Tongue Tied?

Obviously, the tongue is an incredibly important muscle in the body. It is also very influential on how we sing. In many ways, the tongue’s position can either make or break our ability to create the desired sound. Given that the tongue not only helps us articulate our lyrics, it can also impact the shape of the mouth and the ability to keep the larynx (voice box) in a relaxed position. Since the back of the tongue ends right above the epiglottis, if the tongue is tense in the back of the throat, it can really constrict the larynx. A great way to avoid this issue, is to begin each warm up and/or practice session with a good tongue stretch. A great way to stretch out the tongue is to take facial tissue and hold on to the tip of the tongue. Then gently pull on the tongue in 3 directions: directly down and out of the mouth, to the right side/corner of the mouth, then to the left side/corner of the mouth. This will help release any built up tension in the back of the tongue and allow us to begin our singing session with a relaxed tongue.