This was the best explanation I found, and I've been watching many videos about this topic. Thank you, Marnell, I'm so glad I discovered your videos on RUclips. I am looking foward to seeing more! :)
Kim Raven The lower back area refers to the entire area from the very last rib all the way down to the top of the pelvis. It's the area off to the sides of the spine in the general vicinity where the kidneys are at, not directly in the center of the back. (Just had to make that clear.) In that lower back area, I also include the sides where people get love handles at, because it feels like this entire area engages together. When the lower back expansion happens correctly, it's something you will FEEL inside of you rather than physically see, per se. The upper abs will not expand much. No more than an inch or so. The smaller you are (like me), then less you will see a physical movement. If you're concerned that you're holding the solar plexus (upper ab area) too tight, check to see how your throat feels when applying these ideas. If the throat feels relaxed, then you're doing it right; if it feels tense, then you're probably tightening the solar plexus and getting rigid. I cover that more in this video here: ruclips.net/video/ANJpAb051dk/видео.html Hope this helps! If you need more assistance, don't hesitate to contact me for a lesson: www.vocalliberation.com/singing-lessons
+Marnell Sample Very good and informative video! Some time ago when I searched for "how to sing properly breathing techniques" came across grathaw fast sing expert -just google it by it's name, it should popup faster upon the results than the phrase I used - which helped too, but I am glad that this time the result for that search lead me to this video! Keep up the good work!
Thanks alot for this man! The information you show in here is not only explained with precision, but this kind of information is very important to know as well, as so many other teachers don't talk about these things at all.
Marnell, thanks for incorporating this information about the usage of ab muscles in this video about breathing with diaphragm. I've recently finally discovered the "singing with diaphragm" sensation, and this was due to my sudden development of ab muscles/core. I ultimately figured out on my own that the ab muscles need to contract to a certain extent in order to allow expansion, but no video that I've watched on youtube regarding singing with the diaphragm talked about this.
***** A well developed core (one that efficiently utilizes the transversus and obliques) is very beneficial to singing, because these are some of the very muscles we need to use! As a matter of fact, if every single time you exercise, you focus on engaging the lower abs and expanding the solar plexus when inhaling, you will constantly be practicing breathing from the diaphragm the same way it is used during singing.
This was really helpful because while I've been able to mentally understand I need to breathe into my back, I haven't been able to engage these muscles. The abdominal engagement had the automatic effect I wanted. Thanks.
Excellent video. I went from tensing my entire abs (almost like doing a sit-up) when singing to letting my entire gut "hang out". Neither of these work (one causes strain and the other offers no support). This video shows how to keep the bottom abs a bit tight so the entire core "expands". Excellent video again!!
Thank you. You are awesome explaining this. Been looking awhile now and haven't heard such a good explanation of the breathing with the diaphram. Thanks again.
I totally get what you mean, still controlling it is hard, especially while playing guitar. I'd like to think you for posting these videos, I feel that explaining singing techniques is an art very few people grasp, you are a master at that, YT is full of great singers who try their best to explain singing, but very few can actually pull it off
Thank you. I really appreciate it. Applying these ideas while playing an instrument is a feat in and of itself. Most singers usually have to practice it solo at first. Then the second they pick up their instrument, they forget all they practiced and go back to their usual haha. The good thing is, if you can do it successfully solo, then doing it with your guitar will just mean slowing down a bit so you can consciously maintain the same sensations. Also, particularly for guitar, it might require you to sit a little differently than you normally do to find the same sensations.
Marnell, Silly me. I just watched the second video after emailing you a question of what the abs are supposed to be doing when I breathe Now my question is answered. Your explanations are very helpful - shoot! you even gave percentages of how much I should contract the abs. Now, I can at least feel a hint of the back side of the torso expanding. Thanks again.
Paul Bradford Glad you found the answer you needed, haha. This actually won't inhibit a six pack from coming in because it causes you to engage your transversus, the deepest abdominal muscle, which helps to keep the waist line in and prevents the abs from protruding. The upper abs, however, do need to have a little more looseness and freedom, as I explain in my video on the solar plexus. ruclips.net/video/ANJpAb051dk/видео.html
Marnel you are so onto it here you know what I would love is a Video that has like a daily exercise track of a breathing exercise like farenelli but with you guiding it in a way as to use these techniques Because to be able to get these new ways of breathing to be automatic you need to train new muscle engagement nural pathways and also build muscle strength So that this engagement becomes reflexive I often see great tips on RUclips but would love a companion video where you just do the exercise for 10 min I would play that every day
I might consider that. At the moment though, I've pretty much given up on RUclips. If I ever decide to come might, I might make such a video. With that said, the simplest thing you can do to build the muscle memory is probably doing what I suggested in my "Singers stop overbreathing" video. That's really the main reflex you need. All the other breathing videos are just to familiarize you with possible sensations you might feel when singing. What is WAYYY more important is going for the right sound and singing with sufficient volume. That alone begins to correct a lot of breathing issues.
