I see at comments, everyone who watched you are shocked, as the way I did. The way you teach is better than what really is required. Your videos are unnecessarely good, too very so good. Wow man...
This is key! Can't tell you how much this video helps me. This pressure vs. Push has baffled me a lot and I've gone back and forth between the two when vocalizing.
Why do I love everything you say? XD So rare for that to be the case. You really always show insight instead of regurgitating lines like most other vocal coaches out there seem to do; then they blindly apply their acquired ideology to every situation. Thanks for all the videos you make!
I'm sharing the hell out of this one...great exemples. Not the first time that you're talking about keeping the face off of singing high notes I think but backed up with exemples like this made an extremely valuable video lesson
Why are you the only one out of allll the RUclips teachers I've seen...who gets my dilemmas. I mean I swear y'all say the most contradictory things with no explanation. THANK YOU for understanding
You say it so much better than I do, Mark, that I fear you may put me out of business as I continue to refer my students to your wonderful RUclips advice!! The point about facial expressions used to "support" a sound is particularly helpful for a couple of my students right now whose facial contortions are clearly connected to pushing too hard. Also, THANK YOU for pronouncing "larynx" correctly; I hear so many professional vocal colleagues mispronounce that word! It's as bad as having a pianist who says "Accompany-ist" or a Realtor who says "Real-a-tor" - uggh.
Thanks Mark! Your videos have taught me things I did not learn from my university voice classes. I lose my voice when I consistently sing in the lower part of my range. I have less discomfort pushing the high notes than the low notes. I am a mezzo soprano. Again, thanks! Robin
Gratitude for all that shared wisdom! I'm better singer every day practicing your teachings. The way you show the examples is just awesome! Thank you Mark! Keep on moving!
As always, great videos. Great information to apply to myself and share with my students. Your videos have become an essential part of my teaching. My students also enjoy watching them because they are not only educational, but entertaining as well.
This is such a valuable lesson, and one of the most difficult exercises I have encountered. Marathon shows always freakin' kill me, because I don't consciously proportion my work. Thanks, Mark.
This may seem like a simple piece of advice but IT WAS SO HELPFUL to me... Thank you very much. I enjoy your videos, they have all been informative for me at least...
Very interesting concepts. I would have liked to have seen an accompanying exercise to work on this issue which I think is a very big one. Thanks though for all of the visuals and explanations. It makes a great deal of sense.
Hi Valerie - my suggestion at the end is to use your face and neck as the gauge to alert you to excessive force. So the exercise would be to sing any scale or melody and monitor facial, neck and jaw muscles as you increase the volume. Repeat until you can achieve loose and loud simultaneously. More info here: ruclips.net/video/3i1Y7hUcGx4/видео.html
Really interesting Mark , I love to sing high notes U2 , Radiohead ... A week ago a big shock , blood running out of my nose , high blood pressure , to high because of less rest and stress , but the singing was helping me against the stress , I was put a lot of emotions and power on my high notes , maybe to much , I was for a week in the hospital and the doctor to lot me as long as you blood pressure is low it's no problem , even the high notes , but not to much emotions and pushing I think , I not want to quit singing and love the high notes so I love the way how you explain about pressure and pushing , it give me hope , in a way I can reach high notes without to much pushing , I hope I can find more of this videos so I can learn to sing high and low but without to much pushing , I'm just 50 and feel young , so don't want to quit yet 😉 thanks Mark for the video , some release for me , regards , Peter
All of your videos are the best.. really enjoy your channel great intuitive, effective, insightful and inspiring stuff. What about Michael Jackson singing, or singing in a relaxed but very percussive manor where your whole body is in the pocket, i've noticed when i am singing this way, i can go for hours with no fatigue even though its quit physical, its just so engaging and fun to sing really sycopated in the pocket for me that i think that excitement that it creates ends up connecting and balancing my voice better than anything... what may be going that allows me to sing so aggressively in the pocket, so stacatto, and light chest, and no fatigue? Also sometimes i like to sing rhythms almost like rapping them perfecting my phrasing and then when i am heated in the groove, i sing and my chords are so perfectly closed and the pitch and everything just Pops right into the groove and now my whole body is coordinated in the rhythm. ..
Rhythm is the most under-appreciated aspect of sound with most singers. You've discovered some of the many advantages from focusing on it! Being intentional with duration and diction sends really clear instructions from your brain to your vocal tract. Rock on!
