Chapter 9: Articulation
The physical structures and actions that are used for articulation are the muscles of the jaw, tongue, pharynx, and palate. The tongue and the palate are connected through the palatoglossus muscle, meaning that having a problem with tongue tension while singing could also affect proper soft palate position. Position of the soft palate is considered an aesthetic choice, but most teachers will argue that a closed soft palate that closes off the nasal port is the most efficient and resonant choice. The jaw is a single structure of bone with many muscles that help move it. Muscular antagonism in the jaw muscles is especially bad for singers because it induces the muscles’ secondary action: laryngeal elevation. Understanding of these muscles and their functions is important for us to know as teachers of singing to help us improve the technique of our singers. If our students have problems with the larynx being pulled up, it is probably related to tension in some of the muscles involved in articulation. It is our job to figure out which muscles are doing this and free our students from this tension. For young singers, this will be a big thing for us to focus on.
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