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Vocal Point
Get Rid of Unwanted Tension
Jul-01-2000
©2000 iBluegrass.com. All rights reserved.
It's now officially summer, that time of year when bluegrass music is in full swing for listening, for playing, and for singing. Sometimes singing to the point where we scare ourselves with an unfamiliar raspy sound that used to be our voice. This month I will continue on the theme of releasing the voice from tension. Tension interferes with resonance, tone, and projection. It also precludes a natural and effortless power. A power that doesn't leave our vocal chords feeling like they've been in a world champion boxing match and lost.
In a previous article I mentioned jaw tension. I would like to elaborate on the subject this month. If there is one vocal tip I can give that will make the biggest difference in one's singing experience is the idea of freeing the jaw from unwanted tension, and here's why: There are numerous (some very powerful) muscles on each side of the face that are involved with the function of the jaw. These muscles are complexly interwoven with muscles that lead into the throat and the back of the neck; this is the area which also happens to house the vocal chords. If your jaw is tense or clenched when you sing, you have activated muscles that put a strangle-hold on the area surrounding and containing your vocal chords. This prevents them from being able to vibrate freely and creates strain.
What to do: Place your fingertips on your cheeks and locate the spot where the jaw hinges. Apply slight pressure and massage in small circles, loosening up the muscles and stimulating blood flow in your jaw. Pay close attention to the feeling of the jaw as it starts to loosen up. Gently close your lips, feel your molars easily touch, place your fingertips on your cheeks and find the spot where the molars meet. Gently apply pressure until you feel the lower jaw drop away from the upper jaw. Think of it this way too: the upper jaw as stationary and the lower jaw dropping down and back. (If the jaw doesn't drop back, tension is holding it forward!) Tip your head back a little bit and continue to feel your jaw dropping down and back. This will help to stretch a set of vertical muscles located near the hinge. Do this exercise for a minute or two, stop and gently close your mouth, maintaining a feeling of release and looseness in your jaw. Now create a physical memory of this feeling. Yawn! Not a fake one but a real one if you can. This loosens up the muscles of the jaw, mouth and throat area in one fell swoop and gets your throat nice and open, and pliable.
After practicing the feeling of a loose, released jaw, try to maintain this sensation while singing a verse of a song; no more than one verse at a time, however, as you will want to stay focused on the feeling you're memorizing. Important: Confine practicing to practice time. Whether you're a performer, getting together with friends, or singing for fun by yourself, avoid interfering with the natural expression of your singing with thoughts of technique. This is a cardinal rule! The physical feelings you focus on during practice will become natural in time and replace old habits. After working with the above exercises don't be surprised if you start to feel an absence of strain and experience more resonance/presence in your sound.
Good luck, be patient with yourself---and most of all get out there and sing!
Note: Due to a busy schedule, the interview with John Cowen did not appear this month as promised. John is looking forward to sharing his love for and personal thoughts on singing, so stay tuned!
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