Part 4- My Favourite Myofunctional Therapy exercises (so far) as a tongue tied singer.
Part 4- My Favourite Myofunctional Therapy exercises (so far) as a tongue tied singer and online vocal coach
How I Now Help Tongue Tied Singers
Below, you’ll find a video I recorded a few years ago in the early stages of my tongue tie treatment. Since sharing this video, I have gone on to specialise in tongue tie aware vocal coaching, helping tongue tied singers to work with their voice and not against it.
In our online sessions, we work holistically — combining proven vocal technique and Buteyko breathing, to help your voice build stability in a new way.
If this resonates with you, you can book a free Discovery Call Below.
Hi everyone! I’m Gemma Milburn- a contemporary vocal coach, Vocal Habilitation Professional, and someone who discovered her own tongue tie at 38.
Before I share a few of the exercises I’ve been assigned, I need to be clear:
I’m not a myofunctional therapist and I don’t teach these exercises. They were prescribed specifically to me based on my assessment, and may not be appropriate for you.
If you’re looking for medical advice or treatment guidance, please speak with a qualified provider.
One thing I’ve learned is that myofunctional therapy is not just about the tongue. Some exercises are for the lips, face, and jaw. For example, many tongue-tied people mouth breathe because their tongues rest on the bottom of the mouth rather than the roof, leading to a weak mouth seal. This means some exercises target strengthening the lip and face muscles. My jaw was also quite restricted from compensating for my tongue, but it has improved. Now, let’s get into the exercises.
Button Pops
For this exercise, you put a button in your mouth, create resistance by tugging it gently with your lips, and pull it out to make a popping noise. When I first started, I couldn’t always make the pop sound, but now I can. It’s a fun and surprisingly tiring exercise that strengthens the facial muscles.
Tongue Weightlifting
For this, I use a piece of string with a weight tied to the end. I gather the string in the middle of my tongue and lift the weight. This strengthens my tongue and also engages the face and jaw muscles. It’s challenging but effective.
Tongue Side-to-Side
This exercise involves sticking your tongue out horizontally and moving it side to side and then up without letting the jaw follow. It has been impactful for me, making my tongue stronger and more flexible, which is great for singing.
Many singers I work with notice similar patterns in their tongue or jaw after discovering their tongue tie. In our Initial Fit session, we explore how these patterns show up in your singing and what gentle, structured exercises will help.
The Cave
The cave exercise involves lifting the tongue tip behind the front teeth and then suctioning the body of the tongue up to create two caves down the sides. It strengthens the tongue and has progressed each week with more complexity. It’s a crucial part of my therapy.
Wafer Slide
This exercise is about improving jaw range of motion. I slide a wafer between my teeth to move my jaw forwards and back. It was essential for my restricted jaw and has shown significant improvement over time.
Myo Munchie
The Myo Munchie is a silicone tool that helps position the tongue on the roof of the mouth and strengthens chewing muscles. I use it to practice static holds and chewing, which has been surprisingly difficult and rewarding.
These are just some of my top fun myo exercises. My program progresses each week, and I’m now focusing on swallowing and chewing, which I’ve done incorrectly my whole life. This therapy has not only helped my singing by allowing me to open my mouth more but also improved my sleep significantly.
I recommend myofunctional therapy for anyone considering it, but be aware that it’s a big commitment.
You can access the rest of this series here:
