Choir is in many ways the perfect setting for the introverted student.
- A strong community encourages the introvert to feel safe and confident.
- Strength in numbers enables the introvert to be expressive without feeling singled out.
- A choir is a place where the introvert can feel solitude within a group (in the best possible way!).
- One-on-one, personal connection can feel safer for introverts; this is precisely what the introvert gets with the right neighbor.
- The effective choir conductor can forge a personal bond with each singer; the introvert feels that connection deeply.
There are a few caveats for conductors; particularly the extroverted conductors who might not comprehend the precise needs of the introvert.
- The introvert feels unsafe when singled out. Can you restructure solo tests to empower the introvert to do their best?
- The introvert will share better in small groups, one-on-one, or on paper. Don’t think they don’t have a lot to offer simply because they don’t share much with a large group.
We have the ability to create environments that are the safe for all of our singers – introverts, extroverts, ambiverts. Recognize that choir offers much to the introvert, and the introvert offers just as much to the choir. But without a safe space for them to be themselves, the introvert will find someplace safe to be: a loss for them and a loss for the choir. We see extroverts as the natural “performers” in performing arts, but with the right empowerment, introverts give us a richer and more varied musical expression.