At the risk of being overly repetitive: I think the main problem in
this kind of tension is that things *lock* and that if you can keep things
mobile the tension will lessen, since locking won't occur. Things lock
because your musculature tries to balance every action with a counter-action
in order to avoid dilocation and other injuries. You have to convince it
that the threat is minimal so that a de-escalation occurs.My own strategy is
to keep my jaw moving - *gently!* - and, if the occasion warrants it, stick
my tongue out.
Also it is useful, in dealing with neck tension, to think of the
head as moving on two axes: forward/back and left/right, and to do *gentle*
stretching in only one axis at a time. Let me long-windedly try to make this
clear so you don't hurt yourself: 1)let your head nod forwards as far as is
comfortable;2) let it come back to the balance position; 3) look up a bit
(not too much - ever get a sore neck in NYC or the mountains from all that
rubbernecking?);4) come back to the balance positon. 5)from here, still
'looking' ahead, let your head fall gently to the left and then back to the
balance position 5) ditto to the right (avoid 'looking' round, thus twisting
your neck). This is also effective in gently dealing with some kinds of neck
pain.
Singing itself should not be a strenuous activity, at least if you
are physically fit. Tightening the muscles of the neck has only a negative
effect on a good singing tone. john
At 16:03 04/04/00 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi Rick:
>
>Tongue/jaw and neck tension is a huge problem for me. I have been combating
>it for years but have not kicked it completely.
>I enlisted the help of a good massage therapist who understands my problems
>and that has helped considerably.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: RRicciardi@S...
...
John Blyth
Baritone, inter alia.
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
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