Man I have listened to this tutorial before,but I finally just got it.OH thank you so much.coz I'm suffering now from sore throat from singing wrong. And I'm supposed to audition for a band tomorrow.
I've got a HUGE show coming up this week too - so it's important to remember to sing with the voice you have - not the one you wished you had. That means to sing "within" your ability - not pushing beyond that ability. I still remind myself constantly to sing in balance. It's easy to let emotions run the show - instead it's our job to run emotions! Good luck tomorrow!
@@voicelessondotcom hey Mark my audition was postponed till Friday of last week instead of Wednesday and I'm glad coz it gave me time to heal. So I auditioned and they loved my singing so I'm in.I was so nervous at first but I just loosened up and Did it.I am still so stoked about it. I followed some advice you gave and my throat was not sore the next day. So thanks a bunch. I can't wait till next practice and I would like to tell you how that goes to. But anyway just wanted to touch base with you again and let you know how it went. THANKS!
@@mikemandrake3026 That's fantastic news! Congrats! From here on it's important to remember that the audition is over. Focus on getting the songs comfortable. If something feels too aggressive speak up. Songs can be approached in many ways. Enjoy being in the band - you did it!
You've helped so much during this pandemic Mark. You helped me when I thought I'd never sing again, but you'd "diagnosed" my problem, and I've never looked back. It's been wonderful to reconnect with your videos. They are simply the best! 😍 Thank you for doing what you do.
@@voicelessondotcom this is my big problem sir about pushing why it is everytime i sing at any song i think i had to much heavy load in my voice,,,i cant sing sofly
@@RODZACABOCATUBAY Because you have mistaken "push" for passion. You are seeking a big physical sensation when singing. Instead, record a song on with your phone by singing very close to the mic - like when speaking on the phone.
That's a great way of showing that minor difference !!!! So how do we know if we're adding just a proportionate air pressure for each sound ( not overbordoning the folds) I mean is there any exercise on your channel for that??? I would really appreciate your help
Waow...sing emotionless is hard, my hard notes start cracklying and gets raspy and my jaw has gotten tense and sore. When i am singing normally, my jaw would never be sore and tense. Is there some leeway for the facial expressions or there should be no expression at all? When i sing high my eyebrows just come to together like an angry face. Do i stop that from happening by just being aware of the fact that i should relax my face? Or should i use my fingers to oppose the angry face my eyebrows are making? Or should i open my eyes wider?
When you add facial muscles to support a pitch - that's not expression - that's compensation. So I recommend singers work towards accessing their entire range with as little facial involvement as possible when vocalizing. That way when you're singing a song you can use your face to color the performance any way you want.
Hey there Mark! I'm Ariel from Brazil and I'm glad I've found your channel a few months ago. Been keeping up with your videos since then. I've had a question for some time and I just decided to ask - maybe you'll answer. So - How often should one vocalize? Every day? Three times a week? I'm afraid I might do it every day and cause "vocal fatigue", but I'm also afraid I might not be practicing enough. Another question is - many singers I like sometimes have the "silence period" when they don't speak anything at all. Some for one day, some for one week. How does that help and when is that necessary? I sing frequently, not too many songs frequently though but anyway, just want to take of my voice, this sensitive instrument. Hope you can read this. Thanks a lot and keep up with your awesome videos! Gotta love them! :)
Hi Ariel, If you want to improve you should vocalize at least 5 days a week. If you want to make a living singing you'll have to learn to use your voice at a professional level without causing irritation or fatigue. That's the difference between push and pressure! The famous singers you've read about are able to rest because they are famous. Most working singers are not able to dictate their time off. If you're in a Broadway musical, on a low budget tour, working as a club singer or on a cruise ship you'll often have to sing for six nights in a row. I did it for 15 years. Yes - the voice has some delicate parts but the real factor is the line between use and abuse. You can sing many nights in a row if you maintain a balanced behavior.
Hi Mark, I've got a question for you: I've suffered from acid reflux for 2 years and am finally starting to get it under control with medication. However, I think it has given me reflux laryngitis because my vocal chords always feel tight, sometimes I get a lump sensation in my throat, I have lost some of my vibrato ability, I can't hit high notes as easily as I used to, and even when I'm just talking my voice gets hoarse after about 20 minutes of speaking. Are there exercises I can do to help with this or do you recommend resting the voice as much as possible? Can my voice heal and go back to the way it was?
