What is your uvula?

We spoke, a while ago, about how to achieve space in your vocal instrument through a relaxed tongue in the E vowel position.  Another area we need to talk about is openness in the back of the throat. In order to achieve that openness, we need to learn to raise our soft palate. You may be asking, “What is your soft palate?” The area on the roof of your mouth that includes your teeth is called the hard palate.  The area that is behind your teeth and going to the back of your mouth is the soft palate. You know that little thing back there that looks like a punching bag?  That is called your uvula and is at end of your soft palate.  When we were learning to sing we were told to practice singing in a yawn position which is our natural way to raise the soft palate.  Unfortunately, that concept was not helpful.  What did help us was to take a flashlight and shine it into our mouths while looking in a mirror and practice raising our punching bag or uvula.  Once we felt the sensation of a high soft palate, we practiced singing while maintaining that feeling of openness in the back of my throat.  Another simple way to achieve a raised soft palate is to always be sure that the breaths you take in are silent.  If your tongue is in that E position and your soft palate is raised you have just created as much space possible for your voice to resonate.