Week 1 – Goodbye Jaw, Hello Tongue
LESSON SUMMARY:
Focusing on tongue movement rather than jaw activity improves speech clarity. This exercise helps viewers relax their jaw, enhancing pronunciation and speech clarity.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
Topic: Goodbye Jaw, Hello Tongue (Articulation without Jaw Tension)
Lesson Focus: Developing precise, clear vowel sounds by stabilizing the jaw and isolating tongue movement, leading to cleaner lyrics and healthier vocal technique.
Day 1: Mirror & Relax
Activity: Watch the video then spend time feeling your jaw hang open and let your tongue move freely without jaw tension. Focus on noticing natural tongue reach for “ah” and “ee.”
What You’ll Do:
- Stand before a mirror, let your jaw drop to a finger’s width gap.
- Alternate slow “ah” and “ee,” using only your tongue and breath to shape the sounds.
- Do 3 minutes, noting any jaw movement you can consciously release.
Day 2: Slow & Steady
Activity: Practice the ah/ee alternation slowly, aiming for crystal-clear vowels while keeping your jaw unmoving like a stable hinge.
What You’ll Do:
- Maintain the jaw gap, say “ah-ee-ah-ee” on a slow beat for 2 minutes.
- Pause every 30 seconds to check and relax the jaw again.
Day 3: Speed Play
Activity: Crank up the tempo to medium speed to challenge tongue agility, while ensuring clarity and jaw stillness under faster pacing.
What You’ll Do:
- Switch to a medium beat and alternate “ah-ee” for 3 sets of 1 minute.
- After each set, shake out your jaw and stretch your tongue.
Day 4: Vowel Expansion
Activity: Add one more vowel—“Eh”—to your loop to exercise wider tongue shapes without involving the jaw.
What You’ll Do:
- Sequence: ah, ee, eh, back to ah, at a comfortable medium tempo.
- Repeat for 4 minutes, pausing only to release tension.
Day 5: Phrase Precision
Activity: Incorporate the tongue-only approach into a short spoken phrase to see how it improves everyday articulation.
What You’ll Do:
- Choose a 4-word phrase (e.g., “I ate the cake”).
- Notice that you can say every word with zero jaw movement – the tongue and breath can handle it all.
Day 6: Mirror & Record
Activity: Use video feedback to catch any subtle jaw habits and refine tongue movement.
What You’ll Do:
- Record yourself practicing the “ah-ee” vowel sequence for 2 minutes.
- Watch playback to spot unintended jaw shifts and practice corrective reps.
Day 7: Creative Tongue Solo
Activity: Invent a short musical riff using only “ah” and “ee” to show off tongue control with no jaw movement.
What You’ll Do:
- Choose a 5-note riff (e.g., C–D–E–D–C) and assign “ah” to odd notes and “ee” to even notes.
- Perform 5 runs, adding dynamic contrast (soft to loud).
- Journal how tongue precision influenced the expressiveness.
BONUS FEATURES
Science Behind It All
A relaxed jaw ensures your oral cavity shape remains consistent, letting the tongue’s fine adjustments control vowel clarity. This reduces any tension in the neck and throat, optimizing vocal fold closure and resonance.
Cue Cards
- “Jaw free, tongue busy.”
- “Vowel shapes live on the tongue.”
- “Let the jaw hang, let the voice sing.”
In this video, viewers are introduced to a unique articulation exercise aimed at improving speech clarity by focusing on tongue movement rather than jaw activity. You will be guided through a step-by-step process designed to help you relax your jaw and allow your tongue to do most of the work. This exercise is beneficial for anyone looking to enhance their pronunciation and speech clarity.
What to Expect
The video begins with an introduction to the concept of minimizing jaw movement during speech. You will learn and practice the following steps:
- Relaxation of the Jaw: Start by letting your jaw hang slightly open to encourage relaxation.
- Space Creation: Create a small gap, about one finger’s width, between your upper and lower teeth.
- Vowel Sounds Practice: Begin with the sound “ah,” focusing on using your breath and vocal cords without moving your mouth. Then, shift to “ee” by incorporating tongue movement for clarity.
- Repetition and Speed Variations: Alternate between “ah” and “ee,” aiming for clear vowel sounds. As you become more proficient, increase the speed from slow to medium and eventually to fast, as demonstrated in the video.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the video, you’ll recognize the importance of tongue flexibility and strength in achieving clear vowel sounds. The exercise is designed to be practiced at your own pace, ensuring that clarity is prioritized over speed. The video encourages viewers to take their time and gradually build up to faster articulation as their skills improve.
Overall, this video serves as an informative and practical guide for anyone interested in refining their speech clarity through targeted tongue exercises.
Instructor: Meghan
Meghan McCall is an experienced singer-actor, who has been described by The Washington Post as having “bell-like clarity and fine control” and “a radiant full-bodied voice.”
She has performed all over the world, including performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and more. In addition, her film roles have been featured on major networks such as NBC, Discovery Channel, and Lifetime.
Throughout her performing career, Meghan has helped many clients find their voice – whether for public speaking, singing on stage, or just for recreation.