why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Amneris
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#0why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:16pm
Why do some peoples jaws move really fast when they sing? I find this very distracting to look at. Thats all.
Amneris's 2 cents for the day..
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#1re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:18pm
A question I've always wondered about as well...
Also-why people sometimes nod their heads up and down involuntarily during their vibrato.
ponine24601
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/03
#2re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:20pmi've always wondered why some people shake their head when belting a really high not that they have to hold out. eden does that and it annoys me. that's the only thing that annoys me about her though.
"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions."
~The one and only John Lennon
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#3re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:21pmi'm guessing to maintain a consistent pitch- I know mine moves a bit hitting the high note at the end of "we both reached for the gun"
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
LadyGuenevere
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/03
#4re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:21pm
That's definitely wrong technique, which many pro actors do.
Anyway, I think that the head going up and down is people believing that they can create a wave in their voice by moving their head. Someone I knew used to shake her head from side to side while in vibrato for that reason. Not 100% sure though.
My bad vibrato habit is cutting off my vibrato by shaking my head to one side. I don't do it during the vibrato, I just do that to cut it off. IT's harrible!
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#5re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:23pmJaw movement or head movement that comes with the vibrato is usually a result of tension in the neck or jaw.
#6re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:34pmExactly, it's tension, and it's a sign that the singer doesn't really know what he/she is doing. As far as moving the head from side to side, that will get rid of tension, but that's used for vocal exercises, why anyone would be doing that onstage is beyond me. Ponine, if you love Eden that much, and she's doing that, you really need to see Idina again b/c you haven't seen her at her best.
#7re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:34pmNYCbabe, is that your cat??? Gorgeous.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#8re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:37pm
She's a beauty alright.
This is comforting...I always thought I was doing something wrong because soooooo many singers I know and have seen move their mouths along with vibrato, particularly on high notes.
ponine24601
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/03
#9re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:39pmshe only did it once. i asked her about it and she said that she had an itch on her neck and was trying to make it go away. weird....
"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions."
~The one and only John Lennon
#10re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:42pmThat's kind of scary...Idina better not decide to be unlike herself and be out on 8/15.
ponine24601
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/03
#11re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:45pmshe did it once, no big.
"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions."
~The one and only John Lennon
#12re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:47pmYeah, well, in her first performance, she was way too thick in her tone and flat: I WANT TO SEE IDINA! I will of course give Eden (or if she's already left, Kristy Cates) a chance should Idina be out. Updated On: 7/27/04 at 09:47 PM
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#13re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 9:58pmwell i just solved my jaw issue thanks to the tips in this thread.... neck massages work wonders
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#14re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 10:22pm
The reason people think that they need to move their jaws while singing is completely a mental thing. They believe if their jaws move, a better sound quality will be had, and they think it helps their vibrato. Word to the wise.....IT doesn't do either of those.
That is all.
You've gotta have heart AND music
chasing_rainbows43
Broadway Star Joined: 5/11/03
#15re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 10:33pm
Something I've noticed:
Many singers I've seen who are highly trained or ever overtrained, hold a lot of tension in their jaw/neck.
Two of my favorites (neither of whom have ever taken a voice lesson) do not "shake" at all and their vibratos are much more even and controlled.
I think that a lot of singers today are overtrained and that may be a partial cause of that tension. Not knocking training at all but there's a difference between honing your craft and working it to death.
#16re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 10:49pmYikes, You would think that people who are highly trained would NOT have tension. Thats what trainers are supposed to teach singers to get rid of.
You've gotta have heart AND music
#17re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 11:21pmMost singers on Broadway are simply natuarally born with a strong talent for music. They do what they need to to get the sound they are known for. Even if it's not always the healthiest or "best" way of doing something, it's what works for them and it gets us jobs. What works for one person may not work for another.
You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.
Updated On: 7/28/04 at 11:21 PM
#18re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/27/04 at 11:33pm
they open their mouths to sing correctly.
-d.b.j-
Vary My Days.
BWayBoy88
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/04
#19re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/28/04 at 12:30amI always thought that when a singer's jaw shook, it was because they werent supporting enough. It always annoys me when this happens. Liz McCartney's understudy in Taboo had a wonderful voice, but her jaw shook and it was very distracting. Also a lot of the contestants on American Idol do this.
skingdom
Broadway Star Joined: 6/29/03
#20re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/28/04 at 1:48am
It is tension...but it does not mean they don;t know what they are doing...not necessarily...
Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Bernadette Peters, Cheyenne Jackson all have this from time to time. That doesnt mean they dont know what they are doing.
Laura Benanti, Gavin Creel and Sarah Berry seem to have great technique.
#21re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/28/04 at 3:19amanother thing is people think it makes them look more "professional" or into the song. this is why so many american idol contentants as bwayboy was saying do this. they see others doing it and in turn think it will produce a better sound, it doesnt. same thing goes with all the arm movements you see pop stars making when they sing. unfortunatly this has started to transfer over to broadway which makes me shudder.
"Contentment it seems merely happens, It appears Accompanied by no bravos and no tears"
"The world is good you said Enjoy it's highs you said The summer flies you said So make a parade Of every moment Now throw away your hate And focus on what's great instead" ~William Finn
#22re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/28/04 at 7:48amI've seen both Charlotte Church and Whitney Houston do this and it drives me crazy when I see it. The voices may sound beautiful but when the visual interferes, it's NOT good.
#23re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/28/04 at 8:16amPatti LuPone does this immensely. I noticed it was always women. I assumed it had something to do with not having an Adam's Apple, but who knows what makes their jaw move? I doubt it is LuPone's lack of traning, but I think it is something more associated with a wildly strong vibrato that is more out of control. You see it mostly with singers who have insanely strong vibratos (Patti, Whitney, Liza).
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#24re: why do peoples jaws move when they sing?
Posted: 7/28/04 at 1:50pmThe reason why the jaw moves when one is singing is due to tongue tension. The back of the tongue is tight and pulling back, therefore it causes the jaw to move fast.
"It never bothered me that she called me a c*nt, it bothered me that I answered to it!" Carol Channing about Ethel Merman filming an episode of "The Love Boat"
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