From Overwhelm to Confidence: How to Cope When the Songs Are Stacking Up.

If you're new to choir and starting to feel a bit overwhelmed... you’re not alone.

Many singers - even experienced ones - have that “help!” moment when they

realise just how many songs, harmonies, and possibly moves a choir may be

working on in the lead-up to a big show. Passively watching and being part of the

action are two very different experiences.

Whether it’s an all-singing, all-dancing Summer Spectacular or a sparkling

Christmas Celebration, there comes a point in the season when it feels like

everything is happening at once. Lyrics to memorise, harmonies to hold, moves to

master - a million little things to remember. And yes, sometimes it feels like your

brain might just explode.

First things first: Breathe.

It’s absolutely normal to feel this way. Feeling overwhelm during your first project

with a choir doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this - it means you care, and you

want to do well. That’s a great starting point.

Here are a few tips to help you manage that “too much!” feeling and move steadily

towards feeling stage-ready and confident:

1. Remember, your Musical Director has guided singers through this

process many times. They know the process well and will do everything in

their power to help you achieve the team goals. Like any decent director, I

always start the trickiest, most complex harmonies and movement patterns

right at the beginning of a new project. That's to allow the maximum number

of weeks for our performers to learn and master them. Sometimes, if a

piece is quite fast, I'll make slower vocal demos to help everyone learn the

notes accurately before we gradually speed up as rehearsals progress. I'll

also teach the more intricate parts of the harmony or choreography in short

sections, so everyone can execute them with confidence before we start

learning the whole routine in sequence. Very often, Jackie and I will spend

quite a bit of time creating video demos of the moves for our members to

make use of at home, in between rehearsals. And not every piece is

complex. I weave in simpler arrangements as we go along as our audiences

tend to be “joiners in”. Making sure some of our songs allow for that is part of

my remit. The chances are, that your Musical Director takes a similar

approach.

2. Use the Home Practice Resources

Developing a regular routine for home practice can present a whole a new

challenge for some singers, especially those who have never been involved in the

performing arts before. Remember, those professional performers you admire so

much have to practice their art, too. They don't get that good by magic. Individual

home practice is all part of living the dream. As with many modern choirs we

provide audio demos, lyric sheets, and choreography videos to support you.

Make regular use of any resources your choir provides, right from the start. The

human brain and body is wired to learn by repetition. Even ten minutes a day

listening in the car, on a walk, or while doing the dishes can really embed the

songs in your memory. Better still, get together with another member (or two) to

help each other master the harmonies and steps. It's a great way to cement new

friendships. Remember, the most enduring and fulfilling friendships are formed

around a common interest.

3. Repetition is Your Friend

It might feel like it's going in one ear and out the other at the beginning of your

choir journey, especially if you're brand new to team singing - but repetition is

magic. As the weeks go by, and you begin to settle into rehearsal routines, you'll

realise that everything is designed and structured to gradually build up your

singing, moving and harmony skills. And don't worry about what other people are

thinking. The odds are, they're far too busy learning everything themselves to be

watching you. Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs® members are a fantastically

supportive bunch. So lean into the camaraderie of choir and before too long, you'll

probably find yourself helping someone else. It's all part of the fun.

4. Trust the Process and Keep Showing Up

At Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs® we pace our rehearsals intentionally -

introducing songs, movements, and stagecraft in a way that brings it all together

over time. It’s okay if it doesn’t feel like it’s clicking yet. It will. Keep showing up,

keep trying. We work to a carefully constructed plan. So, the main thing is to make

sure you attend all the rehearsals, and don't miss any of the tuition as playing

catch up all the time brings its own stress. As a newcomer to the process of

preparing and performing a show, some things may only become fully clear at the

actual performances. Nothing beats staying on board for the full experience.

Jumping out a few weeks before a show simply reinforces any ideas you might

have that you're no good at this. But stepping out alongside your team mates and

feeling the appreciation of an audience is when your confidence begins to build.

Remember, you won't be stepping out alone, but as part of a team. The success of

the show is not all on you. Choir singing is a shared experience.

5. Talk to Us

If you're struggling with a specific harmony, lyric, or move, please speak up!

Established choir members have all been where you are — and they want to help.

That question you ask in rehearsal might help someone else who's struggling with

the same harmony section or move.

6. Remember Why You’re Here

You didn’t join the choir to be perfect - you joined to sing, learn and grow - and

to be part of something joyful. Don’t let a temporary feeling of overwhelm steal

that joy. Any show is just one moment on a much longer musical journey.

Performance confidence comes from performing. At Women Rockin' Harmony

Choirs® all our soloists have to have been singing and performing with us, as

part of a team, for at least a year before auditioning for solo lines. Then, they have

the opportunity to attend our Masterclasses to polish up their vocal skills before

they step into the spotlight. Bringing out the best in our singers is at the very heart

of everything we do. No one is pressured to audition for solos. If you're content as

part of the chorus, that's fine by us. But if you want to take it further, we're here to

help you do that. Most amateur choirs operate in a similar way.

Finally... Trust Yourself

You’ve already done something brave and brilliant just by joining a choir. From this

point on, have realistic expectations of yourself. You will be nervous at your first

ever performance. That's perfectly normal and natural. It takes time and

experience to build confidence. Your Musical Director and fellow singers know that

and will take account of it. And when the lights go up, you’ll step out alongside

them and be part of something truly magical. At Women Rockin' Harmony

Choirs® we believe in you. Believe in yourself. Stick with it. You'll be amazed at

what you can achieve.

Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs® taking a bow in the finale of our 2025 Summer Show.