How To Sing In Public When You’re An Introvert

Summary

An introvert shares their transformative experience of overcoming shyness and anxiety through joining a gospel choir, culminating in a successful public performance.

Abstract

The author, a self-described introvert, recounts their journey from apprehension to joy in singing with a gospel choir. Despite initial reservations, the writer found camaraderie and confidence through communal singing, leading to a memorable festival debut where they sang before an audience of 1200 people. The article emphasizes the inclusive nature of choir participation, the emotional benefits of singing, and the positive impact on social life and self-esteem. It encourages other introverts to embrace the opportunity to sing in a choir as a means of personal growth and enjoyment.

Opinions

The author believes that a choir is an ideal community for introverted music lovers due to its focus on collective performance rather than individual attention.
They express that singing in a choir is an effective way to combat feelings of insecurity and anxiety, as it provides a structured environment for social interaction.
The writer suggests that the shared experience of singing and the enjoyment derived from it contribute to a sense of belonging and well-being, akin to the "endorphin rush" felt after physical exercise.
They highlight the benefit of regular choir rehearsals as a means of establishing a consistent and enjoyable social life for those who might otherwise be more reclusive.
The author posits that gospel choirs, in particular, offer a welcoming and non-judgmental space for individuals with limited confidence or musical ability to explore singing.
They conclude with a personal testimony of how singing in the choir has enhanced their life, despite not completely altering it, and extend an invitation to other introverts to partake in this enriching experience.

Making My Festival Debut

Honest — I’m somewhere behind the piano on the right.

Two weeks ago, I stood on a stage and sang in front of 1200 people. I walked on stage without stage fright and performed devoid of nerves. I sang The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love. I sang Labi Siffre’s Something Inside So Strong with feeling. I sang Bowie’s Space Odyssey with gusto (one of my all-time favourites). I even danced and sang to Steps’ Reach For The Stars. The audience loved it and gave me a standing ovation at the end of my performance. I stood before them, bowed with humble gratitude and felt exhilarated.

Honestly — this really happened! I sang my heart out to a packed big tent at an arts festival. Admittedly, as a lifelong introvert, I must add one minor detail. There were another sixty-nine people on stage with me! I am a member of the local gospel choir.

Last year, my wife persuaded me to join the choir. She had started going the year before, and always told me what great fun it was. Rehearsals lasted only an hour. All you had to do was show up, sing what the choir leader asked you to do, then come home. It was fun and a nice, simple end to a midweek day. When she first suggested it, my initial thought was — “that’s not for me, sounds too busy”. I was wrong!

I agreed to go along and give it a try. Men are heavily outnumbered by women in this choir so I was immediately welcomed in. The small band of guys shook my hand and assured me none of them possessed much talent and just tried to sing what they were told. The choir leader was a jolly, enthusiastic soul, who used humour to encourage us into melodies and harmonies. All we had to do was try our best. So I tried. Nobody around me flinched at the sound of my voice so I guessed I was doing alright. I fit in!

If you love music but are an introvert, a choir is a perfect community to join. That’s because it’s not about you, it’s the collective of everybody. A gospel choir is a social environment where even the most introverted can fit in. Through my experience, I have identified a number of benefits:

1. Joining a choir helps you fit in with others. Everybody in the room is there for the same purpose — to sing. That means if you are an introvert, you don’t have to worry about what to say, how to join a conversation or what others think of you. Once you have said ‘hello’, there is little time for small talk or superficial conversations. The joint focus is on singing. This is what everyone has come for. The desire and enjoyment of singing is the common interest. As an introvert, you quickly come to feel part of the choir community. For performances, our choir all wears a blue t-shirt — so we even look the same!

2. Singing makes you feel good. I’m sure there is probably a scientific explanation for this but science is not my subject. All I know is when I sing, and look around at everyone else singing, everyone seems happy. To keep fit, I go running a lot. I am aware of the endorphin rush my body feels at the end of a run. At the end of a choir practice or performance, I feel the same exhilaration. If you like singing to yourself at home or in the car, that pleasure gets amplified (quite literally) when you try it as part of a collective voice. As introverts, we are constantly in touch with our inhibitions. Once the choir leader has given you your instructions, you set off with everyone else. Your focus is on everyone else. Your voice fits in. You lose your inhibition. You are singing. It feels good!

3. Joining a gospel choir can be a great way to challenge your insecurities. As someone who frequently doubts their abilities, I have become aware of how confident I feel within the choir. There is a clear structure to social interaction that all members must follow. Everyone has a role to fulfil. There is therefore no need to worry about what you should be doing to fit in. You simply follow the instructions of the choir leader and you become integrated within the group. There is no space for introverted insecurities.

4. Singing is good for challenging shyness and anxiety. I am not an expert in music so can’t say for sure that anyone can sing. But I can say that after a few weeks of rehearsal, I definitely felt my voice got stronger and more confident. I certainly sounded OK alongside whoever was next to me. Add to that, the sensation of standing in front of an audience and performing — that soon dispels shyness! The first time I performed with the choir was in a church with around 200 people watching. I could see a few friends in the audience. But standing at the back of the choir, helped me realise nobody had come along to see me. It was the choir as a whole that was the attraction.

5. The weekly rehearsals have provided me with a regular social life. My inner self may feel more familiar with sitting at home, but I have now come to realise that walking into the church hall, saying hello to the faces that are now familiar, and then doing something that is enjoyable, has helped me become sociable.

Gospel choirs seem to have become very popular in recent years. They seem to be everywhere now. They offer an opportunity for individuals who enjoy music but lack confidence and ability, to have a go at singing. With safety in numbers, you feel less inhibited. Someone with limited social skills can blend in readily with the unity of a choir. Singing has not completely changed my life but it has enhanced it. I wonder how many other introverts are in my choir. Please, if this all sounds attractive to you, give it a try.