› Under confident singers?

Chris Rowbury writes in "Natural Voice News", February edition -

It can be tough joining a new choir, especially if you’re an under-confident singer. Here are 10 handy hints for hesitant singers to help you make the most out of being in a choir:
1. Everyone is in the same boat – most other people feel the same as you. Can’t sing, don’t know what they’re doing, everyone else is better than them, it’s hard, etc.
2. Be patient – if you’re new to singing, you might think that ‘proper’ singers can pick up a song by hearing it just once. They don’t. Even a professional singer may take six months for a new song to settle in.
3. You are vitally important – lots of new singers, especially those in large choirs, don’t think they count. “They won’t miss me if I don’t turn up”. Wrong! If everyone thought that, there would be no choir at all.
4. Sing loud and proud – and don’t care what anybody else thinks. If you’re going to make a mistake, make a BIG mistake then you can fix it later.
5. Stand at the front – it’s natural, as a beginner, to want to hide at the back. But if you’re at the back, you can’t hear the others in your part very well. You won’t hear what your director is saying and maybe won’t be able to see their hand gestures.
6. Behave as if you know what you’re doing – it’s amazing, but if you behave AS IF you are a wonderful singer and know your part inside out, then it WILL HAPPEN! 
7. Smile! – it will improve the resonance of your voice and your diction. Even if you’re feeling miserable it will cheer you up. It will also cheer up those around you and inspire them to sing better.
8. Mind the gap! – there are two main gaps to avoid. One is the gap between you and the other people in your part. Stick close to them and work as a team. The other gap is the one between different parts. If you’re unfamiliar with harmony singing, then standing next to another part might put you off.
9. If it’s not working, change something – anything: where you stand within your part; how you stand; change parts – the one you’re in may be too high or low for you; your attitude – if you don’t ‘like’ a song at first, imagine it will become your favourite; pretend to be someone else as it helps to liberate you. The ultimate change is to change choirs if this one is not working for you.
10. Don’t switch off – when the focus has moved on from your own part and others are learning theirs, it’s all too easy to switch off. But this is an opportunity to stay focused: to hear the words one more time; check that you’ve got the rhythm right; sing your part in your head at the same time (to feel how the harmonies work); maybe even learn another part.
Stick with it and you’ll soon discover the joys of singing in a group.
Chris Rowbury, chris@chrisrowbury.com. Chris Rowbury runs singing workshops across the UK open to anyone who loves to sing. He teaches songs in harmony from a wide range of singing traditions. He believes that anyone can sing and should! Natural Voice Network - www.naturalvoice.net