Have you ever walked around your chorus class and noticed singing thatâs weak, dull, and uninspiring? Nervous singers are easy to spot in chorus class. Theyâre practically melting into their chairs! Kidding aside, these students are often embarrassed or even ashamed of their singing voices. They are also likely insecure and concerned about how their voice may sound if you or (worse) one of their classmates hears it.
Itâs time to banish nervous singers from chorus class, and no, weâre not kicking them out! Instead, weâre going to build their confidence and enthusiasm until theyâre able to sing loud and proud with the rest of your elementary chorus!
The Cause of Vocal Insecurity and Nervous Singing
Nervous or apprehensive singing often stems from a lack of confidence or sense of perfectionism. If your chorus class is just beginning, your nervous singers may be nervous due to lack of vocal training or insecurity about their own vocal technique, or both.
In addition to their lack of confidence, nervous singers may also struggle with prior negative experiences or performance anxiety. Your student may be experiencing this if:
- They avoid solo opportunities
- They freeze up at concerts
- Theyâre noticeably quieter in front of an audience
- Theyâre rushing through a song during a concert performance
- Theyâre comparing their voice to the voice of others
There may be other outside factors to consider. How is their support system at home? A student with little encouragement may need extra reassurance to feel confident, while one with a supportive but high-pressure family might feel anxious about meeting expectations. Some students may also arrive with preconceived notions about chorus, making them hesitant to engage.
Honoring Cultural and Learning Differences in Chorus Class
Cultural and learning differences often contribute to nervousness in chorus class. An English Language Learner (ELL) might feel uneasy singing in English, while a dyslexic student may struggle with reading lyrics. Students with auditory processing challenges, speech impediments, or sensory issues may also face unique hurdles. But there is good news: Through thoughtful strategies, you can make every student feel included and confident.
Strategies to Support Diverse Needs:
- Focus on Listening First:
Let students listen and echo before reading lyrics. This supports ELLs with pronunciation, gives dyslexic students time to process, and reduces stress for those with auditory processing challenges. - Use Visuals and Movement:
Pair lyrics with pictures or coordinated movements to reinforce meanings and help students engage beyond the text. Singing songs with American Sign Language is one of my favorite ways to do this! - Take It One Step at a Time:
Teach songs phrase-by-phrase to ease pressure, especially for students who struggle with reading or pacing. - Create a Calm, Safe Space:
Use predictable routines and allow sensory breaks if needed. Adjust lighting and sound levels to make rehearsals more comfortable for students with sensory sensitivities.
These simple adjustments can help nervous singers overcome barriers and feel proud to be part of the group. When every student feels supported, your chorus becomes a place where everyone can thrive.
Proper Training Empowers Nervous Singers in Chorus Class
Emphasis on proper vocal training eliminates a source of insecurity surrounding oneâs vocal abilities. If you missed it, I published a blog post on vocal warm-ups, that provides proven strategies and resources for effectively and successfully warming up your chorus class.Â
Itâs also important to ensure that your chorus class remains a safe place for all singers. Chorus needs to be an environment of kindness and respect. I am very firm with my students. They know that I have a zero tolerance policy for teasing other singers. And your students should know that you have a policy like this, too!Â
I encourage students to celebrate each other, and to praise their peers for making an effort, even if it isnât perfect. Nervous students need to know theyâre in an environment where they have permission to make a mistake. They need to know they wonât be laughed at or teased for trying to sing. If you notice tense or uncomfortable dynamics among certain students I strongly suggest making seating changes and addressing problems on an individual basis as necessary.
A Strategy That Works: The Buddy System
Do you have a good-natured student who sings confidently and supports others? That student might make a great candidate for the buddy system! Hereâs how it worksâŚ
- Make a list of your strongest, most engaged singers
- Assess your list, looking for students with leadership potential
- Restructure your seating plan to surround nervous singers with confident ones
If you can find the right student buddy, this can make all the difference. The key is to find a student who is confident, engaged, and is consistently supportive of others. This can have a powerful and positive effect on your nervous singers, who will soon see that it’s possible to sing freely and openly. Try it out and let me know how it works for you!
