Without a vocal coach working with you, you must be careful not to strain your voice. If you feel scratchiness in your voice, take a break and sing with a less powerful tone. If you’re not sure if you’re doing the exercises correctly, send me a video and I’ll personally give you feedback about what you can do to improve your technique.

Jaw tension tends to be the center of constriction because the muscles are very large and powerful, and we are constantly using them to chew and control our mouth, so they are easily activated. Most people’s jaws tend to lock when the vocal cords adduct, or begin to make sound. By moving your jaw in a gentle pattern while you adduct the vocal cords, you can begin to release the jaw. Make sure than as you practice releasing the jaw you don’t move it more than a half inch or so, and if you experience any pain or discomfort, stop and see a professional voice coach. I find that almost everyone can learn the basics of jaw release without much trouble.

Blending your chest voice and head voice is your long term goal for singing, and can take months or years to perfect, depending on your situation. It requires the activation of small, powerful muscles inside your larynx, which happens when you reach the Balance Point. One of the main goals of Voice Breakthrough is to establish this mix of chest voice and head voice.