| Published: April 6, 2021 |
Make the Dog Whine Sound
Tongue tension? Horrible! Jaw tension? Don’t get me started! Neck tension? Stop. You’ve surely heard how bad tension is for singers. Tension is the enemy of resonance and flexibility, but we can’t be a limp noodle, right? Right! Breathing muscles, posture muscles, your articulators, and even tiny muscles inside your larynx are active when you sing. Your CT (cricothyroid) muscles, for example, must stretch your vocal folds more and more as you sing higher notes. Using these tiny muscles in a strain-free way is very healthy for your voice. Let’s give your CT muscles a little workout:
Get ready to imitate a little puppy dog both physically and vocally. Make a dog whine sound with your lips closed, but also do something physical to make you feel like a dog, such as putting your “paws” up in front of you. Don’t try to be quiet; be free and stay relaxed as if you are playing with a child. Go as high as you comfortably can. Keep your jaw, tongue and neck loose and let your breathing muscles do the work for you. Stop after a minute.
Well done! Goofing around – with kids or grown ups or your pet – is one of the best times to explore different vocal sounds such as high notes, belting, twang, or vibrato. You’ll be amazed at the cool sounds you can create – with less tension – when you forget about singing and get goofy.
Kathy Alexander
VP Curriculum, Singdaptive
This Week’s Feature Lesson
Juliet Russell’s lesson Playfulness: Expand Your Vocal Potential uses imaginative triggers and different vocal styles to explore different tones and qualities in the voice.
Tips from the Team Have Arrived!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see questions from singers answered – the moment they’re published! We’re so excited that our Instructor Team has provided short, pithy insights to real questions from singers – check out the playlist out on YouTube.
Feel the Vocal Majesty of Jessye Norman!
| At Singdaptive we have been transported by Jessye Norman’s voice – what a gift her musical interpretation continues to be to the world! She has left a wonderful legacy… |
| Interested in getting feedback on your singing? Then try out the new way to do voice lessons – see more on Exchangely. |
Singdaptive is the new way to learn singing and reach your singing goals. You’ll receive personal one-on-one coaching through video exchanges with a lead instructor who is supported by a multidisciplinary instructor team. You will do this at your own time and pace. Because we have a diverse team, you can work on any singing-related goals from technique, to performance, recording, vocal health, vocal effects, promotion and more…