Absolutely - as soon as you get the irritation from the reflux handled your voice will return. From what you're describing it doesn't seem like your medications are working that well. Also important to make diet and lifestyle changes if your symptoms are so bad. Add this exercise to your usual warm up: ruclips.net/video/FVGinJrXGnw/видео.html
Thanks you Mark ! Your videos are a Great help for me because I sing "Hard Rock Metal " I don't always understand but the most important is registered on the video! My principal difficult , I'm" Alto",my voice can rise but it is the medium that have stuck !! How to fix it ? What exercice should I do please ? I sing "I. Maiden , Judas Priest ... Thanks to you for all your videos :))
+MLine Bault Stop thinking of your voice as divided into sections. The pitch and the tone you desire will determine the register. You are doing the opposite (choosing a register first), so you get stuck in the middle of choices you shouldn't be making. Choose the pitch, tone and volume you want - not the register.
I'm wondering why it is that although higher notes take less air, it is helpful to do things like squats and things that engage the abs to help to hit high notes. Can you explain this to me? Thanks!
It's only helpful to engage your abs if you want to deny your folds the ability to thin down. The age-old routine of "supporting" high notes comes from an era and style (bel canto) when singers had to project their voices un-amplified over an orchestra. Singers where divided into classifications (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) in order to keep them in single registers and able to produce a sound with a specific cluster of overtones (2800 Hz). What I'm referring to in this video is what promotes a reflexive relationship with your voice (like when speaking). Contemporary singing celebrates a more conversational sound and is mostly sung into microphones. So it's more about the sound of your voice matching the sentiment of the lyric. Since every high note is not always a big belted moment - it's best not to program your singing with a habit that always engages your core every time the melody rises. Let the lyrics determine when your abs kick in and you'll sound more authentic and fatigue much less!
Hi Mark! thank you for your videos. I'll ask you some advise, if you don't mind. I have problems with my lower register; I think I push too much. when I go to my lowest notes my larynx rises. Most people have this problem with high notes. I haven't even read nobody with my problem. And as the lower register is were I talk I fatigue my voice when talking. I think I push a little bit my voice throughout my whole register but as I'm a tenor I have more ease with the high notes than the low ones. If you know any exercise to work specifically on the lower register for high voices and to remove tensions I would be really thankful.
+Ignasi Martí Palet You don't need a special exercise for high voices - you need to stop overloading your voice period. Your low register issue is just where your forceful habit is noticeable but your high notes are equally stressed. Start with this: ruclips.net/video/RGTd8oCr4eg/видео.html
It's not a sound - it's the feeling of muscles tensing and locking up that indicates you are overloading the vocal folds (pushing). You can sing very loud without pushing dependent on how strong your folds are and you can sing very soft and still engage too much muscle. Singing should feel weightless and free!
Hi mark, i have a question, a few weeks ago I had a vocal cord dysfunction, i was a very strong beautiful singer before this, but now when singing, my voice feels kind of weak and gives out at times, and i can't belt anymore. Is there anything i can do to help this??? Please help!
Would you call a sprained ankle a "foot dysfunction?" You irritated your cords a few weeks ago. They are no doubt still swollen and irritated - just like your ankle would be if you sprained it. You will regain all your previous abilities in a few more weeks. Lightly vocalizing will speed up the process.
Great example sir i loved it ......i really have a problem singing the high notes in pressure ....i go completely flat when i try to sing high ...can u help .
Take away the pressure and allow your registers to self regulate. In other words, sing those high notes at a lower volume and then gradually increase the volume over many days or weeks to allow your voice to blend more.
Hi! Thanks a lot for your vids, they are very helpfull and also well made. Here is my question (challenge i got) how do i Keep my vocal chords closed when getting higher in pitch (with less pressure)? Everytime i reach the passagio erea i fall into a breathy falsetto... any helping tipps?
The breathy sound indicates too much air pressure. The higher we sing the thinner the folds become - so technically less pressure is needed to produce a high note at the same volume. Instead - we tend to drive the same air pressure under those high notes and the folds (or the sound) has to react.
Thanks Man! Thats it. I tried. i can reach to G5 but i am afraid my vocalfolds need to be more flexible. BTW i bought your sing like a star program... also entertaining and helpfull like your Videos. But i have a question. How do you add more "Body" to the higher notes. My head voice sounds very thin even tho my vocalfolds are fully connected...
