🎙️ Lesson 3.1: The Filter – Understanding the Vocal Tract

Resonance is the amplification and enrichment of the sound created by your vocal cords. It occurs as sound waves travel through the vocal tract—the space above the vocal cords, including the throat, mouth, and nasal cavity.

By adjusting the shape of this space, you can dramatically change the quality, volume and colour of your voice.

🔍 Key Resonance Spaces

🫁 Pharynx (Throat)

The main resonating tube above the larynx.

🎵 Impact: A wide, open pharynx creates a rich, full, dark tone.

👄 Oral Cavity (Mouth)

The most flexible space, shaped by the tongue, jaw and lips.

🎵 Impact: Responsible for vowels and consonants.

👃 Nasal Cavity

The space behind the nose and above the soft palate.

🎵 Impact: Adds brightness and forward tone, useful in some styles.

🔑 Key Concept

Keep the pharynx wide and open (like the start of a yawn) while allowing the mouth to move freely.

🥔 Remember the hot potato imagery.

🎵 Lesson 3.2: Vowel Modification for Optimal Tone

Vowels are the carriers of sound in singing.

When singing high or low notes, natural vowel shapes can become restrictive or create strain.

Vowel modification is the subtle internal adjustment of vowels to maintain an open, resonant tract.

🌬️ The Open Throat Principle

1️⃣ The Problem

High notes often cause the larynx to rise and the throat to constrict—especially on vowels like:

• ee
• oo

2️⃣ The Solution

As pitch rises, subtly modify toward a more open vowel:

• ee → ih
• ee → ay
• oo → oh
• ih → eh

This helps release tension and improve tone.

3️⃣ The Exercise

Sing:

🎵 do–re–mi–fa–sol–fa–mi–re–do

On the vowel ee

Then repeat, opening slightly toward ih on the highest note.

🎯 Result: Less strain, rounder tone.

🎯 Actionable Step

Practice a phrase on these five pure vowels:

• ah
• eh
• ee
• oh
• oo

Notice how resonance changes.

Strive for consistent forward placement.

🌟 Extra Help

Our Singers Alphabet Lesson shows the perfect solution and can transform any song for you.

😌 Lesson 3.3: Relaxing the Jaw and Tongue

The jaw and tongue are powerful muscles that can accidentally block resonance when tense.

A relaxed jaw and flat tongue help create effortless tone.

😮 The Silent Scream Jaw Release

1️⃣ Position

Place index fingers gently on jaw hinges, just in front of ears.

2️⃣ Action

Slowly drop jaw comfortably as if silently yawning or screaming.

3️⃣ Singing

While holding jaw open, sing a sustained Ah.

Jaw should stay loose and dropped.

4️⃣ Goal

Sing short phrases while maintaining relaxed jaw position.

Movement should come mainly from:

• lips
• back of tongue

Not the jaw.

👅 Tongue Relaxation Drill

The tongue often pulls back and blocks the throat.

1️⃣ Exercise

Say:

Kee-Yaa

• Kee lifts front of tongue
• Yaa drops back of tongue

2️⃣ Focus

Repeat slowly and feel tongue flatten forward.

3️⃣ Singing

Sing a scale on:

🎵 Lah

The L brings tongue tip forward.

The Ah keeps back relaxed.

🔑 Key Concept

A free jaw and tongue allow sound to flow into the facial mask.

This creates:

✅ Brighter tone
✅ More ring
✅ Easier singing
✅ Less effort

🎭 Lesson 3.4: Finding Forward Placement (The Mask)

Forward placement means directing resonance into the facial bones:

• hard palate
• bridge of nose
• cheekbones

This boosts high overtones and creates a clear professional ring.

🎵 The Hum-to-Sing Technique

1️⃣ Hum

Close mouth gently and hum a comfortable note.

Feel buzzing in:

• lips
• nose bridge
• cheekbones

This is forward resonance.

2️⃣ Transition

Open slowly into:

• Maa
• Nee

Keep the buzzing feeling.

3️⃣ Sustain

Hold notes on Maa and Nee.

Feel sound vibrating out of the face—not stuck in throat.

🎯 Actionable Step

Whenever your tone feels dull or trapped:

1. Return to humming
2. Rebuild the forward buzz
3. Transition back into singing

🎵 This instantly resets resonance.

🌟 Takeaway Info

Our individual lessons provide far deeper guidance and easy, lasting solutions for any singing challenge.

We hope these exercises give you a taste of stronger, healthier singing habits.

▶️ Continue Your Modules 🎤