Week 3 – Two Fingers
LESSON SUMMARY:
This exercise helps singers relax their jaw and engage stomach muscles for proper vocal support. By reducing jaw tension, singers can achieve stronger vocal projection and improved performance.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
Topic: Two Fingers (Relaxing the Jaw for True Vocal Support)
Lesson Focus: Reducing jaw tension to shift vocal support to the abdominal muscles, encouraging clearer, more powerful singing.
Day 1: Watch & Notice
Activity: Watch the “Two Fingers” video and get familiar with the technique of using your fingers to relax the jaw.
What You’ll Do:
- Watch the full lesson.
- With clean fingers, practice placing two fingers vertically between your teeth. Keep your elbow relaxed and at your side.
- Try exhaling on “AH” a few times. Notice if your jaw stays relaxed or if you bite down.
Goal: Build awareness of jaw tension and introduce the two-finger placement as a new singing habit.
Day 2: Deep Breath + AH Release
Activity: Explore how a relaxed jaw allows your breath and voice to move freely.
What You’ll Do:
- Place two fingers between your teeth and breathe in through your nose.
- Exhale slowly on a gentle “AHHHHH,” keeping your jaw relaxed and fingers in place.
- Repeat 5-6 times.
- Remove your fingers and try the same “AH”. Does your jaw want to move more?
Goal: Feel how reducing jaw involvement makes space for breath support from your stomach.
Day 3: Na Na Na on 1-3-5-3-1
Activity: Use finger placement to stabilize your jaw while your tongue handles articulation.
What You’ll Do:
- Place your fingers in position.
- Sing “Na Na Na Na Na” on the 1-3-5-3-1 pattern starting on any comfortable note.
- Keep your jaw steady and tongue active.
- Repeat the pattern on three additional pitches.
Goal: Practice isolated tongue movement and notice any abdominal engagement as you sing.
Day 4: Sing With, Then Without
Activity: Compare your sound and physical sensations when singing with the two fingers versus without them.
What You’ll Do:
- Sing a comfortable phrase with fingers in your mouth. Keep jaw relaxed.
- Now, sing the same phrase without the fingers, but try to maintain the same relaxed jaw. When you don’t have your fingers between your teeth and you are singing the actual song, you jaw will move but hopefully with a lot more ease and freedom. It’s all about avoiding the clench – with or without the fingers between the teeth!
- Journal: Which felt easier? Which felt more supported?
Goal: Begin transferring relaxed-jaw singing into your actual repertoire.
Day 5: Support + Posture Boost
Activity: Add posture awareness to your jaw release and support practice.
What You’ll Do:
- Stand tall in your neutral posture.
- Place your two fingers and inhale deeply.
- Sing “Na Na Na” on 1-3-5-3-1 while keeping your core engaged and jaw flexible – not clenched.
- Feel the breath pressurize from your stomach, not your neck.
Goal: Stack good habits together: posture, breath, and relaxed articulation.
Day 6: Tension Check-In
Activity: Use mirror work to get visual feedback on your facial tension.
What You’ll Do:
- Sing short phrases with fingers in place in front of a mirror.
- Watch your jawline and neck. Is anything moving or tightening?
- Remove fingers and repeat while maintaining relaxation.
Goal: Bring visual awareness to jaw tension and reduce it with consistent practice.
Day 7: Apply It to a Song
Activity: Put the technique into real-life singing.
What You’ll Do:
- Pick a short phrase from a song you love.
- Sing it on NA NA NA, with two fingers in place.
- Remove fingers and sing the phrase, focusing on that same jaw relaxation.
- Record yourself and compare.
Goal: Begin transferring jaw relaxation and stomach-based support to actual performance work.
BONUS FEATURES
Science Behind It All
When your jaw is tight, it can act like a clamp on your vocal mechanism, forcing your throat and neck to compensate. That means your poor abdominal muscles don’t get to do their job. Jaw tension can also change vowel shape, pitch accuracy, and stamina. The two-finger trick is a physical cue to break that cycle and retrain your motor habits!
Cue Cards
- “Let the jaw rest — let the abs work.”
- “No clamp, just float.”
- “Breath down, voice out.”
The “2 Fingers” exercise, designed to help singers relax their jaw while singing. The video emphasizes the importance of removing jaw tension to allow for proper support from the body, specifically the stomach area, which is crucial for effective vocal projection.
Key Concepts
- Jaw Tension and Vocal Support: The video explains that jaw tension can inhibit proper vocal support, which should ideally come from the stomach muscles rather than the jaw and articulation area.
- Becoming Aware of Tension: By placing two fingers between the teeth, singers can become more aware of any jaw tension. This position helps keep the jaw relaxed during vocal exercises.
- Breathing and Vocal Exercises: The instructor guides viewers through exercises such as breathing deeply and exhaling on “AH” and singing “Na NA NA NA NA” on a specific scale. These exercises are designed to encourage a relaxed jaw and to shift support to the stomach.
- Developing New Habits: The video encourages singers to practice these exercises regularly to develop the habit of singing with a relaxed jaw, leading to better vocal support.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of the video, viewers can expect to understand the impact of jaw tension on singing, learn exercises to reduce this tension, and discover how to engage their stomach muscles for stronger vocal support. This foundational knowledge can enhance singing technique and overall vocal performance.
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.