It’s my goal to provide no-nonsense, timeless vocal advice here at The Weekly Warm-Up. Low breath, high placement – it worked in the 60s (and 1860s!) and it works today. But today’s routine is one that I hope will be obsolete soon – preparing to sing with a mask on. As we move toward reopening, many of us will be passing through a period of singing in masks (often outside) and it’s not easy to do.
Prioritize singing by feeling and singing in the top half of the mouth, and you’ll set yourself up for success, so that’s what we’ll cover in today’s routine.
If singing in the top half of the mouth is a new idea, here’s the basic concept: singing in the top half of the mouth increases activity in the upper lip and hard palate (generally lacking in speakers of American English) and allows for crisp diction with less disruption in the inside space of the mouth, resulting in more efficient pronunciation and more consistent resonance. So, if we’re looking on the bright side, this is a good way to train a habit you’ll want to keep doing when your mask is off- one of those timeless habits. Re: masks, if you let the jaw drop to its maximum opening on every word and are “chewing” your way through text, your mask will slip a little bit down your nose on each word and you’ll be doing the chin strap in no time.
I know that many of you are probably wondering about which mask works best for singing. Cloth masks are really tough, because each time you inhale, you get a mouthful of fabric. I’ve tried many options, but for my particular face, a K95-type mask works best, actually staying in contact with my face all the way around my mouth and nose, comfortable, and staying far enough away from my mouth to allow me to breathe easily.
