Why when I sing can I not access the resonance in my sinus and frontal cavities !
Question: I'm a baritone, been singing 5 years in musical theater and have a strong powerful voice, but still for some reason I can not resonate in my sinus and frontal cavities. I can resonate in my nasal cavity and anything bellow the bridge of my nose fine but anything higher I can't. When I sing notes at the current top of my range, G or G# above middle C I hit the note but it comes out like dead air or dampered, almost like I was suddenly in a glass box or something. Its like the air has no where to go and gets trapped in my throat its keeping me from extending my range or atleast making those top notes sound any good. Any reasons why? Any excercises to correct this?
Answers: I'm a baritone, been singing 5 years in musical theater and have a strong powerful voice, but still for some reason I can not resonate in my sinus and frontal cavities. I can resonate in my nasal cavity and anything bellow the bridge of my nose fine but anything higher I can't. When I sing notes at the current top of my range, G or G# above middle C I hit the note but it comes out like dead air or dampered, almost like I was suddenly in a glass box or something. Its like the air has no where to go and gets trapped in my throat its keeping me from extending my range or atleast making those top notes sound any good. Any reasons why? Any excercises to correct this?
You, most likely, are singing with a raised larynx and jaw-thrust. Don't worry about it, everyone does, but it will kill your resonance, and tire your voice out faster than just about anything. The first thing to do is pull your lower jaw back, then use the strength in your thoracic cage to support a relaxed, full tone. In a very resonant room, sing long notes in the middle of your register. Other check points: tongue lays fat and happy in the bottom of your mouth, raise the soft pallet, and the cheeks, and make sure your mouth is open at least 1/2 inch, and incrementally more as you get into range. Lifting the cheeks is important. As you do this you may feel like you've got incredible overbite. That's ok, in fact, its very good. You cannot have too much overbite when you're learning to create resonant tone. Watch yourself in a mirror as you learn these postures, and get used to feeling them and use them on all pitches. While watching yourself, note that your larynx stays low. It must stay low!! Do not allow yourself to sing with a raised larynx! If it rises, stop and start again, supporting the tone. The larynx loves vibrato so USE IT! These are the techniques that allow opera singers to create amazing ringy tones that carry over orchestras. I do have wonderul exercises that will help you, but explaining all that could take some space and time I won't have till next week. Stay in touch if you like, and I'll get them to you. I'll also answer you again after I confer with my opera-singing teacher. Best wishes. Singcerely,
mrsteacher