@@VocalLiberation fantastic thanks Marnell your fantastic1 i will check out the video i m a classic over breather. love your work keep sharing the love of singing
Hi Marnel, thank you for your video! I am still not sure if I have done the exercise properly. I think I have bad singing habits and I need some personal advice and an audition from a professional vocal coach. Will you be willing to help me, please? Thanks one more time.
Hey Marnell, thanks alot for these helpful video's! I think i'm finally getting a little grasp into the right direction. I have one question about the contraction of the abdominal area to make the back area expand more. English is not my native language, and while i know with contraction means i don't really know how it applies to my body. Is contracting your stomach/abdominal area comparible to, say like, *holding in your stomach a bit to appear more skinny*, if this is true, then i think i have felt the sensation of having alot of air pressure. With the example you gave with bracing for a punch i tend to tight up by alot, i end up tighting up almost all my chest muscles in the process and i don't think this is correct.
Shuku Yes, the sensation is a bit like pulling in the stomach (lower abs) as though you're trying to put on a pair of pants that's too tight. If pretending like you're going to brace for a punch causes you to tense everything, especially the chest, then yes, you are doing it wrong. Don't use that particular idea because it is creating too much rigidity in the body. You want the muscles of the body to engage, but without becoming rigid. (A tricky thing, I know.)
Alright! At the very least i'm starting to get familiar with the sensation of having alot of air pressure build up at my abdominal area. I'm also able to speak normally while maintaining the pressure. The next step would be applying the cry, right? When i try to make the cry sound it tends to sound really breathy, but when make a sound and try to add the cry to it, it doesnt sound that breathy, is the me doing it wrong and still using my chest? Thanks alot for your previous reply Marnell!
Shuku Ok, being able to talk normally and freely (not tense in the throat) is a good first step. When you use the cry, it's more about helping you to hold back or restrain the air rather than pushing air out. If you sound breathy, it means you are missing cord closure. The voice should still sound very clear when applying the cry. And the cry is done in your chest voice (at least for the purposes of these exercises), but you can also apply it to your falsetto too! When you do it in falsetto, it makes the voice very clear and pure sounding, rather than breathy and airy. It allows you to hold out falsetto notes for a long time. There will be more on this in another video.
I always have a diffucult to breath with diaphragm especially feel my back expand but, I've done it, yes but I would like to know how long should it take to master it very well, and how many times to I practice this per day? do I have to sing along or just breathing? thanks Marnell
Francesco Deo To get the basic rudiments of the sensation and apply it to exercises with some competency -- a few months. To master it? Well, this is something that you will constantly keep refining your entire life, as are all things with singing, because you will continue to find more and more subtle nuances about it, and ways to make it even more efficient. If you're just getting used to this sensation, I would do it with whatever vocal scales you are already doing, but limit your practice session to 10-15 minutes at a time. You can have multiple 10-15 minute sessions per day, but take a break of at least 10 minutes between consecutive sessions. And yes, this works better if you are singing, because you have to learn how to coordinate breath with sound. You CAN practice just the feeling of the expansion as many times per day as you want, whenever you have a free moment, just to remind yourself of what it feels like. But at some point or another, you must practice it with sound.
Hi thanks for the tips this is very helpful and informational, just one question does this way of breathing help to achieve vibrato? Or if you have any tips on achieving it?
Tong Siv Vibrato is created by a number of things working together. This breathing is one of those things. Generally speaking, holding the larynx rigid is what tends to stifle vibrato. So this breathing technique indirectly helps by getting your larynx more free. It basically creates the "set up" for vibrato to come in. I will probably do a video specifically on vibrato in the future.
oh awesome so are you saying that getting rid of tension from the larynx is one of the ways to develop vibrato? also i can't seem to direct the 'aww' sound to my singing, how do i know exactly how it feels like?
