Essential Singing Exercises
Humming
M - N - NG HUM
“Everyone around the world hums, regardless of culture or creed. We do not question why we hum any more than we question why we breathe. We just do. This is one of the simplest and yet most profound sounds we can make. We can all hum. The very young can hum. The very old can hum. If you have a voice, you can hum.“
Jonathan Goldman “The Humming Effect: Sound Healing for Health and Happiness.”
What is humming?
Humming is a simple vocal exercise that involves making a nasal sound usually with your lips closed (but you can also do it with open mouth). It is a type of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) exercise that creates a partial obstruction of the airflow through the vocal tract. This semi-occluded position helps to regulate the flow of air and balance the pressure above and below the vocal folds, making it a useful exercise for improving vocal control and resonance.
To produce the humming sound, we force air through our vocal cords, which vibrate and create sound waves. The frequency of the sound is determined by the rate of vibration of the vocal cords. These sound waves are then amplified by the resonating chambers. Humming resonates the most in the oral and nasal cavities of the head, as well as the chest cavity. But we have to remember that the nasal cavity is essential for humming. If you hold your nose, you simply can't hum!
It’s a safe and simple exercise that can be done anytime, anywhere, making it a great addition to any vocal warm-up routine.
Objectives:
- Stretching of vocal folds
- Improving mastery of vocal fold function
- Balancing the pressure above and below the vocal folds
- Improving pitch range without straining the voice
- Most importantly: improving the feeling of different resonators in the vocal tract, especially the nasal cavity
- Balancing the airflow
- Achieving smooth transitions between vocal registers
- Preventing vocal fold tension and strain during singing
- Maintaining a neutral position of the larynx to reduce tension
Another interesting aspect of humming is the way it can affect our bodies. Research has shown that when we hum a number of beneficial therapeutic effects occur, including:
- Increased oxygen in cells
- Increased lymphatic circulation
- Reduced levels of stress-related hormones
- Increased levels of nitric oxide
- Lowered blood pressure and heart rate
- Increased levels of melatonin
- Release of endorphins
- Release of oxytocin
When to use:
Don’t use:
- As a warm-up before singing
- As a gentle exercise in the morning or after intense singing
- As a cool-down at the end of the day
- For maintaining healthy vocal folds or aiding in the recovery of injured vocal folds
- To familiarize yourself with a new melody
- To work on extending your range
- To reduce stress
- To meditate, relax and promote better sleep
- In general, humming is a safe and beneficial exercise for most people.
- However, if you have a serious respiratory infection or vocal injury, it’s best to avoid it until you have recovered.
- Once you are ready to resume singing, humming can be a helpful exercise to include in your vocal warm-up routine.
- As with any vocal exercise, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid practicing if you’re experiencing any discomfort or vocal fatigue.
How to make it work? | Part 1
Humming is a very natural way of producing sound. Anyone can hum. It doesn’t require a lot of experience but as every exercise it is better to take it step by step.
1.Find a comfortable position. You can stand or sit, it doesn’t matter as long as you stay relaxed.
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