I've Always Wanted to Be a Great Singer

Why did I discover this? And how do I even know about this lip roll exercise? It's because, quite recently, I decided, 'Just once in my life, I want to be a good singer!' (I'm terribly off-key). Through a friend's introduction, I ended up taking vocal training lessons at 'WILD MUSIC SCHOOL,' run by the musician Hiro Tsunoda.

Of course, I'd never had vocal training before, and this was my first time attempting a lip roll. It involves relaxing your lips and making a 'brrr' sound while vibrating your upper and lower lips. Apparently, it's essential for vocal training because it helps the lips, a crucial part of voice production, move naturally. Unfortunately, my first lesson ended with just the 'brrr' sound; I couldn't get my lips to vibrate. It seems that if the facial muscles around your lips are too stiff, you can't achieve the vibration.

Stiffness in these particular muscles isn't just bad for singing; it's also detrimental to beauty. It can lead to vertical lines forming outside the upper lip, cause the corners of the mouth to droop, and give your expressions a harsh appearance. Furthermore, I have a noticeable difference in how my mouth opens on each side (my right side is harder to open, meaning it's stiffer). Every morning, while in the bath, I'd massage the inside of my mouth with my fingers, or gently pinch and massage my lips and the surrounding area. (Massaging them also brought a sense of blissful relief). So, I thought my lip area was sufficiently supple... Yet, the fact that I couldn't do the lip roll means my facial muscles around my lips are indeed stiff (disappointing).

I Also Realized Why Lips Age

Putting beauty concerns aside for a moment, I was determined to master the lip roll before my next lesson. For two weeks, I practiced daily, and gradually, I improved. Now, I can perform vocal exercises while doing the lip roll. As they say, 'persistence pays off.' As I got better, I noticed something: 'Huh!? My lips are getting softer, and they look fuller!' At the same time, I also understood why lips age.

From my experience applying makeup to women of various ages, I know that as people get older, their lips tend to recede inward, losing their plumpness and becoming smaller. Performing a lip roll essentially pushes these inwardly receding lips back out. Firstly, doing the lip roll helps you learn to relax the muscles around your lips. This, in turn, softens the lips themselves. Then, with the expelled breath, the lips are pushed outward from within, as if returning to their original position, restoring their natural fullness.

The Key to Lip Rolls: Relax Your Jaw and Mouth

Not long ago, I tried to emulate the 'duck face' popular among young women and models, but I couldn't quite manage it. It was likely because the muscles around my lips were stiff, and my lips were starting to recede. In other words, my lip aging had begun (!). But now that I can do the lip roll, my former plumpness and softness have returned. What's more, the color of my lips has improved. I never imagined that practicing singing could be so effective for rejuvenation – it feels like a wonderful bonus!

Young people who habitually clench their teeth, those who grind their teeth at night, or anyone who tends to purse their lips tightly throughout the day should also be cautious. Lip aging can occur prematurely, regardless of age. If you've recently noticed your lips thinning, definitely give the lip roll exercise a try.

The trick is to relax your jaw and mouth. To start, try relaxing your cheeks and even the corners of your eyes completely – this might make it easier. If you'd like to learn more, I found a video called 'Eric-niisan's Vocal Training' (http://bit.ly/14ArYcH) that explains the vocal training methods, so feel free to check it out!