Open Throat Technique
Introduction
As a Singer, there's little to nothing we can do without a well placed (Physically And Mentally) throat. Open throat technique is the first of the physical trainings every beginner singer or vocalist should have aside training the ears on how to hear music like a musician should. We have to hear the music deeply before singing out, and learn to hear our self too as we sing, Some persons sing and think they sound nice, but in actuality, they do not sound any bit nice at all.
Our focus in this post is to learn how to open up our throat while we sing. As we study various genres of music, as vocalists, we may be tempted to close up our throat in order to get some techniques, this could in turn lead to some vocal injury, as a result of ignorance of healthier ways to achieving such techniques.
So, when we talk about Open throat, it simply means, not screeching and not having tightened vocal mechanism as you sing. Think of the way you talk, you don't feel pains or strain on your vocal chord. Exactly how you should sing, that's what it means when your vocal coach says "sing with you talking voice". Also, as you would attest, none of us talks straight tones, sometimes we could talk low and at other times we talk high, simply put YOU TALK HOW YOU FEEL, same thing, you should SING HOW YOU FEEL. So whenever you sing think on how you speak, without locking up you vocal chord.
The Benefits Of Open Throat Technique:
Firstly, it is the healthiest way to sing. You don't want to go on vacation because you have to heal from an injured vocal cord. Some persons today cannot sing clear tones because, over time they have destroyed their cords as a result of doing the wrong thing, they have to sound like gurgle whenever they open their mouth to sing.
Secondly, it helps us to access our full vocal range with ease. Most Vocalist have a wider range than they are aware of, but they don't know this, because they've got some sort of "tightness" in their vocal mechanism thereby causing limitations.
Thirdly, it gives us a Richer and a Fuller tone (Vocal Resonance). Vocals like any Acoustic Instruments get it's beauty from it's Resonating ability (level). So, to get your overall tone (resonance), you have to be "open" up there.
Fourthly, it helps us find our unique vocal type and colour. If there are 8 billion persons worldwide, there are 8 billion unique vocal types. One of the most important aspect of vocal music is finding your vocal type and being satisfied with it, because it's a unique strength that others don't have except you.
Fifthly, it gives us overall control and vocal stamina. Some persons can not finish a song without feeling like they are dying up there, tones go flat and their voice starts cracking and breaking and becomes too heavy to bear.
Sixthly, It makes learning other Vocal Techniques easier. As a rule, no vocal technique can be learnt with a closed vocal mechanism. Here are a few of the Vocal Techniques:
√ Vocal Reverb
√ Vibrato
√ Singing In Mixed voice
√ Difficulty in transiting from one vocal register to another.
√ Glissando
√ Portamento
Finally, it reduces vocal fatigue. As a Singer, I mean those who desire to, or who actually do take singing as an occupation, you would want your voice to remain optimal inspite of a prolonged studio session or say, you're a Live performer, who wants to have your voice carrying you through a two hours concert, yes, the open throat technique is for you quite the starting point.
Few Vocal Advise For Open Throat Technique:
As with any vocal exercise, the importance of the mental state cannot be overemphasized, so opening your voice starts from mentality! You've got to start trusting your voice. Many persons feel that they can't sing thereby they do this "escapy singing", trying _to (Imaginarily) MAKE their voice and thereby they start "pinching" inside. We cannot MAKE our voice, It is just, in there, we can't MAKE IT! All we have to do is trust it, and not MAKE it.
Also, when you select your vocal repertoire, pick songs that are within your vocal range, because if you're doing songs higher in pitch or lower in depth to your vocal range, you'd have to tighten up to sing the higher notes and become too loosed and breathy to sing the lower notes and this would be detrimental to your voice, plus, no song deserves to be murdered like that.
Also, each vocal type have their strength in some particular genres of Music. So, know your vocal type and do songs that suits your vocal type. It doesn't mean you should not sing other genres, what we mean is, know your strength! and you'd be much more confident and you wouldn't have to pinch inside.
Click Here to See the demonstration video for the practical aspect of this lesson.
Sure technique to building firm musicality.