A large percentage of female singers struggle with being “stuck” in their head voice. This is usually the classically trained voice or “choir-like” voice.

For those of you looking for a more “pop” sound, or “beltier” sound, try these exercises. These signature sounds can be heard in the voices of Rhianna, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.

1. Open your mouth as if you were going to bite into an apple. Let your tongue hang out over your bottom lip. Make a “whiny” sound like a little child. Do these high sounds in your higher range and carry the sound down into your speech area. Don’t fight the urge to “sing”. Simply allow the sound to be. You may not like it. Try to visualize what the sound feels like. Notice your tongue is up a bit at the back of your mouth, and the sound is hitting your teeth and hard palate and coming out your mouth.

2. Quack like a duck. Don’t force it or squeeze it. Simply feel the “twang” that you are creating in your head voice. If this is a foreign feeling or sound, keep it light and experience it often. There is a component of “twang” in every great singer’s voice.

3. Meow like a cat.

4. Neigh like a horse.

5. In speech level singing, there is a great exercise with the nay, nay, nay sound (like “nyet” in Russian). Doing it properly is key to experiencing the twang sound. It’s OK to do this exercise slightly nasty. It should be buzzy and even annoying. Try to focus on the feeling of the resonance in your mouth and head.

Any questions, let me know. Some singers can find this sound very easy. Others will have a hard time. Every voice is unique, so enjoy the process of exploring sounds!