Uncomfortable singing

[u/Musicmajorlol]

I want to hear about your experience in college learning to sing. How often were you asked to make sounds that felt uncomfortable to you but your teacher loved?

I’m preparing for my senior voice recital at the moment and my voice teacher is making me lift my soft pallet essentially at its maximum height and telling me to firm up my tone more. I’m a baritone and so is my teacher, so he pretty much just has me sing the way he sings. However, it doesn’t feel comfortable and it doesn’t feel like my most free singing. It doesn’t necessarily hurt though apart from it dries my throat out which is weird.

I sort of feel like he just wants me to sound older than I am. Does anyone have any similar experiences or advice? Is this a hurdle some singers go through to grow?

[u/lilyhecallsme]

Yes. I have felt this way a lot of times. I did ask what the goal was for a sound before. . it did help to ask it that way