Tong Siv Yes, getting rid of tensions will set the foundation for vibrato to come in. You might have to fake your vibrato for a while, though, in order to get used to the sensation of the larynx moving a bit as you hold out a note. Then you can eventually work this into a real vibrato. The real vibrato will often come in at times when you don't even expect it, and you will need someone else to point out to you when it happens, so you can familiarize yourself with the sensation. As for the cry sound, it feels like hold back the air or restraining the air a bit instead of pushing air out. Never push air out as you are singing. The throat should also feel relaxed as you do this. The muscles of the neck and throat should feel relaxed the same way they do when you are just sitting there breathing silently in a relaxed state.
Just clarifying for myself. So you're supposed to keep the abdominal muscles a little tight (like you're getting ready to get hit in the abs) and then/before you take a breath? And then u keep it flexed while singing a phrase ? And push harder for higher notes? And then do u totally relax your abdominal muscles and repeat before you sing the next phrase ?
Somehow when I try to expand my back I can't see my upper ab expanding. Is it because I'm unconsciously pulling back my upper ab too? And is the lower back area means right down the last rib and just the sides of the spine? @_@
Marnell! I love your videos. I have a question about the cry. I've noticed that when I try to include it in my vocal creation, I am able to remain connected and hit higher notes without losing the "heft" of a chest voice sound, but I feel like my throat is constricting when I try to do this. If I don't "cry", i can't get quite as high, but my throat feels more relaxed. Would the sensation in my throat be due to a new "approach" to singing, and the cords remaining closed? or am I doing the "cry" wrong? Thank you! - Cameron
Cameron Corcoran The fact that you are finding a stronger chest voice connection when you employ the cry probably means you're in the ball park of doing it correctly. If you feel your throat constricting, it could be for a couple of reasons. If the constricted feeling only happens when you go higher, then it's probably an issue of not modifying your vowels properly. If you try to go high with the cry but don't modify your vowel (at least in the early stages), you will feel very tight in the throat at the very top of the neck. On the other hand, if you feel this constricted sensation throughout your entire range, even on low notes, then it could mean that you are constricting your solar plexus when you attempt to use the cry. The solar plexus area (and actually all the way around your midsection) should expand outwards as you are trying to use the cry. If you feel it pulling inwards like trying to do a crunch, then it will constrict the throat. See this video for more information. How to Release Throat Tension: The Solar Plexus Connection | Singing Lessons
Thanks, Marnell! I am very familiar with the solar plexus' role in singing. My solar plexus comes out and my lower belly area below the belly button comes inward. Is this the right ball park in regards to breath management?
Cameron Corcoran You're welcome. And yes, that is the general idea of what happens in terms of breath support. (There are a few more intricacies than that, but I don't want to confuse you.) If you're still a little lost in terms of the constriction you're feeling, shoot me over a clip demonstrating what the problem and I'll try to see if I can provide any better advice. www.vocalliberation.com/vocal-assessment
Marnell Sample , i dont know if you still reply , but is this healthy for everday deep breathing usage? souldnt i be trying to decrease tension to get more of a deep breath
This is more of a singing specific application. For more everyday breathing habits, look up information on the Buteyko Breathing method. Patrick McKeown has quite a few videos up on it.
nice instruction..one question. I have been singing in a choir for 4 years..(34-39 yo) after that i was troubling with my breathing and got some ache on my back..do you know how I can solve this with just breathing..what's happening? tnxs
+TikHien Souw Just to make sure I understand correctly, you sang with a choir for 4 years. Then after that, you developed back aches? And you think the back aches came from your breathing? Do you only get the back aches when singing? Or are the back aches present all the time?
yes after stopping singing..therapeut assesment has reported that my breathing went upside down..probably due to too much physical exercise ( 3 x a week of swimmng) and after 4 years of choir, stopping with singing 1x a week
Your breathing went upside down? You mean you had a paradoxical breathing pattern? Physical exercise shouldn't make your breathing worse unless you're breathing incorrectly while exercising. Either way, though, it sounds like your issue is more complex than can be addressed here. You would do best to work with someone who can assess you personally.
Oh and marnell, I was wondering, do we need to breathe this way even when we're not singing? I've been trying to breathe this way while walking around the park(when exercising or even just during my day-to-day activities) to get used to this feeling. However, it's really quite difficult to tighten my abs every time I breathe, so what do you suggest? It may seem like a really odd/silly question but … is it necessary to breathe this way even when not singing, or can I just breathe comfortably through the lungs, with my belly coming in and out when breathing this way?
