So often when we are learning music, working vocalises, and even performing, we are focused on a specific note or sound that we want to create forgetting how we need to get there. How many times have we been singing a piece of music, the high note is approaching or climax of the piece and that is all we are focused on? We aren’t focused on how we are going to get there.

Like most young singers, I struggled with tongue tension when I first started training and occasionally have to revisit this issue in my own singing. In fact, most singers suffer from a bit of tongue tension at some point in their careers. Tongue tension or tongue root tension (you may hear it both ways) could be caused by our accent, how we shape our vowels, singing too loudly, too much breath pressure or other breath support problems, muscle coordination in the larynx, unhelpful techniques, anxiety, etc.