If you ask me that way i would say the Sound i want is somewhere between Michael Matjevic (Steelheart), Jason Paige and James LaBrie. Currently i Sound more like Blake Shelton. Up to G3 i got the rich (buzzy and bright) Sound i like... but when i go a few notes higher i Sound like a 10yr old Boy. It`s just terrible to me :-(
How do I go from being an emotionless dead faced robot in practice, to delivering an emotional performance in front of people by using facial expressions while I'm singing?
Pjiggy . . . wrote the guy with the most twisted profile picture! Let me reverse your question so you can see what I'm talking about: If you're using lots of facial muscles when singing exercises - what makes you think those faces you make in performance are emotional? They're not - they're mechanical. Those faces you're making when performing are the same ones you make when you're constipated. Yet the song is not about that (hopefully). The whole point of turning off your face when practicing is to make sure you can sing the song without external aids (meaning the melody, the vowels and the consonants). Then when you perform - let the lyrics move your face (instead of the pitches). You'll end up with a much more captivating performance because you'll be thinking about the story instead of singing. People love stories - sing those (and not ones about being constipated!).
Voice Lesson.com My question did have humor infused in it(That's just who I am), but it was genuine. I'm not a troll. I really wanted the answer! Because I have a lot of "do this" "do that" in my head for practicing and vocalizing and I don't know how to turn it off and just sing (if that is actually a thing) when it comes time to perform. I'm glad there is an appropriate time for emotion to be shown and I do follow your instructions as if you were my own personal vocal coach when I watch your videos.
Absolutely nothing wrong with humor! But the answer I gave you is 100% serious. Humor and singing have a lot in common in that you never know how it will be received. It's that vulnerable feeling that triggers all those "do this" commands in your head. So just remember those commands are not about singing - they're about being accepted. Everyone can sing - but not everyone is brave enough to express how they feel without reservation. Developing better vocal skills helped me "trust" my voice and quieted those voices in my head. You can get the same result too.
its help me a lot thank u . I intent to Push my voice to sound big and I knw that isnt healthy, and I put my placement on my throat. can u make a example what a best placement for a singer? I hear a lot of people Said best placement are head placement ia that true?
"Placement" is a funny term - because sound is like water - it goes where it can. When it feels like the sound is in your throat it's because you're clamping that area to manage all that extra air pressure. Now that you know not to - you'll feel more resonance in your mouth and facial bones. You don't have to place it there - it's going there anyway!
Voice Lesson.com I dont get it sir, I mean I hear some diva like (Beyonce) on her early era She often to hear more nasal , and most people Said She was using "nasal placement" . so u mean "placement" arent really exist?
Yes - she has a lot of nasal resonance. My point is that she's "allowing" that to happen - just like you allow your phone to fall if you let go of it. Sound - like gravity - is a universal property. o we don't let our phones fall by holding on to them - and most of us don't let our sound become nasal by closing off the nasal cavity. Beyonce doesn't. My only observation is with the term "placement". It makes it seems like you have to tell sound what to do.
probably the best demonstration on planet on singing high notes. Grateful for you
I hope it helps!
Your channel is like an oasis in the desert.
that´s true 🐬
This was the explanation I was unwittingly searching for thank you!
Glad you found it!
I see at comments, everyone who watched you are shocked, as the way I did. The way you teach is better than what really is required. Your videos are unnecessarely good, too very so good. Wow man...
That was so practical quite hard to forget that fall , thank you
Well… this is just GOLD!!! Thank you for your work!
Glad to help!
This is key! Can't tell you how much this video helps me. This pressure vs. Push has baffled me a lot and I've gone back and forth between the two when vocalizing.
Why do I love everything you say? XD So rare for that to be the case. You really always show insight instead of regurgitating lines like most other vocal coaches out there seem to do; then they blindly apply their acquired ideology to every situation. Thanks for all the videos you make!
Thank you so much for this video, the idea of pushing makes so much sense now 🙌
Glad to help!
I'm sharing the hell out of this one...great exemples. Not the first time that you're talking about keeping the face off of singing high notes I think but backed up with exemples like this made an extremely valuable video lesson
Why are you the only one out of allll the RUclips teachers I've seen...who gets my dilemmas. I mean I swear y'all say the most contradictory things with no explanation. THANK YOU for understanding
GREAT TEACHER !!!
Your videos are really awesome and very simple for a simpleton.
