COPYRIGHT © 2003-2024 PLAY BY EAR
HOW TO PROJECT YOUR VOICE IN SINGING - FREE LESSONS
Projecting your voice does not equate to shouting. The first thing you must do is to locate your larynx/voice box as you can see in the image on the right. It is easily noticeable on men as it is the Adam’s apple but on women it is the bone that protrudes from the neck. When you start singing, it is very important that your larynx remains stable, relaxed and balanced. The muscles that are connected to the vocal cords and the larynx are what cause the cords to open and close to produce sound. If the larynx is stable when you are singing, this is what allows your vocal cords to function. In order to project your voice and sing higher notes, your larynx must not move out of place as you will prevent the air flow, which could then cause damage to your voice.
Many people have certain misconceptions that you must try to push your voice, which will help with vocal projection but – you must NEVER do this. When you push your voice, you actually make it hoarse and you could even end up damaging your vocal cords. You would also be tensing all the muscles around your throat, making it very difficult for natural sound to come out. You must aim to make your voice bigger, that is, allowing the throat muscles to pull away naturally, opening your mouth wider – so a bigger voice can come out.
Your tongue has to be position accordingly as well which plays a key role in your vocal tone. You want the tip of your tongue to sit at the bottom of your teeth, which will allow for more airspace and will aid in producing a more projected and vibrant sound.
Here are a few tips to follow:
1. Ensure that you have a good posture.
Do not arch your back, keep your posture straight and make sure that your shoulders are relaxed. You will notice the change in the amount of air flow that is produced when you have the correct posture.
2.Keep your feet a width apart and position properly.
This will keep you in a relaxed position and will allow you to project more so.
3.Sing from your diaphragm and breathe properly.
The best way to project your voice is to sing from your diaphragm. Pull the breath from your diaphragm by breathing slowly and deeply into your stomach. Breath control is very important in this regard.
4.Learn to practice voice placement.
You want your vocals to resonate inside your body – you almost want to put your voice in a “forward” position. The idea is to focus your sound into a specific area where you will feel reverberations like a sounding board. This helps to place the voice correctly, so that the voice can be more amplified.
5.Keep your jaw relaxed.
This will prevent straining and will allow you to project better.
6.Put energy into your voice.
This will also allow your voice to lift up and will allow you to project.
5.Keep your jaw relaxed.
You might imagine that an egg is stuck in your throat…this will give you an idea of how wide your mouth must be and will also greatly help in projecting your voice.
