Is jaw tension holding back your singing voice?

If your voice has been feeling tight, tired, or restricted, you’re not alone. As singers (and especially as moms), we often hold more tension than we realize—and it can keep our voices from sounding free and resonant.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Common causes of jaw tension
• How it can affect your singing
• Easy exercises to release jaw tension

Timestamps: (3:14) My story with jaw tension and what helped me (7:48) Common causes of jaw tension (10:54) How jaw tension affects singing (12:43) Exercise 1: Chewing & humming (14:10) Exercise 2: Masseter release massage (18:07) Exercise 3: “Yah” exercise for tongue–jaw independence

I hope you have fun finding new vocal freedom as you release your jaw!

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

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57. Should I Open My Mouth More for a High Note? Yes…and No

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Contact: hello@sarahtoth.com

Are you a mom who wants to sing but feels too tired, too unsure, or too out of practice to start again?
Maybe you’ve lost confidence in your voice — or you’ve convinced yourself that singing outloud is for someone else, someone more “qualified.”

But what if I told you that God has already given you permission to sing?

Not just permission — a command.

In Psalm 96, we’re told:

“Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth.”

That means you, mama.
Not just the polished voices on stage, not just the people who “sound good” — you. The mom in the kitchen.
The mom in the car.
The mom who feels tired and discouraged.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The biblical mandate to sing (and why it’s for every believer)
• How your singing matters to God
• How worship and singing breaks through stress, fear, and silence
• How to step past insecurity and step into God’s invitation

You don’t need flawless technique. You don’t need more time or energy.
You just need to open your mouth and respond to His invitation:

“Let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet.” — Song of Solomon 2:14

Dear mama, your voice was designed to glorify God.
It’s time to open your mouth again — right where you are.

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

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Contact: hello@sarahtoth.com

Feeling tired, vocally tight, or unmotivated to sing lately—especially as a mom? This week’s episode is part two of our warm-up series! Last week we prepared the body, and today we’re focusing on the vocal warm-up — a simple, energizing routine to help you find freedom and ease in your singing again.

You can do this right from home — during nap time, with your kids, or in the car. No special equipment needed, just your voice and a few minutes.

These exercises are designed to:

• Wake up resonance and airflow
• Connect you to your breath support
• Smooth breaks in your voice
• Increase your range

Vocal Warm-Up Breakdown:

(3:32 ) – Apple Bites

(4:58) – Lip Trills (or Alternatives: V or Sh): 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

(7:16) – “Bee” Exercise: descending pattern: 5-3-1 5-4-3-2-1

(8:46) – “Mum” Arpeggio: 1-3-5-5-5-3-1

(10:19) – “Ney” Arpeggio: 1-3-5-5-5-3-1

By the end of this short warm-up, you’ll feel energized, and vocally free — ready to sing, speak, or worship with ease.

HINT: Pair this episode with last week’s Physical Warm-Up (Episode 78).

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

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58. Get Curious About How to Breathe for Better Singing

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Before you even warm up your voice, you need to warm up your body. In this episode, I’ll guide you through a quick physical warm-up for singers that helps release tension, open up your breath, and get your voice ready to go. These are simple, energizing stretches you can before singing, to start your day, or even when you need an energy boost.

Here’s what we’ll do together:

• Big sighs with arm drops – release stress and reset your breath
• Torso twists – loosen your midsection and get the breath flowing
• Elbow pumps – open your chest and activate torso space
• Forward fold or chair stretch – stretch shoulders, back, and legs while breathing deeply
• Bunny sniffs – sniffing exercise to activate your pelvic floor

Next week, we’ll add the vocal warm-up so you can put the two together for a complete pre-singing routine!

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

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58. Get Curious About How to Breathe for Better Singing

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Dear Mama, I see you—tired, depleted, struggling to find your voice. I know what it feels like to be completely dry, lifeless, just going through the motions without joy.

But God wants to breathe new life into you again!

It’s time to come out of your dry season. It’s time to lay down the hurts, burdens, and shame you’ve been carrying. It’s time to let God restore and revive you.

Dry bones, come awake! Come awake in Jesus’ Name!

It’s time to arise and lift your voice to the Lord. To cry out in repentance. To cry out in seeking Him. He will do it—He will restore you. The One who called you is faithful!

The world needs what you carry. Your voice and testimony, right there in the middle of motherhood, is what God wants to revive and activate. Will you say yes to the invitation?

“Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!” —Ezekiel 37:5 (NLT)

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

Song to Engage With: Always Good (Hannah and Paul McClure)

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Hey singer friend—if you’ve been longing to sing with more freedom but feel stuck, this episode is for you. Maybe you think you need more lessons, more practice, or more technique, but I want to let you in on a truth I’ve seen again and again with moms: your biggest breakthrough today starts by releasing your tummy.

I know—this is one of the most vulnerable areas of our bodies as women. It’s where we carry new life, scars, stretch marks, and sometimes even trauma. No wonder we hold it tight, protect it, and disconnect from it. But here’s the thing: until we learn to soften and release our abdominal area, we can’t breathe fully to support our voice. And without that support, your voice won’t be able to function in the ways that you would like.

In this episode, I’ll walk with you through the physical and emotional reasons this area is so tender—and why God may be inviting you to loosen your grip here in order to step into vocal freedom. You don’t need a hundred more voice lessons to start singing better. You need bravery, healing, and the willingness to release.

Friend, I believe your voice is a gift. Let’s talk about how to find it again.

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

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Contact: hello@sarahtoth.com

Ever wish you could pray more throughout the day, but get caught up in the endless rhythm of meals, housework, and caring for your kids? You’re not alone. I’ve struggled with that too—and I found such a surprising solution in a simple prayer song.

In this episode, I’ll teach you a short song that helps you thank the Lord right in the middle of daily life. It’s easy to sing while you’re driving, doing laundry, or just being with your kids. This little song puts gratitude on your lips, helps you stay present in your home, and even gives your voice a gentle workout.

Friend, you don’t need to wait until the kids are asleep to connect with God. Try this prayer song, and let it become a reminder—like it was for me—that we can be content in the Lord right where we are. // Contact: hello@sarahtoth.com

Have you lost confidence in your singing voice? Maybe when you open your mouth, you don’t know what’s going to come out—or you’re afraid you won’t like the sound you hear. For many Christian moms, especially after stepping away from singing during pregnancy or postpartum, this is a real struggle.

In this episode, I share what I call the recipe for vocal confidence. True confidence comes from learning to trust your instrument again. And that trust is built through two things: restoration—identifying and healing what broke down in your voice or your relationship with it—and repetition—choosing to sing, practice, and reinforce those positive changes day after day.

We’ll talk about:

• Why rebuilding trust in your voice is a lot like rebuilding trust in a relationship

• Common places where trust gets broken (physical changes, critical words, vocal injuries, or just years of silence)

• Simple first steps to begin restoring your confidence—even if your voice feels shaky right now

Friend, I believe God designed you to sing. He’s given you a voice for a reason, and it is possible to rebuild trust with your instrument. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would reveal your “first step” today as you begin the journey back to vocal confidence.

Blessings,

Sarah 🌟

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