(G) Tongue

Benefits of practicing the tongue

What are the benefits of tongue practice?

There are several benefits, including producing high notes more steadily and easing throat tension.

I see. I would like to know why it has those effects!

A detailed explanation would be long, so I will keep it as concise as possible again.

You probably know that the tongue takes different shapes to create consonants, vowels and words when we speak or sing.

The tongue also tends to move back into the throat and narrow the air passage, trying to help by reducing excessive airflow that destabilizes the voice. But a tense tongue often disrupts other parts and interferes with vocal-fold movement.

So the tongue moves into the back of the throat? I have never noticed that…

It happens unconsciously, so very few people notice it.

When the tongue interferes with the vocal folds for a long time, the folds lose the habit of using their own ability, and vocalization becomes overly dependent on the tongue. Neglecting their own role becomes normal.

To restore the vocal folds’ own ability and avoid disrupting other parts, let’s practice making voice without relying on the tongue.

How to practice the tongue

If someone has relied on the tongue, recovering the vocal folds’ own ability sounds difficult…

Yes, changing a long-standing habit is hard, but repeated practice can resolve it. Let’s work on it together!

We will start with the simplest of many methods. Stick your tongue out and practice Goo, Choki and Paa as in the vocal-fold lesson.
Use the front camera during the lesson to make sure the tongue does not slip back into your mouth.

If your tongue slips back on its own, it is a sign that you usually rely heavily on it to balance voices such as Goo, Choki and Paa. Practice switching slowly while looking for a way to make voice without its help.

My tongue shakes a lot and seems about to pull back right away. What should I do?

If the tongue will not stay where you want it, practicing while pulling its tip outward with your fingers can help you learn the sensation. Hold it with a tissue folded several times to reduce slipping and make practice easier.