positive health benefit without a doubt."

The members of the chorus, officially known as the Greater Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, don't need a specialist to tell them that.

"The singing and choreography are good for me," said Teddy Koble of Fombell, at 82, the oldest member of the group.

"It's not only invigorating to the body, it's invigorating to the mind. You have to be on your toes to learn all those words and choreography. I'm glad I can still do it."

Jan Getman, 78, of Zelienople works up a sweat.

"We work pretty hard," she said. "We get a lot of exercise. That's great."

	Teddy Koble, 82, of Fombell, is a member of the Greater Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines International.

And the seniors in the chorus aren't the only ones who feel they're improving both their physical and mental health.

Lisa Putney, 34, of the Butler area, has been with the chorus through two pregnancies. "It kind of kept me fit being active vocally and physically," she said.

"Whenever we do 'My name is Joe,' " ... Oh my gosh!" she laughed.

"My name is Joe" is one of the most aerobic warm-up exercises that director Bonnie McKibben puts them through. It's done as they speak a silly, singsong rhyme that adds arm, foot, hip and belly movements as it progresses.

McKibben, a former world champion barbershop singer who moved to Squirrel Hill from Los Angeles last summer, also has them do exercises that strengthen their rib muscles, diaphragms and abdominal muscles and also stretch every part of their body.

The women then swing into their songs and dance.

"It's Raining Men," is one of their more physical numbers. They use their arms to illustrate rain and the various kind of men it's raining. When they get to the phrase "It's raining men, amen," the motion turns into a prayerful stance. At the end everybody is breathing faster and laughing.

"I'm head of costumes," Putney said, "and maybe two girls are overweight. A lot of them are older but they're young at heart. Some of them are in their 70s but they don't look that way."

For that, Putney credits the chorus.

"My goal is to stay here so when I'm 70 I look 50," she said.

If you're interested in joining the group, call Phyllis Jackson at 412-487-1765. You can find their Web site at greaterharmony.org