Correct Humming

(I found this tip by Jess Buice on the Web somewhere. Sometimes, y'know, teachers still have things to learn, when I find something that expresses exactly what I've been trying to teach, I grab it! This says it perfectly. As a teacher, I am constantly fed by others like me who teach singing, and to all of them I am very grateful.)

Making room for sound:

• Everyone close your mouth and let your tongue rest on the top of your mouth.
• Close your teeth too.
• Now hum.

Let's do that again and this time try to feel where the sound is vibrating...Go.

5 . . .

4 . . .

3 . . .

2 . . .

1 . . .

and . . .STOP.

How many of you could feel your nose vibrate?

That's because the air is coming up, vibrating your vocal cords, then this vibration is being CUT OFF by your tongue. We need to get the tongue out of the way. Let your tongue lay flat and do it again.

Well listen to that.

Now what is vibrating?

Do it again, tongue down, teeth together, now hummmm.

Did you feel your teeth vibrate?

That's because the air is now moving past your tongue and, hitting the back of your teeth. Let's get the teeth out of the way too.

Just relax your jaw and your teeth will separate.

• Keep your tongue down
• Relax your jaw
• Teeth apart
• Now...hum

Now what is vibrating? (hint: It should be your lips)

That's because the only thing between the sound being made is your lips.

That is the correct way to hum.

Tongue flat, relax jaw, teeth apart, lips barely touching.

If your lips tickle, you're doing it right!

"Excerpts from "Finding the Singing Voice," taken from Music You Can Read*

Reproduced by permission of the author, Jess Buice, Founder/CEO of Music Notes, Inc.. For more information, contact http://musicnotes.net *Music You Can Read is a registered trademark of Music Notes, Inc.