Will be taking my Grade 5 singing exam very soon (sorry, it's another board), most of the technical exercises is to be sang with vowel y. I have problem singing this vowel because I cann't control my tongue to be level and it always rise up thus blocking the voice production. Please advice me how to solve this problem? I am very worry that I may fail my exam. Please help.

What syllable is it in, and in which exercise?

Cheers

Katyjay

Are you singing the vowel with your mouth wide? A lot of people are told to sing y/ee sounds by smiling, but this flattens your tongue, blocks up the pharynx, and pulls the larynx way up (giving you the blocking sensation you mentioned). If this is what you're doing you might want to experiment with mouth positions that are more narrow at the sides, allowing the inside of the mouth to create the y/ee sound.

Hope this isn't too confusing. If it is, let me know and I'll try to clarify.

It's the Trinity's vocal exercises.

You are right, I was told to sing with my mouth wide and smiling. The problem is more severe with those higher notes where the voice will sound pulling or pressing.

You probably want to get your teacher to work on sound modification with you.

Essentially you will need to find the right technique to hit the note you are aiming for and then create a sound that you can modify that is not "y", but sounds like "y". In my case I sing a sound that is more "wuhey" than "why" so that I can keep my lips tighter and more open than the (traditionally considered easy quick fix, but incorrect in terms of technique) smiling that can flatten the note if not careful