I should confess straightaway that the title I used is a little misleading. 😅
How so?
Well, when you think of an “introvert,” what image comes to mind? The shy, timid wallflower who is afraid to stand out?
One of the common misconceptions about introverts is that they are shy. In fact, the two terms are used so interchangeably, most of us have been led to think that they are the same thing.
In truth, introversion and extroversion have more to do with whether we recharge our internal batteries by getting some peace and quiet, or whether we gain energy from highly stimulating environments around lots of people.
Meaning, you could be introverted, and not at all shy. Or introverted and shy. Or an extrovert, but shy and afraid of what others might think of you.
All of which raises an interesting question. We all know from experience how vulnerable we can feel in performance situations, which requires us to put ourselves out into the world for everyone to see (and judge).
Given that being shy can make us feel more inhibited in social situations, and lead us to worry more about how we will come across to others, does this put shy musicians at a disadvantage in auditions or competitions?
Shyness and its consequences
Well, in theory, shyness would indeed seem to be an undesirable characteristic for performers.
For instance, there are a number of studies which suggest that shy folks tend to have lower self-esteem. That’s not too surprising, as worrying about being judged negatively by others, imagining yourself cracking under pressure, and engaging in more negative self-talk isn’t exactly a great formula for building confidence in your abilities.
There are also indications that shy folks tend to experience more anxiety before competitive situations (at least physically – like the pounding heart, cold clammy hands, and so on).
So if we happen to fall on the shy end of the continuum, are we destined for subpar performances?
A study!
One study of figure skaters provides some interesting clues (Prakash & Coplan, 2003).
Researchers from Carleton University in Canada gathered data on 40 female figure skaters between the age of 11 and 19, representing a range of competitive levels.
They measured shyness, athletic self-esteem, pre-competition anxiety, and coping style. Then, they waited about 9 months to see how the athletes would do at an important regional competition.
And what did they find?
Shyness and performance
As expected, the researchers found that the shy athletes tended to experience more pre-competition jitters.
Researchers also found that shyness was associated with lower athletic self-esteem.
Furthermore, shyness and performance were inversely related. Meaning, the shyer the athlete was, the worse they tended to perform at the competition.
Ack, so what does this mean for those of us who tend to be on the shy side? Is there just no hope for us then?
Not necessarily!
A protective factor
The relationship between shyness and competitive performance (as well as self-esteem), were moderated by the skaters’ psychological coping styles.
Meaning, skaters that were shy and relied on a negative coping style, tended to perform more poorly.
But for the shy skaters who had a positive coping style, there was no significant relationship between shyness and competition performance at all. Meaning, they performed just fine!
So…what is a positive coping style exactly?
Positive and negative coping styles
In this study, a positive coping style meant dealing with performance pressure by focusing on the task at hand. That is to say, focusing on your performance instead of how the judges might evaluate your performance. Or avoiding competitors who make you feel intimidated, or want to vent endlessly about how nervous they are. Or staying in the present moment rather than letting your thoughts wander off to the breakfast tacos you had for dinner that are audibly working their way through your digestive system.
Conversely, a negative coping style would involve things like blaming yourself for feeling nervous, dwelling on how unprepared you feel, or worrying about the chances of a breakfast taco-induced gastrointestinal emergency in the middle of your performance.
So what are we to do with all of this?
Caveats
Well, it’s important to keep in mind that the study was conducted on athletes who represent a relatively restricted age range – ages 11 to 19. And the sample consisted only of female athletes as well. So we want to be wary of generalizing too broadly to younger or older populations, as well as to male athletes.
But I think there are still some useful points that we can take away from this study.
Takeaways
If you’re the curious type and want to know your shyness “score,” you could take the online version of the assessment the researchers used right here: How Shy Are You?
But I might argue that it’s more useful to work on your positive coping skills whether you’re shy or not. Because these skills will enable you to play at a higher level under pressure and have a more positive experience on stage no matter your shyness score.
For instance, having a consistent pre-performance routine you trust, rather than winging it or having your mind jump from one random thought to another before playing the first note can help you get off to a much better start (learn how to do this here).
And maintaining what’s known as a “distal external” focus while performing – i.e. focusing on the sound you are aiming for, the shape and direction of a phrase, or the voicing or specific notes you want to bring out in each moment – could help you get into “the zone” more consistently than worrying about technique and mechanics (as described here).
And focusing on playing more freely and improvisationally in each moment, could help you be more present and actually enjoy your performance much more than striving for a more rigidly exact and error-free performance (like the students in this mindfulness study were asked to do here).