***** These are excellent questions. To further practice this sensation outside of singing, only do it during challenging activities such as exercising (i.e. squatting, deadlifting, running, moving something heavy, etc.). What I demonstrated in this video is a very active way of breathing. If you do it for just regular day-to-day activities, you will wear yourself out because you'll end up engaging the muscles much more strongly than what is needed for the activity. Although walking is a low level activity, combining it with the breathing I showed in this video (although tiring) can be a good way to establish an efficient mind-muscle connection. It allows you to really focus on what you are doing. When you're not in any type of physical situation and just relaxing (such as surfing the web, reading a book, watching tv, etc.), don't focus on this type of breathing. Those types of activities don't require this type of muscle engagement; you should breathe in a more relaxed way. The abs engage very minimally for these activities.
Everytime I try to breathe through my back I wonder how slow am I supposed to breathe? Sometimes I inhale too slow that I lose breathe for the next inhalation of the back. It's confusing! I've been practicing this for a while now, and now I can kind of feel my back moving inward as I exhale, is that a good thing?
Thank you for watching the videos! Don't get too caught up on JUST the breathing part of it. Breathing is only around 20% of vocal technique. The rest is all about SOUND and the physical sensations you feel when making those sounds. What's more important is how the breathing is actually working WHEN YOU'RE MAKING SOUND, not just breathing as an isolated thing. You want the whole thing to function harmoniously as one unit. So the question I ask is this: _With all the ways you've been trying to breathe, how does it make your THROAT feel when you sing? _ If it leaves your throat feeling more free, then you're doing it right. If it leaves your throat feeling the same or more tight, then what you're doing is wrong. If you still have more questions or are feeling confused, a one-on-one Skype lesson would be the easiest way to sort this out, as more than likely, breathing is only a small part of the improvement you want for your voice. www.vocalliberation.com/singing-lessons
Kimi Uthman If it gets hard to breathe, you're probably either contracting the lower abs too hard OR contracting the lower abs AND upper abs at the same time. (The upper abs should stay loose so that they can expand while you breathe in.) The lower back should flatten out. This is what helps the lower abs to turn on. You might need to stand against a wall and press your lower back flat against the wall -- you should not be able to get your hand in between your lower back and the wall. Keep your feet around 2 feet away from the wall. Just flattening out your lower back like this should already start to engage your lower abs and should help you to feel expansion in your sides and back a bit more. The back expansion is the trickiest to feel, though. You may also want to try the balloon squat exercise. It helps to make it easier to find the expansion. Singing Breathing Exercises to Strengthen Your Diaphragm: The Balloon Squat | Singing Lessons
All of these videos are about breathing from the diaphragm as it applies specifically to singing. "Breathing from the diaphragm" for singing uses more than JUST the diaphragm. There is what happens on the inhalation vs. what happens on the exhalation. On the exhalation portion (when you're making sound), you use the abs, the back, the rib muscles, the vocal cords, and sometimes even the hamstrings. (The hamstrings are used to stabilize the pelvis as you are building up air pressure.)
misspurple97x There shouldn't be tension around the upper chest area. The upper chest is the primary area that we are looking to keep relaxed. If you are feeling tension there, you might be trying to inhale way too much air. Try taking in a lesser volume of air, and see if that helps the upper chest relax.
I try to do this but every time my throat gets tight and it's hard to breathe. I think it's my solarplexus getting in the way which makes it hard to breathe since it closes my throat please help me. Do you have any solutions or exercises that can help???
giancarlo garcia Thanks for watching the video! Some people have a hard time feeling the difference between the lower abs engaging and the solar plexus tightening. It sounds like you might be one of those people. I have made a video specifically on a tense solar plexus. Here it is in case you haven't seen it: How to Release Throat Tension: The Solar Plexus Connection | Singing Lessons I also cover that same issue in my lesson with Sergio. You can watch it here: Skype Singing Lessons: A Sample Online Singing Lesson - Releasing Throat Tension | Part 1 of 3 If you have more questions, just ask.
Hshhsss Naturally arced which way? If you mean the natural lordotic curve that's in your lower back, then you have to allow that to flatten out. The pelvis must tilt posteriorly for this to happen. If you lie flat on your back with your knees bent and place your hand under your lower back, you want to try to make your lower back go flat to the ground -- you should not be able to get your hand in between your back and the ground. My friend Phil Moufarrege demonstrates this really well in this breathing video: ruclips.net/video/Qduz1Nf6F2Q/видео.htmlm16s You might also want to check out my video on the balloon squat, as it is very hard to keep the back arched in that exercise: Singing Breathing Exercises to Strengthen Your Diaphragm: The Balloon Squat | Singing Lessons If you naturally have a flat back, then you are good.
