If tongue tension interferes so profoundly with resonance and ease, how can singers identify it and what can they do about it?

Awareness is the first step. Press gently under the chin while phonating; if the tissue stiffens, the tongue root is likely overactive (Friedlander, 2011). Other signs of tongue tension include muffled vowels, jaw fatigue, or even a false vibrato produced by tongue wobble (Stoer & Swank, 1978). Trollinger and Sataloff’s (2025) new research underscores that these same symptoms can arise in students who play wind instruments, since many learn their instruments with little regard for throat and tongue efficiency.

Practical solutions include:

Mobility drills: “Tongue push-ups,” side-to-side stretches, or the “peanut butter clean” help free extrinsic muscles (LeFevre, 2011).
Release strategies: Yawn-sighs, tongue-out singing, and consonant anchoring ([v], [f], [z], [s]) restore neutral posture (Miller & Schutte, 1981; Stoer & Swank, 1978).
Whole-body awareness: Because jaw and tongue tensions usually co-occur, massage, posture checks, and semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises can help reset the system (Cole, 2019).

What is new in the Trollinger & Sataloff study is the recognition that instrumental pedagogy can reinforce or reduce tongue tension just as much as vocal pedagogy. Singing teachers, band directors, and wind instrument teachers can collaborate on healthful teaching strategies. Partnership ensures that students who sing and play will not reinforce tension-producing habits across disciplines.

The takeaway: freeing the tongue is not about one “perfect position” but about restoring softness, mobility, and independence. With research-backed exercises and mindful teaching, singers can release tension, maintain vocal health, and cross-train successfully, even if they also play a demanding wind instrument.

References

Behrman, A., & Haskell, J. (2019). Exercises for voice therapy (Vol. 1). Plural Publishing.
Cole, A. (2019). Balance and tension: The jaw and tongue in relation to the whole. Australian Voice, 20, 7–14.
Friedlander, C. (2011, April 20). Taming the wayward tongue: Workshop recap. The Liberated Voice. https://www.claudiafriedlander.com/the-liberated-voice/2011/04/tongue-workshop-recap.html
LeFevre, C. (2011). Tongue management. Journal of Singing, 68(2), 157–163.
Miller, R., & Schutte, H. K. (1981). The effect of tongue position on spectra in singing. The NATS Bulletin, 37(3), 25–29.
Stoer, V. L., & Swank, H. (1978). Mending misused voices. Music Educators Journal, 65(4), 47–51. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3395549
Trollinger, V. L., & Sataloff, R. T. (2025). Teaching singers who play wind instruments. Journal of Singing, 81(5), 559–562. https://doi.org/10.53830/sing.00132