And if nothing else, beyond the benefits to your performing, integrating these kinds of skills into your daily practice could help make practicing way more engaging and creatively satisfying as well. 😁
References
Prakash, K., & Coplan, R. J. (2003). Shy skaters? Shyness, coping, and adjustment outcomes in female adolescent figure skaters. Athletic Insight: The Online Journal of Sport Psychology, 5(1), 1–18.
Additional reading
Are You Shy, Introverted, Both, or Neither (And Why Does It Matter)?
[…] Are extroverts better performers? […]
Thanks Dr Noa.
Yes and No.
I did an introvert Extrovert test once and got 50:50
I’ve never repeated the test. I think it depends on what mood I’m in.
I think that the disadvantage of being extrovert is that then I don’t practice properly. BUT often I perform better with even no practice.
If I overpractice, somehow my fingers get all knotted.
Goodly giggles from
Julie
I had a Soiree for my friend this week. I played piano for her. My new Classics and Some of my favourites. She enjoyed the Well Tempered Clavichord by Bach so much that she nearly fell asleep 😀
In my own personality, I know that about 5 years ago, I underwent a massive phase change from extrovert to introvert — and I mean massive. Complete 180 degree shift.
And becoming a serious hermit both physically and psychologically has helped a great deal. I’m less distracted, as Mahler said (I think it was him) by criticism or applause. I care less what other people think because I’m less connected to their emotions and judgments. I spend more time completely alone, which means I have tons more time to practice. And to be honest, while I still hate the idea of practicing, I am happier with that imaginary glass shield between me and the audience whereas, as an extrovert, that always felt frustrating to me.
I’ve heard that actors tend to be huge introverts as well — they like the separation between themselves on stage and the audience, and the fact that they are somewhat “armored” in someone else’s skin while up there. And being an introvert allows them to observe humanity more from the sidelines, which is a great way to learn how people behave.
I think it can be “spun” in a positive way, definitely. And I think there is a difference between disconnecting from people by choice versus not wanting to connect to them because the signals one receives from them when one does connect can be overpowering. Both types are introverts, but the latter can present difficulties. An introvert has to feel in control of how much connection they have. As an example, I seem to feel better about playing in front of people if I take my glasses off first. That way, I am close enough to the piano that I can enough to help me play, but other people’s faces and eyes are blurred out to nonexistence, which helps lighten the weight of their gaze.
Michael jackson was an introvert.
I believe the “introvert” and “extrovert” categories are deeply flawed, and that categorizing people, especially expressive musicians into two camps is ultimately not helpful for people who have other more subtle personality-related issues to deal with. People are complicated. Here are my thoughts on the matter:
http://musicalassumptions.blogspot.com/2013/08/introvert-extrovert-or-ambivert.html
I have my own opinion about this…just simple laws of nature.Some people are born introverts and others extroverts…the introverts might take longer to achieve their goals than the other,but the rewards are so much sweeter….doesn’t mean they are incapable..they may be shy or scared and don’t expect instant gratification and are more patient…..this does not only apply to music,but life in general.
If you have noticed, some of the greatest actors, such as Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Clint Eastwood, James Dean were all shy when they started out acting, and are still introverts. Just look at their interviews.
Introversion does not equal shyness. You would think a doctor would know this but apparently not. Introversion is prefering alone time; shyness is apprehension about social settings.
Being an intro or extrovert prob has little to do on a person’s performance. Attidude, drive, and preperation are most critical. And yes, shyness does tend to afflict introverts more, but allow to suggest that narcissim or a overinflated sense of importance tends to afflict extroverts more. They MUST tell you what they think and feel, inconsiderate of the other’s feelings and situation.
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[…] Do Extroverts Make Better Performers? (Bulletproof Musician) – Well, actually this post is about shyness and performance. […]
As a musician AND a competitive adult figure skater, I can relate to this. I am definitely an introvert and worried too much about what the judges and other skaters thought of me (and subsequently nerves and anxiety got the best of me, as I continuously placed near the bottom of every event). It took me 10+ years to learn to be in the moment and to perform for myself. As a result, having a more positive attitude and being confident in my own abilities has done me well – I’ve been winning many skating events and have a newfound belief in myself.
I would classify myself as shy when I am in a situation where I don’t know anybody but have learned to be more extroverted in more recent years. I’m still an introvert though!
Strangely enough, the shyness and being introverted didn’t seem to affect me while performing music though (I play the flute).