I'm pretty sure I have watched all your videos several times. I appreciate you so much! Thank you for giving us a part of what you have to offer.
Thanks Melissa - glad to help!
You're a wonderful teacher Marc...thank you!
You say it so much better than I do, Mark, that I fear you may put me out of business as I continue to refer my students to your wonderful RUclips advice!! The point about facial expressions used to "support" a sound is particularly helpful for a couple of my students right now whose facial contortions are clearly connected to pushing too hard. Also, THANK YOU for pronouncing "larynx" correctly; I hear so many professional vocal colleagues mispronounce that word! It's as bad as having a pianist who says "Accompany-ist" or a Realtor who says "Real-a-tor" - uggh.
Love your videos mark! Best explainations i have seen of a lot of things!
Thanks! Glad they're helping.
Thanks Mark! Your videos have taught me things I did not learn from my university voice classes. I lose my voice when I consistently sing in the lower part of my range. I have less discomfort pushing the high notes than the low notes. I am a mezzo soprano. Again, thanks! Robin
Gratitude for all that shared wisdom! I'm better singer every day practicing your teachings. The way you show the examples is just awesome! Thank you Mark! Keep on moving!
Not a stupid example. Very refreshing! :))
You're so cool haha. I love this. Thank you for your instruction.
This explanation is incredible. Thanks Mark!
You're welcome!
As always, great videos. Great information to apply to myself and share with my students. Your videos have become an essential part of my teaching. My students also enjoy watching them because they are not only educational, but entertaining as well.
My eldest thinks you are hysterical (he would be right). Thank you for explaining this so clearly.
This is such a valuable lesson, and one of the most difficult exercises I have encountered. Marathon shows always freakin' kill me, because I don't consciously proportion my work. Thanks, Mark.
This may seem like a simple piece of advice but IT WAS SO HELPFUL to me... Thank you very much. I enjoy your videos, they have all been informative for me at least...
Mark, you're the man.
Happy to help!
A very interesting, informative and entertaining explanation. Thank you!
Thanks - I'm glad you liked it!
So simple and straightforward. Helped a lot! Thank you!
Glad to help!
Very interesting concepts. I would have liked to have seen an accompanying exercise to work on this issue which I think is a very big one. Thanks though for all of the visuals and explanations. It makes a great deal of sense.
Hi Valerie - my suggestion at the end is to use your face and neck as the gauge to alert you to excessive force. So the exercise would be to sing any scale or melody and monitor facial, neck and jaw muscles as you increase the volume. Repeat until you can achieve loose and loud simultaneously. More info here: ruclips.net/video/3i1Y7hUcGx4/видео.html
I will try this!
2:00 cracked me up
Really interesting Mark , I love to sing high notes U2 , Radiohead ... A week ago a big shock , blood running out of my nose , high blood pressure , to high because of less rest and stress , but the singing was helping me against the stress , I was put a lot of emotions and power on my high notes , maybe to much , I was for a week in the hospital and the doctor to lot me as long as you blood pressure is low it's no problem , even the high notes , but not to much emotions and pushing I think , I not want to quit singing and love the high notes so I love the way how you explain about pressure and pushing , it give me hope , in a way I can reach high notes without to much pushing , I hope I can find more of this videos so I can learn to sing high and low but without to much pushing , I'm just 50 and feel young , so don't want to quit yet 😉 thanks Mark for the video , some release for me , regards , Peter
Thank u as always
Always welcome!
All of your videos are the best.. really enjoy your channel great intuitive, effective, insightful and inspiring stuff. What about Michael Jackson singing, or singing in a relaxed but very percussive manor where your whole body is in the pocket, i've noticed when i am singing this way, i can go for hours with no fatigue even though its quit physical, its just so engaging and fun to sing really sycopated in the pocket for me that i think that excitement that it creates ends up connecting and balancing my voice better than anything... what may be going that allows me to sing so aggressively in the pocket, so stacatto, and light chest, and no fatigue? Also sometimes i like to sing rhythms almost like rapping them perfecting my phrasing and then when i am heated in the groove, i sing and my chords are so perfectly closed and the pitch and everything just Pops right into the groove and now my whole body is coordinated in the rhythm. ..
Rhythm is the most under-appreciated aspect of sound with most singers. You've discovered some of the many advantages from focusing on it! Being intentional with duration and diction sends really clear instructions from your brain to your vocal tract. Rock on!
