Stick a Pencil in It: The Weird Trick to Sound Like a Pro Singer

Imagine singing a song with rapid-fire lyrics where every word needs to land perfectly—clear, precise, and energetic. It’s no easy task, and that’s why I use an unusual but highly effective technique: holding a pencil between my teeth as an enunciation exercise. I practice it religiously, especially for challenging parts of my songs that demand extra precision. One of the best examples is in our song Bald and Beautiful, where I need to deliver two incredibly fast lines almost like a rap. This exercise helps me tackle those moments with confidence, making sure every word is sharp and every syllable is heard. It’s a technique I not only use myself but also teach to my students to help them sing with better clarity and precision.

The Science Behind the Pencil Trick

So, why a pencil? By holding a pencil horizontally between your teeth, you’re forcing yourself to exaggerate the movement of your lips, tongue, and jaw. This exaggeration helps build muscle memory and strengthens the parts of your mouth responsible for articulation. When you remove the pencil, you’ll notice that your words are clearer, your diction is sharper, and your overall enunciation is significantly improved. It’s essentially training the muscles involved in speech, making them more efficient, which translates to better clarity when singing.

Think of it like how Batman trains with weights to get stronger—except instead of punching villains, you’re taking on rapid lyrics. The basic concept behind the pencil trick is similar to how athletes train with resistance to improve their strength. When you make the task of speaking more challenging by adding an obstacle, like the pencil, your muscles have to work harder. This increased awareness carries over when the pencil is removed, allowing for more precise articulation. Over time, this exercise trains your jaw, lips, and tongue to move more deliberately, giving you greater control over your singing.

It’s not just about making your words sharper; it’s also about building the stamina needed for longer performances. Singing is a physically demanding activity, and the pencil exercise contributes to the kind of muscular endurance that’s crucial for performers. Think about Freddie Mercury belting out high notes for two hours straight—having that extra muscle memory can be the difference between a lackluster performance and a showstopper.

Celebrities and Professionals Who Swear By It

This technique isn’t just for singers—it’s a popular tool for many professionals who rely on their voices. Actors like Benedict Cumberbatch, who had to perfectly nail the pronunciation of “Penguins” (or, well, not quite), use exercises like this to enhance their speech clarity, especially when dealing with complex dialogue or tricky accents. Even the greats like Meryl Streep and Robert Downey Jr. have been rumored to use similar techniques to keep their diction as sharp as their performances.

Speech therapists often use this exercise as part of articulation drills to help clients speak more clearly. The pencil trick helps train people to exaggerate their movements, which is often necessary for those working to overcome mumbling or speech impairments. It’s like being your own vocal coach—channeling that inner sensei to conquer every word.

Theater performers and public speakers also find it helpful to ensure that their delivery is crystal clear, even to the person sitting in the last row of a massive theater. Think of Lin-Manuel Miranda rapping his heart out in Hamilton. Imagine if he mumbled—King George would lose his mind (and not in the fun “You’ll Be Back” way). The pencil trick is a simple but powerful tool that lets performers command attention with every word, ensuring their message lands.

Another similar exercise involves using a cork instead of a pencil. Yeah, you heard me right—cork, as in what keeps your wine fresh. The principle is the same; it forces the mouth to work harder, and once you remove it, the clarity just flows. You can even pretend you’re in an artsy Parisian café, rehearsing your monologue while sipping espresso. Many vocal coaches advocate these types of exercises because they make a noticeable difference. It’s like making articulation so smooth that it feels effortless, like Idris Elba casually switching between accents.

How to Use the Pencil Trick: A Quick Guide

If you want to give this technique a try, here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

Grab a Pencil: Place a pencil horizontally between your teeth, making sure it’s comfortable and that you can still move your lips easily. Don’t bite down too hard—just hold it in place. And no, don’t try to use a pen—ink mouth is not a good look.
Practice Phrases: Choose a challenging phrase or lyric. It could be a fast line from a song, a tongue twister, or a piece of Shakespearean dialogue. The more challenging the phrase, the more effective the exercise will be. Bonus points if you choose a tongue twister like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”—you’ll sound like a poetry-spouting superhero.
Over-Enunciate: With the pencil in your mouth, speak or sing the phrase, focusing on moving your lips as much as possible. You want every sound to be exaggerated, as if you’re in a silent film trying to make sure the audience knows exactly what you’re saying.
Repeat and Refine: Repeat the phrase several times. It might feel silly at first, but trust me, it’s effective. You’ll get used to the awkwardness quickly, and it will start to feel like an essential part of your warm-up routine. Think of it like Rocky’s training montage, but instead of punching sides of beef, you’re giving tongue twisters a workout.
Remove the Pencil: After a few minutes of practice, take the pencil out and try the phrase again. You’ll notice that your articulation is clearer and more precise. It’s almost like magic, but it’s just good ol’ muscle training!

My Experience with This Technique

I’ve found this exercise especially useful for songs that require fast, precise delivery—like those rapid, almost rapped sections in Bald and Beautiful. Without clear articulation, the lyrics can easily get lost, especially when the pace picks up. But with the pencil trick, I make sure every word stands out, every syllable is distinct, and the energy of the performance is preserved without sacrificing clarity.

Another song where I’ve relied heavily on this technique is Experimenting with Hoomans. The song has a playful, fast-paced vocal delivery that requires clear diction to properly convey the humor and wit in the lyrics. By practicing with the pencil, I was able to bring out each playful nuance, ensuring that the lyrics were not just heard but felt by the audience. It allowed me to give the song the character and precision it needed, making the performance that much more engaging. Kind of like the way Eminem tears into rapid verses—articulation is everything.

I also teach this technique to my students, and it’s incredible to see the difference it makes for them. Whether they’re working on a slow ballad that requires emotional precision or an upbeat song with fast-paced lyrics, this simple tool helps them sing with confidence. The pencil trick may seem a bit unconventional, but it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to improve their singing, speaking, or performance skills. One student of mine, who was struggling with articulation during faster passages, saw significant improvement after just a couple of weeks. It helped them articulate words they previously found difficult, transforming their performance entirely.

Another advantage of the pencil trick is that it brings a sense of fun and challenge to practice sessions. Let’s be real—vocal exercises can sometimes feel like a drag. But adding a pencil into the mix makes it a playful challenge, almost like levelling up in a video game. It’s a lighthearted way to push the boundaries of what your voice can do, and the results speak for themselves. The added difficulty makes it all the more rewarding when you remove the pencil and feel how much easier the phrases have become. Suddenly, singing that tricky part feels as easy as singing in the shower.

So next time you’re struggling with a tricky section of a song, grab a pencil. You might feel like a cartoon character trying to do math, but that pencil might just be the key to unlocking the clarity and precision you need to make your performance shine. Whether you’re singing rapid-fire lyrics or delivering a deeply emotional ballad, this technique can help take your articulation to the next level. It’s simple, effective, and surprisingly fun—an essential tool for anyone looking to level up their vocal game.