How to Encourage Nervous Singers Without Embarrassing Them
âGreat job Billy! You sang loud and proud and we all heard your beautiful voice!â
This may seem like positive feedback for a nervous singer but if you deliver in front of your entire chorus class, Billy may never sing loud and proud again. Itâs important to remember that nervous students are often dealing with stage fright, anxiety, and other internal conflicts. Certain students may not want you drawing any attention to their singing, or how their voice sounds.
The best strategy is to be cautious and deliver this feedback in a one-on-one setting:
âHey Billy, I know youâre a bit quiet in chorus and I just wanted to say Iâm really proud of you for pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. Keep up the amazing effort.â
Donât comment on whether their voice sounds good or bad unless you think thatâs really what they need to hear. Instead, normalize imperfection, and focus on the feat of overcoming their fear of being heard by others. Give your nervous singers permission to sing freely, without concern of disappointing you.
Here are some other examples of supportive, non-judgmental feedback for your nervous singers:
- “Your confidence is growing, and itâs making a difference. Iâm so proud of you!”
- “Youâve got so much potential. Keep putting in the effortâitâs paying off.”
- âYour bravery is making you a stronger singer. I hope you know how much youâve grown.â
Helping Nervous Singers Shine in Concert Performances
School concerts are a big source of stress for nervous singers, especially if it’s the first one. Stage fright can be paralyzing even for seasoned professionals. If a singer is apprehensive about singing among their peers, imagine how they feel in front of all their teachers and parents. Yikes!
To manage these natural feelings, it’s important to impart helpful wisdom. One of my favorite pieces of advice to my nervous singers is to look straight ahead at the clock or any other item that is in a position that creates the illusion of looking at the audience. Sometimes pre-concert activities like breathing exercises and ensemble chants can help nervous students feel unified with their peers. Hereâs one of my favorite chants to bring everyone togetherâŚ
Teacher: âHow are your feet?â
Students: âTogether!â
Teacher: âShoulders?â
Students: âDown!â
Teacher: âSpine?â
Students: âTall!â
Teacher: âVoice?â
Students: âPure Sound!â
Another strategy is to focus on expressing the song lyrics. Have the students analyze their song lyrics and invent a story inspired by the words. When students are engaged and expressing the lyrics of a song, theyâre often less focused on their nerves. In this situation, distraction is your friend!
Finally, if you have a struggling student who is truly anxious, strategically place them close to the exit in case they need to step off the stage for any reason. If theyâre not ready to perform, thatâs okay! Encourage them to stay involved by helping with the set-up or passing out concert programs. If they see the success of their peers, they may be motivated to try next time.
Always Celebrate Growth, Not Perfection
Want to try an activity that will amaze and horrify your chorus class at the same time? Show them their concert footage from winter versus spring, or fourth grade versus fifth. Itâs one of those activities they love to see while also crying, âWe were so bad!â
âYou were never bad,â I always remind them. Then Iâll reframe their minor freak-out into a discussion of growth and how much theyâve achieved over that period of time. If students still are overly critical after acknowledging their growth, ask them âWhatâs still bothering you? How could we work together as a chorus to improve that?â
Keep your chorus focused on their growth and potential and your nervous singers will get the message that it’s safe for them to grow too even if theyâve been reluctant so far.
Inspire a Lifelong Love of Singing in Chorus Class
Remember that you have the power to impact your nervous singers and empower them to find their true voice! Foster a supportive chorus class and work to find the cause of the vocal insecurity. Through consistent encouragement and reinforcement, youâll transform your nervous singers into expressive ones in no time.
Have you tried any of these strategies in your chorus class? Iâd love to hear how they worked for you. Letâs keep the conversation goingâshare your best strategies in the comments!
Looking for free resources to help your chorus students shine? Join The Chamber of Freebies to get instant access to warm-up templates, activities, and other tools designed for elementary music teachers like you. Sign up here and start using them today! â¨