Amazing examples and explanation. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Thank you, your videos really help me
I'm glad they help!
Amazing. Thanks!
Man I have listened to this tutorial before,but I finally just got it.OH thank you so much.coz I'm suffering now from sore throat from singing wrong. And I'm supposed to audition for a band tomorrow.
I've got a HUGE show coming up this week too - so it's important to remember to sing with the voice you have - not the one you wished you had. That means to sing "within" your ability - not pushing beyond that ability. I still remind myself constantly to sing in balance. It's easy to let emotions run the show - instead it's our job to run emotions! Good luck tomorrow!
@@voicelessondotcom hey Mark my audition was postponed till Friday of last week instead of Wednesday and I'm glad coz it gave me time to heal. So I auditioned and they loved my singing so I'm in.I was so nervous at first but I just loosened up and Did it.I am still so stoked about it. I followed some advice you gave and my throat was not sore the next day. So thanks a bunch. I can't wait till next practice and I would like to tell you how that goes to. But anyway just wanted to touch base with you again and let you know how it went. THANKS!
@@mikemandrake3026 That's fantastic news! Congrats! From here on it's important to remember that the audition is over. Focus on getting the songs comfortable. If something feels too aggressive speak up. Songs can be approached in many ways. Enjoy being in the band - you did it!
You've helped so much during this pandemic Mark. You helped me when I thought I'd never sing again, but you'd "diagnosed" my problem, and I've never looked back. It's been wonderful to reconnect with your videos. They are simply the best! 😍 Thank you for doing what you do.
Thank you so sir
You're welcome!
@@voicelessondotcom this is my big problem sir about pushing why it is everytime i sing at any song i think i had to much heavy load in my voice,,,i cant sing sofly
@@RODZACABOCATUBAY Because you have mistaken "push" for passion. You are seeking a big physical sensation when singing. Instead, record a song on with your phone by singing very close to the mic - like when speaking on the phone.
@@voicelessondotcom ok sir i will try,,thank u for your advice❤️❤️❤️
Well and precisely explaned topic. Thank you!
Brilliantly explained
Soooooo helpful. Thank you!
That's a great way of showing that minor difference !!!! So how do we know if we're adding just a proportionate air pressure for each sound ( not overbordoning the folds) I mean is there any exercise on your channel for that???
I would really appreciate your help
If your breath is proportionate your voice will be comfortable and in control - plain and simple.
Waow...sing emotionless is hard, my hard notes start cracklying and gets raspy and my jaw has gotten tense and sore. When i am singing normally, my jaw would never be sore and tense. Is there some leeway for the facial expressions or there should be no expression at all?
When i sing high my eyebrows just come to together like an angry face. Do i stop that from happening by just being aware of the fact that i should relax my face? Or should i use my fingers to oppose the angry face my eyebrows are making? Or should i open my eyes wider?
When you add facial muscles to support a pitch - that's not expression - that's compensation. So I recommend singers work towards accessing their entire range with as little facial involvement as possible when vocalizing. That way when you're singing a song you can use your face to color the performance any way you want.
Yourrrrrrrrrrrrrrr amazing 🥰
Hey there Mark! I'm Ariel from Brazil and I'm glad I've found your channel a few months ago. Been keeping up with your videos since then. I've had a question for some time and I just decided to ask - maybe you'll answer. So - How often should one vocalize? Every day? Three times a week? I'm afraid I might do it every day and cause "vocal fatigue", but I'm also afraid I might not be practicing enough. Another question is - many singers I like sometimes have the "silence period" when they don't speak anything at all. Some for one day, some for one week. How does that help and when is that necessary? I sing frequently, not too many songs frequently though but anyway, just want to take of my voice, this sensitive instrument. Hope you can read this. Thanks a lot and keep up with your awesome videos! Gotta love them! :)
Hi Ariel,
If you want to improve you should vocalize at least 5 days a week. If you want to make a living singing you'll have to learn to use your voice at a professional level without causing irritation or fatigue. That's the difference between push and pressure! The famous singers you've read about are able to rest because they are famous. Most working singers are not able to dictate their time off. If you're in a Broadway musical, on a low budget tour, working as a club singer or on a cruise ship you'll often have to sing for six nights in a row. I did it for 15 years. Yes - the voice has some delicate parts but the real factor is the line between use and abuse. You can sing many nights in a row if you maintain a balanced behavior.
