Neck and Jaw Tension Release

Cellists can hold a great deal of tension in the neck and jaw. It's to the point in some cellists that veins and tendons pop out of their necks, their jaws are tight, and they just look like they are working too hard. The root of the problem, at least in some cases, stems from tension in the tongue, extending to the throat area (larynx), neck, and jaw. To vocalists this makes perfect sense though this may be a foreign concept to string players.

During my undergrad years I took two semesters of voice lessons plus an additional semester recently from a CMU vocal colleague.  From these lessons I picked up a couple of tips that I apply to my own cello technique and teaching, one of these being how to relax the neck and jaw.

First, just a word of clarification  - this video and article do not address certain types of neck tension. Some types of tension, especially in the back of the neck, are related to poor posture. The type of tension I'm addressing is located more in the front of the neck and extends out from there.

Relaxing the root of the tongue

It may seem a bit odd for cellists to talk about relaxing the tongue as a vital aspect of cello technique, but It is a great foundational place to release tension for the whole body. I realized while taking vocal lessons that releasing tension in the tongue goes a long way to releasing tension not only in the throat, jaw, and neck but also in the shoulders, arms, and hands.

I began applying this to my own playing and teaching it to my students, sometimes to remarkable and immediate effects. It may seem like an exaggeration, but I have found that if you relax your tongue, it can effect your entire approach to the instrument. It's as if it triggers something in the brain to relax the whole body. This is why I consider it foundational.

So, let's get more specific…

First, we need to target the root of the tongue (scroll down a bit on the linked page). The root is at the back and bottom of the tongue. What does it feel like to relax this part of the body? When relaxing the root, the tongue will become more concave, taking the shape of an inside of a bowl. It's amazing how much tension we hold in our tongues as we go about our daily activities let alone playing the cello.

Give it a try. As you release the tension feel the tongue assume a concave shape.

Relaxing the jaw

You may have noticed that together with letting go of tension in the root of the tongue, your jaw also relaxes. These two parts of the anatomy are interconnected; when the tongue releases the jaw often follows. I like to imagine myself having jowls that hang down the side of my face. Maybe you already have jowls. Perfect!  Maybe you are only 20 years old. That's OK. You now have jowls! 

Give it a try; relax the root  of the tongue followed by some good 'ol jowl hanging!

Practicing off the instrument

Conveniently, you can also practice this off the instrument. I recommend relaxing your tongue and jaw as you go about your daily activities. If you feel stressed, you may have noticed your jaw tensing up anyway. Let it go, man! This type of relaxation is actually quite good for your mental health.

Two notes at a time

On the instrument, I recommend starting with just two notes at a time followed by a pause during which you "check in"  with your tongue and jaw to make sure they are relaxed. If you are used to holding tension in these areas, you may find it quite challenging to keep them relaxed as you play. Be sure to keep the intensity low and just play in an easy manner.  As you improve, increase to three notes, four notes, five notes, etc., with pauses between.

Start increasing the intensity of playing

After you have increased the number of notes before pausing, start increasing the intensity of playing. Start playing with a bigger sound and increased vibrato intensity. I recommend starting with short spurts of intense playing followed by pauses to feel for any tension.  If this feels really difficult, remember that if vocalists can do this while singing, certainly it's possible for a cellist!  Just keep at it. Consistency of practice and persistence are key!

More exercises   

For more exercises from actual vocalists, just search for "relaxing the tongue while singing" in YouTube and you'll find a bunch of videos.

Happy practicing!

Authored by Jamie Fiste, Professor of Cello at Central Michigan University.