Singing with a relaxed palate?!
Question: Normally when I try to reach extremely high notes my mouth becomes smaller and I sort of feel this pressure against my palate. I can reach the sound no problem, but then I'm wondering whether this is actually ok for my voice since i've learned that you're supposed to keep everything relaxed when you sing. However if I don't do that the notes can't really be reached...any advice?
Answers: Normally when I try to reach extremely high notes my mouth becomes smaller and I sort of feel this pressure against my palate. I can reach the sound no problem, but then I'm wondering whether this is actually ok for my voice since i've learned that you're supposed to keep everything relaxed when you sing. However if I don't do that the notes can't really be reached...any advice?
depends on whether you are feeling the "pressure" against your hard or soft palate. The hard palate, really doesn't move much, but we have the perception of a vault when singing higher notes, especially on the "round" or "dark" vowels, ah, oh. and ooo. This is correct in terms of classical singing.
What you may be overlooking is the arch that really does take place from the soft palate, the spongy area in the back of your mouth at the roof. This is a very flexible tissue, and we need to arch it to keep the buccal ( mouth) space open to accommodate high notes, and also to close off the nasal port which would otherwise let us start sounding country-western.
The attempt at getting everything to relax is misnomer. The first stages for beginners will include relaxation, but that's to get rid of accumulated, everyday tension and stress, to which most people are unaware. In good singing, you can't get by being totally relaxed, it just doesn't work that way. What we do learn is the right amounts of "vitality" ,"energy","intensity" and any other positive names for tension. Singing ought to be an intensely physical activity, and not something for spineless jellyfish. As you progress, you will elarn where and when the tension is appropriate, and where it becomes too much.
A good singing teacher should keep you apprised of all these major details! You are taking lessons???
Best wishes and keep on singing
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