Okay, I found a couple of things that may work to ease tension.
Just do your exercises lightly, quietly. I find that the muscle gets tight when I'm singing in a loud volume. I think it's all a coordination issue.
Also, do staccato exercises. Do the "uh" sound with a slight fry over it. Do it quietly.
And you can also do tongue trills.
I'm still working on this, but so far it seems to be going fine.
Thought SS doesn't teach support, can you still add support when doing the exercises? I find it weird how they just let singers get stuck in the throat?...
I'm having a problem with the digastric muscle too. It always aches or feels sore when I sing. Is this a sign of bad technique? Does this mean I'm strengthening the voice? I woke up today with some soreness. Not sure if I should do exercises today.
For me personally, I discovered twanging by singing with a wide smile (or the way Country singers sing, with that southern accent). Basically, try stretching your mouth as you sing...Even though, this is not necessarily how twang is mainly created, but it'll help you access it.
Thanks Robert. I haven't been practicing for a long long time, and I just started again these past couple of days. Doing both of those programs lasted...like 80 minutes, I would say. But I'll be back tomorrow.... stronger!
What I feel is this...
I inhale with my ribs, and i pretend im actually inhaling the note as i sing. Almost like im pushing my voice upwards. As im ascending the scale, my diaphragm pushes out even more and my gut gets tighter. And at the same time im feeling pressure pushing down my lower back.
I'm in the same boat with you guys. Someone in my apt building asked me, "who's screaming in there all the time?" lol
So I try to practice with my band as much as I can...like 3 times a week. And I do my scales in the bathroom :)