How to Avoid Singing Through Your Nose
Singing through your nose, also known as nasal singing, can negatively affect the overall quality and sound of your voice. It occurs when the sound produced while singing is primarily resonated within the nasal cavity instead of the chest, throat, and mouth. This article will provide you with helpful tips on how to avoid nasal singing and improve your vocal technique.
1.Identify Nasal Singing
The first step to correct nasal singing is to identify if you’re doing it in the first place. Some signs of nasal singing include a pinched or thin tone, lack of vocal power, difficulty hitting higher notes, and a persistent head cold sensation while singing. Record yourself or ask for feedback from a vocal coach to determine if you’re experiencing nasal resonance issues.
2.Practice Proper Breath Support
Having proper breath support when singing is crucial for a well-rounded tone and better control over your voice. Make sure you are taking deep breaths from your diaphragm, filling your lower lungs with air, and using your abdominal muscles to help push out the sound without tension in your throat or chest. This will reduce the need to use your nose for resonance.
3.Master Correct Mouth Position
Incorrect mouth position can encourage nasal singing by forcing sound into the nasal cavity rather than allowing for free resonance in the mouth and chest. Ensure that your mouth is open wide enough to create space for sound resonation. Your tongue should lie flat against the bottom of your mouth, with its tip just behind your lower front teeth.
4.Focus on Facial Resonance
Instead of relying on nasal resonance, focus on resonating sound in other parts of your face, such as around the mask area (the area around your cheekbones and eyes). This kind of resonance produces a more pleasing and natural tone to the voice.
5.Avoid Excessive Jaw Tension
When there is tension in the jaw, it can lead to arestricted airflow, causing singers to subconsciously redirect sound into their nasal cavity. Make sure your jaw is relaxed when singing and practice yawning or performing a gentle massage of the jaw muscles to release tension before practicing or performing.
6.Implement Proper Vocal Placement
Vocal placement refers to directing the sound correctly for each note, depending on the pitch and tone desired. Singers should focus on placing their voice towards the “mask” (forehead, nose, and cheekbones) instead of solely through the nose. This will ensure a better balance between chest, mouth, and nasal resonance.
7.Seek Professional Guidance
As much as you can learn from articles and videos about avoiding nasal singing, having a vocal coach can provide personalized guidance. They can listen to your voice and identify specific issues that need addressing and give you tailored feedback that can accelerate your progress.
In conclusion, identifying nasal singing, practicing proper breath support, mastering correct mouth position, focusing on facial resonance, avoiding excessive jaw tension, implementing proper vocal placement, and seeking professional guidance are crucial steps to improve your vocal technique and avoid singing through your nose. With practice and consistency, you’ll be able to refine your voice and enjoy an enhanced vocal performance.