What is the Tongue Doing?

What is the tongue doing? Increase flexibility and decrease tension in the tongue by incorporating the following exercise in 2 sets:

Set 1:

1. On an arpeggiated triad, sing “gla gla gla gla gla”. Have the students drop their jaws on every note. There should be lots of jaw movement here! Perform the exercises through various pitch ranges for at least 90 seconds.

Set 2:

1. Do the same exercise, but this time, have the students only move their tongue to articulate the “gla’s.” This time, no jaw movement is allowed! Perform the exercise through various pitch ranges for at least 90 seconds.

Sing through some repertoire immediately after completing these exercises. These exercises should yield a smoother legato with less tongue and jaw tension.

Brenda Jean Hamilton
Lecturer of Voice, Troy University

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