Thank you!
great advise!
Excellent
fab video thanks
Thank you
Amazing video!
Hi Mark, I've got a question for you: I've suffered from acid reflux for 2 years and am finally starting to get it under control with medication. However, I think it has given me reflux laryngitis because my vocal chords always feel tight, sometimes I get a lump sensation in my throat, I have lost some of my vibrato ability, I can't hit high notes as easily as I used to, and even when I'm just talking my voice gets hoarse after about 20 minutes of speaking. Are there exercises I can do to help with this or do you recommend resting the voice as much as possible? Can my voice heal and go back to the way it was?
Absolutely - as soon as you get the irritation from the reflux handled your voice will return. From what you're describing it doesn't seem like your medications are working that well. Also important to make diet and lifestyle changes if your symptoms are so bad. Add this exercise to your usual warm up: ruclips.net/video/FVGinJrXGnw/видео.html
Thanks you Mark ! Your videos are a Great help for me because I sing "Hard Rock Metal " I don't always understand but the most important is registered on the video! My principal difficult , I'm" Alto",my voice can rise but it is the medium that have stuck !! How to fix it ? What exercice should I do please ? I sing "I. Maiden , Judas Priest ... Thanks to you for all your videos :))
+MLine Bault Stop thinking of your voice as divided into sections. The pitch and the tone you desire will determine the register. You are doing the opposite (choosing a register first), so you get stuck in the middle of choices you shouldn't be making. Choose the pitch, tone and volume you want - not the register.
I'm wondering why it is that although higher notes take less air, it is helpful to do things like squats and things that engage the abs to help to hit high notes. Can you explain this to me? Thanks!
It's only helpful to engage your abs if you want to deny your folds the ability to thin down. The age-old routine of "supporting" high notes comes from an era and style (bel canto) when singers had to project their voices un-amplified over an orchestra. Singers where divided into classifications (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) in order to keep them in single registers and able to produce a sound with a specific cluster of overtones (2800 Hz).
What I'm referring to in this video is what promotes a reflexive relationship with your voice (like when speaking). Contemporary singing celebrates a more conversational sound and is mostly sung into microphones. So it's more about the sound of your voice matching the sentiment of the lyric. Since every high note is not always a big belted moment - it's best not to program your singing with a habit that always engages your core every time the melody rises. Let the lyrics determine when your abs kick in and you'll sound more authentic and fatigue much less!
Hi Mark! thank you for your videos. I'll ask you some advise, if you don't mind. I have problems with my lower register; I think I push too much. when I go to my lowest notes my larynx rises. Most people have this problem with high notes. I haven't even read nobody with my problem. And as the lower register is were I talk I fatigue my voice when talking. I think I push a little bit my voice throughout my whole register but as I'm a tenor I have more ease with the high notes than the low ones. If you know any exercise to work specifically on the lower register for high voices and to remove tensions I would be really thankful.
+Ignasi Martí Palet You don't need a special exercise for high voices - you need to stop overloading your voice period. Your low register issue is just where your forceful habit is noticeable but your high notes are equally stressed. Start with this: ruclips.net/video/RGTd8oCr4eg/видео.html
Voice Lesson.com oh thank you very much! I think my allergies have something to do with the tiredness of my voice too. But this will surely help.
I wish you would've shown how 1 sounds vs the other :( I liked the analogy though!
It's not a sound - it's the feeling of muscles tensing and locking up that indicates you are overloading the vocal folds (pushing). You can sing very loud without pushing dependent on how strong your folds are and you can sing very soft and still engage too much muscle. Singing should feel weightless and free!
Hi mark, i have a question, a few weeks ago I had a vocal cord dysfunction, i was a very strong beautiful singer before this, but now when singing, my voice feels kind of weak and gives out at times, and i can't belt anymore. Is there anything i can do to help this??? Please help!
Would you call a sprained ankle a "foot dysfunction?" You irritated your cords a few weeks ago. They are no doubt still swollen and irritated - just like your ankle would be if you sprained it. You will regain all your previous abilities in a few more weeks. Lightly vocalizing will speed up the process.
Thank you so much
Great example sir i loved it ......i really have a problem singing the high notes in pressure ....i go completely flat when i try to sing high ...can u help .
Take away the pressure and allow your registers to self regulate. In other words, sing those high notes at a lower volume and then gradually increase the volume over many days or weeks to allow your voice to blend more.
