by Jeannie Deva

Lack of Proper Vocal Warm-up, Air Over-blow and Over-Articulation were the first three of the Five Primary Causes of Throat Muscle Tension discussed in Lessons 1 and 2. Here are the last two sources of tension that we need to eliminate to achieve a wider, freer range and greater expression of emotion when singing.

4. Using Tension Rather than Resonance for Volume - Singers try to use force or "push" to achieve an increase in volume. "Pushing" tightens muscles, reduces flexibility and is counter productive. A Big Sound Needs Big Space. Volume is achieved in part, by letting your sound resonant in the air cavities of your body such as the lungs, mouth, throat and sinuses. Tension reduces the size of these cavities.

Try this: As you sing, put the palm of your hand on the back of your neck. Imagine the vowels of each word you are singing gently going into the palm of your hand. Don't push them there, just think it. You may notice a relaxation of the inner muscles of your throat, and find your sound becoming at least a bit bigger with less effort. This is an example of allowing your sound to resonant into a relaxed body space to achieve more volume.

5. Trying to Compensate for Underdeveloped Vocal Muscles - If you tried to pick up an object that was heavier than your body's ability to lift, you'd probably use extra effort causing strain. If you try to sing notes that your vocal muscles are not capable of producing, you might use extra effort which causes tension. As you now know, muscular tension reduces your voice's range, resonance, volume and emotional freedom.

Exercise: Vocal Exercises are not easy to explain or direct in writing. It's better to have them explained, sung and coached in person or on an audio recording. However, short of having in-person voice training sessions or working with my home study course, you can try the following: Open your mouth about a two-finger width. Let your tongue relax with the tip resting against the back of your bottom teeth. Choose a pitch that's around your natural speaking voice and start singing an "Ah." While sustaining the "Ah" slide the pitch up an interval of a whole step and then back down. Let's call this slide up and down a whole step a "wiggle." Wiggle the "Ah" about 6 times. Next start on a slightly higher pitch and wiggle the "Ah" again. Keep going slightly higher and then slightly lower. Never reach or strain for a pitch. Go only as high as is comfortable and then come back down the scale, little by little. After some minutes using the "Ah" vowel, repeat the whole procedure using an "Ee."

Try to keep you jaw open and unmoving as you do this so that your inner vocal muscles can be given a gentle and natural work out. Do this exercise for about 10 minutes. Don't push for volume nor sing breathy. A speaking approach is best. After a few days, you may notice certain pitches coming more easily than before. This is only one of many different exercises I use to expand a singer's range.

Sincerely,
Jeannie Deva

As the innovator of The Deva Method�, A Complete Vocal Technique for Stage and Studio, Jeannie Deva is the author of the internationally acclaimed �Contemporary Vocalist� Volumes I and II, �The Deva Method Vocal Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs� CD and she trains and certifies teachers in her method. She is the Celebrity Vocal Coach on the E! Entertainment TV Reality show �House of Carters� with Nick Carter of The Backstreet Boys and his family. Ms. Deva is a member of TC-Helicon� Vocal Technologies Elite Voice Instructor Council. There is a growing network of Jeannie Deva� Voice Studios. Clients include Grammy Award Winners, American Idol contestants, Independent and Major Label recording artists. Ms Deva�s private studio is located in Los Angeles, California.