To get the best tone, control and vocal freedom, the jaw tightness needs to be conquered and the jaw loosed. You don’t have to go overboard, just loosen your jaw so that it can move all around in a slight chewing motion and open wide easily at the back of the molars with no tension clamping it together. Doing this helps you keeping the river of sound flowing and not pinched. Pinch– and you lose vocal control and tone; it’s that simple.
To illustrate what I’m talking about, take a look at the following artists’ video performances. This works in any contemporary genre, whether you’re a rock, country, r&b, gospel, jazz singer… whatever. Free the jaw and free the voice.
- Jennifer Nettles singing “Baby Girl”
- Whitney Houston singing “I Will Always Love You”
- Andrea Bocelli singing “Melodramma”
- Jason Mraz singing “I’m Yours”
- Faith Hill singing “When The Lights Go Down”
- Bono singing “Vertigo”
- Christina Aguilera singing “Hurt”
…and here’s a concert that definitely will illustrate using a free, loose jaw from an artist who passed away far too soon:
- Eva Cassidy singing a version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow that will take your breath.
Now…There are “boucou’s” of examples of the loose jaw at work in great singers’ voices. I didn’t look too long, so I know you must have other examples. Please chime in and add to the list.
Thanks!
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