Hey all, I have been battling one specific phobia type thing for many years now, it started mid primary school. it’s this weird fear of singing in front of others, and might I add, I am very musical! And in my instrumental lessons my teacher always ask me to sing notes, intervals and alI I am able to do is stand there frozen in fear with a fake smile stuck on my face, yes I look very dumb but even if I try no sound will escape my lips. I’ve done some research on this singing phobia and it came up with glossophobia, fear of public speaking, which is not singing (though I get very nervous when I have a presentation to do). I can’t seem to find any specific phobia on my case, and now I’m wondering if this is just me making an excuse not to sing. Now, i actually really like to sing, i sing by myself with no one listening, or to specific people in my family. Anyone out of that circle, my lips will shut tight and stay shut. I just don’t get why I can’t sing to anyone else, because I absolutely love to sing!
Others may have more Information of phobias than me, but the internet is full of imprecise and fake advice, so I would be careful in using it with the objective of self-diagnosis. Have you considered talking to a therapist about this? It may be caused by anxiety or something like that, and a therapist will help you to work this out.
@Jay557 This is TOTALLY me in a nutshell. I play guitar, piano, and trumpet....all in front of audiences. But you couldn't pay me to sing in front of ANYONE. I've been told that I sing fine (being caught singing when you think no one can hear you sucks) and even though, like you, I like to sing and I think I'm good at it, too. BUT....there is no way I'll sing in front of people. As far as an explanation for my fear..... When I was five.....the church I was going to was making a bunch of us sing. Somehow I ended up directly in front of the microphone. Apparently, I was too loud and the woman running it was quite nasty about it. I haven't sung publicly since. So....I can relate.
Perhaps the term could be stagefright. It doesn't have to be a big audience for you to get stage fright. Do you sing by yourself at home?
Don’t think it’s stage fright, I want to sing in front of people but my vocal chords just won’t let me, and then the long silence becomes awkward so I eventually end up standing there smiling that stupid smile.
It’s because... I don’t like talking to my parents, I find it hard to express my feelings I also find the conversations very awkward
Stage fright doesn't mean you don't want to it means you find it difficult or freeze when you get there which to me sounds a lot like what you have described. https://www.verywellmind.com/stage-fright-2671878
I think that singing in front of others is linked to performance anxiety. It probably has a different subset than performing with instruments or public speaking.