About this exercise
Open Throat - Yawn-Sigh
An open throat is the space singers make behind the tongue, in the pharynx, so the sound has somewhere to resonate before it leaves the mouth. The easiest way to find it is the beginning of a yawn: the soft palate lifts, the larynx drops a little, and the back of the mouth widens. The yawn-sigh exercise catches that shape and then sighs a gentle tone through it, so you learn what an open throat feels like from the inside instead of being told to "open up". This exercise guides the yawn, plays a reference, and listens for the sigh, tracking whether the tone stays released as it descends. Singers who do this before a set report a warmer, less nasal sound; singers who skip it often push instead. It is gentle enough to do on a tired voice.
How to do it
- Start a gentle yawn. Feel the back of your mouth lift.
- At the top of the yawn, hold an "ah" on the reference note.
- Then sigh downward from that open feeling.
- Keep that open feeling as you sing the scale.
The open feeling at the start of a yawn can make your sound feel roomier. Find it gently, without forcing a full yawn.
What the app listens for
nothing: the piano leads and you judge how it felt.
What comes next
The daily plan pairs the open throat with resonance placement, so the space you make in the back meets the buzz you find in the front.
If singing hurts, stop. Pain, hoarseness, extra effort, lost range or constant throat clearing for more than a day? See an ENT or laryngologist, or a speech therapist who works with singers. Don’t practice harder.
What is the pharynx?
The throat cavity above the larynx. It is a primary resonating chamber - changes in its shape (by jaw, tongue, and soft palate movement) dramatically alter vocal tone and color.
What is the soft palate and why does it matter for singing?
The soft tissue at the back of the roof of your mouth. When lifted (like starting a yawn), it creates more space for resonance and prevents nasal sound. A lifted soft palate = richer tone.
Why is tongue tension a problem for singers?
The tongue root connects to the larynx via the hyoid bone. When the tongue tenses, it pulls on the larynx, restricting vocal fold movement and reducing resonance. A relaxed tongue = free voice.