You already sing from the diaphragm, so you're good there. Your main issue is learning to keep your vowels in line as you go higher into your range. :-)
You are a genius of body/voice and teaching!..you reqlly now how to explain it!! high respect..i just wish your hours would be more like 50dollars per hour if I take many hours..really!! Maybe you can think about that i would be interested in 250 dollars for 5 hours skype lesson..
Thank you! I know the lessons are expensive, but you get a LOT for each session. And you get a recording of the session too, so you don't have to worry about forgetting anything. I have people who only train once every 2 weeks or even once a month, and they all progress very well. Something to think about. :)
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I've watched a lot of videos about diaphragmatic breathing and this is the only one that has made sense. Appreciate it. :)
Same here
This was the best explanation I found, and I've been watching many videos about this topic. Thank you, Marnell, I'm so glad I discovered your videos on RUclips. I am looking foward to seeing more! :)
Janine C You're welcome.
These have to be the best tutorials I've seen on RUclips thus far. They are thoroughly informative and readily applicable.
Great video! Easy to understand and practice. Marnell your teaching style flows so naturally and is easy to follow. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Kim Raven The lower back area refers to the entire area from the very last rib all the way down to the top of the pelvis. It's the area off to the sides of the spine in the general vicinity where the kidneys are at, not directly in the center of the back. (Just had to make that clear.)
In that lower back area, I also include the sides where people get love handles at, because it feels like this entire area engages together.
When the lower back expansion happens correctly, it's something you will FEEL inside of you rather than physically see, per se. The upper abs will not expand much. No more than an inch or so. The smaller you are (like me), then less you will see a physical movement.
If you're concerned that you're holding the solar plexus (upper ab area) too tight, check to see how your throat feels when applying these ideas. If the throat feels relaxed, then you're doing it right; if it feels tense, then you're probably tightening the solar plexus and getting rigid. I cover that more in this video here: ruclips.net/video/ANJpAb051dk/видео.html
Hope this helps! If you need more assistance, don't hesitate to contact me for a lesson: www.vocalliberation.com/singing-lessons
+Marnell Sample Very good and informative video! Some time ago when I searched for "how to sing properly breathing techniques" came across grathaw fast sing expert -just google it by it's name, it should popup faster upon the results than the phrase I used - which helped too, but I am glad that this time the result for that search lead me to this video! Keep up the good work!
Anne Kate channel Thanks!
Thanks alot for this man! The information you show in here is not only explained with precision, but this kind of information is very important to know as well, as so many other teachers don't talk about these things at all.
You're welcome!
Hi Marnell, you're very helpful. A natural at presentation. Concise and relaxed. Thank you for sharing this!
Marnell, thanks for incorporating this information about the usage of ab muscles in this video about breathing with diaphragm. I've recently finally discovered the "singing with diaphragm" sensation, and this was due to my sudden development of ab muscles/core. I ultimately figured out on my own that the ab muscles need to contract to a certain extent in order to allow expansion, but no video that I've watched on youtube regarding singing with the diaphragm talked about this.
***** A well developed core (one that efficiently utilizes the transversus and obliques) is very beneficial to singing, because these are some of the very muscles we need to use! As a matter of fact, if every single time you exercise, you focus on engaging the lower abs and expanding the solar plexus when inhaling, you will constantly be practicing breathing from the diaphragm the same way it is used during singing.
This was really helpful because while I've been able to mentally understand I need to breathe into my back, I haven't been able to engage these muscles. The abdominal engagement had the automatic effect I wanted. Thanks.
Excellent video. I went from tensing my entire abs (almost like doing a sit-up) when singing to letting my entire gut "hang out". Neither of these work (one causes strain and the other offers no support). This video shows how to keep the bottom abs a bit tight so the entire core "expands". Excellent video again!!
Thanks!!!
Thank you. You are awesome explaining this. Been looking awhile now and haven't heard such a good explanation of the breathing with the diaphram. Thanks again.
Kelly Christie You're welcome, Kelly. Good to hear it's helping clear things up for you. :-)
Great video.. this is definitely needed when trying to do the supple cry.
Greg Aam Great! Glad you found it helpful.
Tihs is the first time I understood the process with my poor english Thanks Gracias.
