If I had to add one thing to my Virtual Choir guidelines, it would be this: don’t listen back.
Tell your students to let their standard be to say, “That one was good” when they finish recording, rather than one they are satisfied with when they listen back.
Listening objectively to our own voices is very difficult, and takes a lot of practice – there’s a lot of ego tied up in the sound of our voices, and a lot of potential for embarrassment or shame. That can be magnified by the weirdness of hearing oneself sing a choral part out of context – with none of the musical material that will eventually surround it.
So – yes, do multiple takes. Yes, work hard to get a good performance from yourself. But no, don’t listen back – especially if you’re feeling anxious about your singing.
Just submit a track you had a good feeling about, and then trust the director to make sure it all works together with the rest of the singers.