“Why do my confident singers look unconfident when performing?”

- answered by Tori Longdon

Question
I direct a secondary school choir who sing well and are musically secure, but they look very uncomfortable when performing - little eye contact, low engagement, and quite closed body language, especially in front of their peers. When I try to encourage more communication, it often seems to make them more self-conscious and things get worse. How can I help them feel more confident and communicate more naturally?

Choir Type
School choir

Age Group
Youth (11–18)

Size
40–80
(around 50 students)

Entry / Recruitment
Open / non-auditioned

Rehearsal Pattern
Once a week
60–90 mins

Experience Level
Mixed ability

Repertoire / Style
Mix of contemporary arrangements, pop, and some lighter classical repertoire.

Optional Context
They’re generally quite self-conscious, and performing in front of other students seems to make it worse. In rehearsal they’re more relaxed, but that doesn’t translate to performance.

Answer
This is a tricky age group, and the self-consciousness you mention in their presentation is likely not confined to the choir environment alone. At this stage in a child's life they're really discovering themselves, and how they fit into the world around them, so it's not surprising that expressing themselves physically on the performance platform doesn't come easily.

There are a few things I'd recommend. The first is to give them some clear movement parameters to work within. One of the 'risks' of moving / standing confidently onstage is that they'll be the only one doing something, and they'll stick out like a sore thumb - which spells guaranteed embarrassment! Giving clear instructions, such as a sway from left to right or a coordinated gesture will help self-conscious performers feel safe within the group.

Secondly, repertoire is KING. If you're choosing music they see as 'uncool' or 'cringey', they'll be far less likely to engage with it naturally. Try putting out a poll (or a multiple-choice vote) to find out what they'd actually like to sing; they're likely to be much more invested, and you might stumble across a new gem!

Final tip: train eye contact by using some warm-up time to play a game with different focus points around the room. Top left corner, top right corner, floor, ceiling, conductor. This helps normalise the idea of directing your gaze intentionally, and builds their awareness of where they're looking at any given moment.

I hope these tips help, let us know how it goes!

Tori Longdon