I totally get what you mean, still controlling it is hard, especially while playing guitar. I'd like to think you for posting these videos, I feel that explaining singing techniques is an art very few people grasp, you are a master at that, YT is full of great singers who try their best to explain singing, but very few can actually pull it off
Thank you. I really appreciate it. Applying these ideas while playing an instrument is a feat in and of itself. Most singers usually have to practice it solo at first. Then the second they pick up their instrument, they forget all they practiced and go back to their usual haha. The good thing is, if you can do it successfully solo, then doing it with your guitar will just mean slowing down a bit so you can consciously maintain the same sensations. Also, particularly for guitar, it might require you to sit a little differently than you normally do to find the same sensations.
This video is amazing , thank you for this very helpful video.
You're welcome
Thanks, man - I need this for my yoga! Totally get it now :)
Love these videos . A must for every singer and speaker
Thank you!
Marnell,
Silly me. I just watched the second video after emailing you a question of what the abs are supposed to be doing when I breathe Now my question is answered. Your explanations are very helpful - shoot! you even gave percentages of how much I should contract the abs. Now, I can at least feel a hint of the back side of the torso expanding. Thanks again.
Paul Bradford Glad you found the answer you needed, haha. This actually won't inhibit a six pack from coming in because it causes you to engage your transversus, the deepest abdominal muscle, which helps to keep the waist line in and prevents the abs from protruding. The upper abs, however, do need to have a little more looseness and freedom, as I explain in my video on the solar plexus. ruclips.net/video/ANJpAb051dk/видео.html
Simply excellent. Grazie Marnell!
Prego. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tutorial. God bless!
thankyou so much! wonderful explanation!
This is perfect !
Keep it up with ur videos :) it's really helpful
This was amazing! Thank you so much for this :)
Gem of a video.
Josh White Thanks for watching!
Thank you soooo much this help 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
You're welcome.
Marnel you are so onto it here you know what I would love is a Video that has like a daily exercise track of a breathing exercise like farenelli but with you guiding it in a way as to use these techniques
Because to be able to get these new ways of breathing to be automatic you need to train new muscle engagement nural pathways and also build muscle strength
So that this engagement becomes reflexive
I often see great tips on RUclips but would love a companion video where you just do the exercise for 10 min I would play that every day
I might consider that. At the moment though, I've pretty much given up on RUclips. If I ever decide to come might, I might make such a video. With that said, the simplest thing you can do to build the muscle memory is probably doing what I suggested in my "Singers stop overbreathing" video. That's really the main reflex you need. All the other breathing videos are just to familiarize you with possible sensations you might feel when singing. What is WAYYY more important is going for the right sound and singing with sufficient volume. That alone begins to correct a lot of breathing issues.
@@VocalLiberation fantastic thanks Marnell your fantastic1 i will check out the video i m a classic over breather. love your work keep sharing the love of singing
A-mazing omg thank you so much! Greaterie!
bnirtlepmc You're welcome!
0:00 Idea: keep the lower abdominals tight like bracing for a punch
1:20 technique
Grea vid man thank you
You're welcome!
Hi Marnel, thank you for your video! I am still not sure if I have done the exercise properly. I think I have bad singing habits and I need some personal advice and an audition from a professional vocal coach. Will you be willing to help me, please? Thanks one more time.
Hi! I offer one-on-one lessons. You can find out more here: www.vocalliberation.com/singing-lessons
It's very helpful :D Thank you :D
+Magdalena Urbanek You're welcome.
Hey Marnell, thanks alot for these helpful video's! I think i'm finally getting a little grasp into the right direction.
I have one question about the contraction of the abdominal area to make the back area expand more.
English is not my native language, and while i know with contraction means i don't really know how it applies to my body.
Is contracting your stomach/abdominal area comparible to, say like, *holding in your stomach a bit to appear more skinny*, if this is true, then i think i have felt the sensation of having alot of air pressure.
With the example you gave with bracing for a punch i tend to tight up by alot, i end up tighting up almost all my chest muscles in the process and i don't think this is correct.
Shuku Yes, the sensation is a bit like pulling in the stomach (lower abs) as though you're trying to put on a pair of pants that's too tight. If pretending like you're going to brace for a punch causes you to tense everything, especially the chest, then yes, you are doing it wrong. Don't use that particular idea because it is creating too much rigidity in the body. You want the muscles of the body to engage, but without becoming rigid. (A tricky thing, I know.)
