There’s something quietly powerful about singing alongside other people. Music is known to support emotional wellbeing, and singing in a group brings breath, sound and attention together in a shared space. Shared voices and shared rhythm can create a sense of connection and ease, even when life feels busy or full.
In this episode, Dr Lee David speaks with Glen Harvey – musician and long-standing choir leader with Rock Choir – about what he has observed over many years of bringing people together to sing, and why community choirs often become meaningful spaces for wellbeing and connection.
They explore how singing supports both body and mind through breath, posture and movement, and how it can help people feel more present and settled without needing to analyse or fix anything. Glen shares why people from very different backgrounds are drawn to choir, and how a sense of belonging often develops naturally when the focus is on the shared experience rather than performance.
The conversation also touches on the thoughts that can sometimes hold people back, such as self-criticism or worry about getting things wrong, and how community singing gently shifts attention away from judgement and towards being in the moment together.
Highlights & Key Moments
00:00 Singing as a shared experience
02:08 Glen’s journey into choir leading
03:49 Why singing together feels different from singing alone
05:16 Stress, breath and the physical effects of singing
08:04 Posture, breathing and confidence
10:22 Thoughts that can hold people back from singing
13:10 Letting go of perfection in performance
18:40 The Choice Pause – settling with sound
22:13 Attention, anxiety and staying present
26:03 Music as a way of quietening a busy mind
27:00 Why people come to choir
29:37 Inclusivity, kindness and feeling safe in groups
33:21 A simple music-based takeaway
About the Guest
Glen Harvey is a versatile musician and choir leader with advanced skills as a vocalist, pianist and guitarist. He trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music and first became known as a semi-finalist on Pop Idol in 2003. He's been leading Rock Choirs for over 16 years, spreading harmonies and laughter across Hampshire, Berkshire, Northern Ireland and soon the Republic of Ireland.
A master of turning strangers into friends and choirs into families, he’s sung everywhere from Abbey Road to Wembley, for audiences of up to 20,000 people, from royalty to George Clooney. At home in Farnham with his wife Lisa and their three children, Glen swaps his microphone for gardening gloves, gym gear or a dinner menu. Whether on stage or in the garden, he’s all about growing joy – one song, one laugh, one memory at a time.
Connect with Glen: Instagram @glenharveymusic
Find out more about Rock Choir via their website
About the host
Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david
