That’s the message from the Outreach Singing Trust, which is running a free, community singing event at the Gore Town and Country Club from 1pm-2pm next Wednesday.
Following the success of their inaugural southern event in Invercargill last year, which gathered 1400 enthusiastic amateurs for a run-through of classics from traditional folk songs to the 1960s, the trust is spreading the joy to Gore.
Event organiser Dr Sally Bodkin-Allen said, as well as simply being a fun and social event, the health benefits of singing had also become apparent in recent years.
"Last year was such an amazing success, and that’s partly because the idea is so simple.
"Outreach singing is simply singing that encourages others to sing.
"So it’s not a performance, it’s just an opportunity for a traditional community sing-along where everyone can enjoy the well-documented feel-good benefits of singing.
"Particularly singing together."
The trust had reached out to local schools and rest-homes, meaning young,old and everyone in between — from families to members of the public — would be singing together.
"We use the old familiar songs that are just easy for everyone to sing, because they’re familiar to all, or super easy to pick up.
"We’re expecting most of the rest-homes to attend, and we’ve also had a ‘yes’ from Gore Main, Waikaia and Te Tipua schools."
She said classics such as Cockles and Mussels, Country Road, A Long Way to Tipperary and more were on the bill.
"The kids love them, and our older singers remember singing them at school themselves.
"It works well to put a smile on everyone’s face.
"It’s about building community with music."
Gore Main School teacher Rose McKenzie said she and her pupils had leapt at the chance to take part.
"The children have loved learning the songs and also learning what some of the older words and meanings are, in a historic sense.
"This will be our first time taking part, but we’d love to see it become a regular event up here.
"It should give the children and our elderly citizens a lovely afternoon singing along together."
Dr Bodkin-Allen thanked key sponsors the Gore Creative Communities Scheme and GoBus for their support.