Alright! At the very least i'm starting to get familiar with the sensation of having alot of air pressure build up at my abdominal area. I'm also able to speak normally while maintaining the pressure. The next step would be applying the cry, right?
When i try to make the cry sound it tends to sound really breathy, but when make a sound and try to add the cry to it, it doesnt sound that breathy, is the me doing it wrong and still using my chest?
Thanks alot for your previous reply Marnell!
Shuku Ok, being able to talk normally and freely (not tense in the throat) is a good first step. When you use the cry, it's more about helping you to hold back or restrain the air rather than pushing air out. If you sound breathy, it means you are missing cord closure. The voice should still sound very clear when applying the cry. And the cry is done in your chest voice (at least for the purposes of these exercises), but you can also apply it to your falsetto too! When you do it in falsetto, it makes the voice very clear and pure sounding, rather than breathy and airy. It allows you to hold out falsetto notes for a long time. There will be more on this in another video.
Thanks again for the great reply Marnell. I think i can work with the information you gave me. I'm looking forward to your next video(s).
Gr,
shuku
Amazing :) Thx
+Keraressi Younes You're welcome.
I always have a diffucult to breath with diaphragm especially feel my back expand but, I've done it, yes but I would like to know how long should it take to master it very well, and how many times to I practice this per day? do I have to sing along or just breathing? thanks Marnell
Francesco Deo To get the basic rudiments of the sensation and apply it to exercises with some competency -- a few months. To master it? Well, this is something that you will constantly keep refining your entire life, as are all things with singing, because you will continue to find more and more subtle nuances about it, and ways to make it even more efficient.
If you're just getting used to this sensation, I would do it with whatever vocal scales you are already doing, but limit your practice session to 10-15 minutes at a time. You can have multiple 10-15 minute sessions per day, but take a break of at least 10 minutes between consecutive sessions. And yes, this works better if you are singing, because you have to learn how to coordinate breath with sound. You CAN practice just the feeling of the expansion as many times per day as you want, whenever you have a free moment, just to remind yourself of what it feels like. But at some point or another, you must practice it with sound.
Hi thanks for the tips this is very helpful and informational, just one question does this way of breathing help to achieve vibrato? Or if you have any tips on achieving it?
Tong Siv Vibrato is created by a number of things working together. This breathing is one of those things. Generally speaking, holding the larynx rigid is what tends to stifle vibrato. So this breathing technique indirectly helps by getting your larynx more free. It basically creates the "set up" for vibrato to come in. I will probably do a video specifically on vibrato in the future.
oh awesome so are you saying that getting rid of tension from the larynx is one of the ways to develop vibrato? also i can't seem to direct the 'aww' sound to my singing, how do i know exactly how it feels like?
Tong Siv Yes, getting rid of tensions will set the foundation for vibrato to come in. You might have to fake your vibrato for a while, though, in order to get used to the sensation of the larynx moving a bit as you hold out a note. Then you can eventually work this into a real vibrato. The real vibrato will often come in at times when you don't even expect it, and you will need someone else to point out to you when it happens, so you can familiarize yourself with the sensation.
As for the cry sound, it feels like hold back the air or restraining the air a bit instead of pushing air out. Never push air out as you are singing. The throat should also feel relaxed as you do this. The muscles of the neck and throat should feel relaxed the same way they do when you are just sitting there breathing silently in a relaxed state.
just subscribed....and 26th like from me...thnkx maan
Thanks for the love. I appreciate it. Hope you continue to enjoy the content here.
Just clarifying for myself. So you're supposed to keep the abdominal muscles a little tight (like you're getting ready to get hit in the abs) and then/before you take a breath? And then u keep it flexed while singing a phrase ? And push harder for higher notes? And then do u totally relax your abdominal muscles and repeat before you sing the next phrase ?
Or do you keep your abdominal muscles tight the whole time after you're done singing a phrase ? Thanks for the information and Awesome lesson.
Somehow when I try to expand my back I can't see my upper ab expanding. Is it because I'm unconsciously pulling back my upper ab too? And is the lower back area means right down the last rib and just the sides of the spine? @_@
Marnell! I love your videos. I have a question about the cry. I've noticed that when I try to include it in my vocal creation, I am able to remain connected and hit higher notes without losing the "heft" of a chest voice sound, but I feel like my throat is constricting when I try to do this. If I don't "cry", i can't get quite as high, but my throat feels more relaxed. Would the sensation in my throat be due to a new "approach" to singing, and the cords remaining closed? or am I doing the "cry" wrong? Thank you! - Cameron
Cameron Corcoran The fact that you are finding a stronger chest voice connection when you employ the cry probably means you're in the ball park of doing it correctly. If you feel your throat constricting, it could be for a couple of reasons. If the constricted feeling only happens when you go higher, then it's probably an issue of not modifying your vowels properly. If you try to go high with the cry but don't modify your vowel (at least in the early stages), you will feel very tight in the throat at the very top of the neck.