Voice Lesson.com thank you so much sir for helping me understand my voice.
Hi! Thanks a lot for your vids, they are very helpfull and also well made. Here is my question (challenge i got) how do i Keep my vocal chords closed when getting higher in pitch (with less pressure)? Everytime i reach the passagio erea i fall into a breathy falsetto... any helping tipps?
The breathy sound indicates too much air pressure. The higher we sing the thinner the folds become - so technically less pressure is needed to produce a high note at the same volume. Instead - we tend to drive the same air pressure under those high notes and the folds (or the sound) has to react.
Thanks Man! Thats it. I tried. i can reach to G5 but i am afraid my vocalfolds need to be more flexible. BTW i bought your sing like a star program... also entertaining and helpfull like your Videos. But i have a question. How do you add more "Body" to the higher notes. My head voice sounds very thin even tho my vocalfolds are fully connected...
Stop dividing your voice into registers and start asking for the sound you want. There is a lot more adjustability than just head or chest.
If you ask me that way i would say the Sound i want is somewhere between Michael Matjevic (Steelheart), Jason Paige and James LaBrie. Currently i Sound more like Blake Shelton. Up to G3 i got the rich (buzzy and bright) Sound i like... but when i go a few notes higher i Sound like a 10yr old Boy. It`s just terrible to me :-(
et comment va la chaise aujourd'hui ?
La chaise va bien, merci.
How do I go from being an emotionless dead faced robot in practice, to delivering an emotional performance in front of people by using facial expressions while I'm singing?
Pjiggy . . . wrote the guy with the most twisted profile picture! Let me reverse your question so you can see what I'm talking about: If you're using lots of facial muscles when singing exercises - what makes you think those faces you make in performance are emotional? They're not - they're mechanical. Those faces you're making when performing are the same ones you make when you're constipated. Yet the song is not about that (hopefully). The whole point of turning off your face when practicing is to make sure you can sing the song without external aids (meaning the melody, the vowels and the consonants). Then when you perform - let the lyrics move your face (instead of the pitches). You'll end up with a much more captivating performance because you'll be thinking about the story instead of singing. People love stories - sing those (and not ones about being constipated!).
Voice Lesson.com My question did have humor infused in it(That's just who I am), but it was genuine. I'm not a troll. I really wanted the answer! Because I have a lot of "do this" "do that" in my head for practicing and vocalizing and I don't know how to turn it off and just sing (if that is actually a thing) when it comes time to perform. I'm glad there is an appropriate time for emotion to be shown and I do follow your instructions as if you were my own personal vocal coach when I watch your videos.
Absolutely nothing wrong with humor! But the answer I gave you is 100% serious. Humor and singing have a lot in common in that you never know how it will be received. It's that vulnerable feeling that triggers all those "do this" commands in your head. So just remember those commands are not about singing - they're about being accepted. Everyone can sing - but not everyone is brave enough to express how they feel without reservation. Developing better vocal skills helped me "trust" my voice and quieted those voices in my head. You can get the same result too.
its help me a lot thank u .
I intent to Push my voice to sound big and I knw that isnt healthy, and I put my placement on my throat. can u make a example what a best placement for a singer?
I hear a lot of people Said best placement are head placement ia that true?
"Placement" is a funny term - because sound is like water - it goes where it can. When it feels like the sound is in your throat it's because you're clamping that area to manage all that extra air pressure. Now that you know not to - you'll feel more resonance in your mouth and facial bones. You don't have to place it there - it's going there anyway!
Voice Lesson.com I dont get it sir, I mean I hear some diva like (Beyonce) on her early era She often to hear more nasal , and most people Said She was using "nasal placement" . so u mean "placement" arent really exist?
Yes - she has a lot of nasal resonance. My point is that she's "allowing" that to happen - just like you allow your phone to fall if you let go of it. Sound - like gravity - is a universal property. o we don't let our phones fall by holding on to them - and most of us don't let our sound become nasal by closing off the nasal cavity. Beyonce doesn't. My only observation is with the term "placement". It makes it seems like you have to tell sound what to do.
Voice Lesson.com ahhhhh I seee thank u for the explaination , u were greath I understand. imma fans. can I have ur email? imma fans
mbaxter@voicelesson.com
Oops my comment was suppose to go motor boat video lol
may i have your email id
You can reach me at mbaxter@voicelesson.com