If you've always wanted to try your hand at being a musical performer, choir is a great place to start. The open, friendly atmosphere is welcoming to people of all levels of musical ability and is the perfect place to meet new people, try new things, and to really get out of your shell. Here's nine of the top reasons that you slap on a tux and join your local choir today!

1. It’s a great place to make friends.

Countless studies have shown the community-building power that group singing has. Scientists and psychologists say that joining a choir can help you make friends with people faster than joining any other social group. Don’t just take the word of the guys in the lab coats; try it for yourself! Singing is the best ice-breaker because the very action forces you to make your voice heard. With enough quality time, you can develop strong bonds anyone, whether it’s the person right next to you or the soprano on the other side of the room.

2. You don’t need to have the voice of Andrea Bocelli to have a great time.

For the vast majority of amateur choirs you’ll find (i.e. church, community, college), there is no audition and no experience required. It doesn’t matter that everyone in the group isn’t a classically-trained vocalist. More people = better sound. This means you don’t have to be afraid to sing out! Even if you don’t quite hit the note, there’s dozens of people around you who did, and there’s no damage done.

3. Music is stress-relieving.

Music is such a strong emotional force. Choir rehearsal will quickly become your favorite part of the week. It is an opportunity to escape your daily stresses and responsibility for a few hours and focus on making something beautiful. It’s a liberating feeling to not have the weight of the world on your shoulders but to instead be part of a whole and doing something worthwhile.

4. You don’t have to wait for a wedding or Oscar nomination to wear a tuxedo or a gown.

If you like dressing up, then choir is definitely for you. Black gowns and tuxedos are the de facto uniforms for choral performers. Being in a choir means you get to sing and look good doing it, no matter what you’re skill level is. (And don’t worry guys, the bow ties are clip-on.)

5. Choirs perform all kinds of music, not just classical.

There are hardly any choirs out there that limit themselves strictly to classical music. Choral music encompasses a wide variety of genera and cultures, and singing in a choir is a fantastic opportunity to expose yourself to music you might not normally come across or chose to listen to. Not every song will be good, but some will be unforgettable.

6. You get to travel to cool places.

Choirs at universities with a good music program often perform at more events than just a winter and spring concert. It is not unusual for choirs to travel awesome destinations, both domestic and abroad, to recruit, perform and experience new music.

7. You don’t necessarily need to know how to read music.

Although it’s an important skill to learn if you’re going to stick with singing for a long time, it is by no means required when you start. Even singers who have been performing for years still don’t know how to read music. In choir, you can learn the songs by listening and repeating. These skills of listening and repeating, feeling harmonies, and having an instinct for rhythm are even more important than reading music and can be learned naturally.

8. No expensive instruments required.

Singing is without a doubt the most accessible form of music. Many potential beginners to music are scared off by the initial investment of purchasing a instrument and necessary accessories. Starting violin requires you to put down $200 at a minimum for a violin, bow, rosin, chin rest, etc. What do you need to sing? A voice? Check. A place to do it? Check.

9. Choir geeks are the best people in the world.

Above all, choir people are just kind of people you want to be friends with. They’re super-friendly and want anyone and everyone to join their group. As performers that get by by filling a room with their voices, they’re talkative and outgoing. They’re eclectic and passionate not just about singing, but anything that is cool, creative and interesting. I can’t think of a better group of people to spend two nights a week with!