On the other hand, if you feel this constricted sensation throughout your entire range, even on low notes, then it could mean that you are constricting your solar plexus when you attempt to use the cry. The solar plexus area (and actually all the way around your midsection) should expand outwards as you are trying to use the cry. If you feel it pulling inwards like trying to do a crunch, then it will constrict the throat. See this video for more information. How to Release Throat Tension: The Solar Plexus Connection | Singing Lessons
Thanks, Marnell! I am very familiar with the solar plexus' role in singing. My solar plexus comes out and my lower belly area below the belly button comes inward. Is this the right ball park in regards to breath management?
Cameron Corcoran You're welcome. And yes, that is the general idea of what happens in terms of breath support. (There are a few more intricacies than that, but I don't want to confuse you.)
If you're still a little lost in terms of the constriction you're feeling, shoot me over a clip demonstrating what the problem and I'll try to see if I can provide any better advice. www.vocalliberation.com/vocal-assessment
Marnell Sample , i dont know if you still reply , but is this healthy for everday deep breathing usage? souldnt i be trying to decrease tension to get more of a deep breath
This is more of a singing specific application. For more everyday breathing habits, look up information on the Buteyko Breathing method. Patrick McKeown has quite a few videos up on it.
nice instruction..one question. I have been singing in a choir for 4 years..(34-39 yo) after that i was troubling with my breathing and got some ache on my back..do you know how I can solve this with just breathing..what's happening? tnxs
+TikHien Souw Just to make sure I understand correctly, you sang with a choir for 4 years. Then after that, you developed back aches? And you think the back aches came from your breathing?
Do you only get the back aches when singing? Or are the back aches present all the time?
yes after stopping singing..therapeut assesment has reported that my breathing went upside down..probably due to too much physical exercise ( 3 x a week of swimmng) and after 4 years of choir, stopping with singing 1x a week
Your breathing went upside down? You mean you had a paradoxical breathing pattern?
Physical exercise shouldn't make your breathing worse unless you're breathing incorrectly while exercising. Either way, though, it sounds like your issue is more complex than can be addressed here. You would do best to work with someone who can assess you personally.
I am finding that I have to unnaturally bend my back to feel it expand
Oh and marnell, I was wondering, do we need to breathe this way even when we're not singing? I've been trying to breathe this way while walking around the park(when exercising or even just during my day-to-day activities) to get used to this feeling. However, it's really quite difficult to tighten my abs every time I breathe, so what do you suggest? It may seem like a really odd/silly question but … is it necessary to breathe this way even when not singing, or can I just breathe comfortably through the lungs, with my belly coming in and out when breathing this way?
***** These are excellent questions. To further practice this sensation outside of singing, only do it during challenging activities such as exercising (i.e. squatting, deadlifting, running, moving something heavy, etc.). What I demonstrated in this video is a very active way of breathing. If you do it for just regular day-to-day activities, you will wear yourself out because you'll end up engaging the muscles much more strongly than what is needed for the activity. Although walking is a low level activity, combining it with the breathing I showed in this video (although tiring) can be a good way to establish an efficient mind-muscle connection. It allows you to really focus on what you are doing.
When you're not in any type of physical situation and just relaxing (such as surfing the web, reading a book, watching tv, etc.), don't focus on this type of breathing. Those types of activities don't require this type of muscle engagement; you should breathe in a more relaxed way. The abs engage very minimally for these activities.
Oh I see.. I'm learning so much from your videos/replies. Thank you SO MUCH for answering my questions marnell!
***** You're welcome. It's my pleasure.
Everytime I try to breathe through my back I wonder how slow am I supposed to breathe? Sometimes I inhale too slow that I lose breathe for the next inhalation of the back. It's confusing! I've been practicing this for a while now, and now I can kind of feel my back moving inward as I exhale, is that a good thing?
Thank you for watching the videos! Don't get too caught up on JUST the breathing part of it. Breathing is only around 20% of vocal technique. The rest is all about SOUND and the physical sensations you feel when making those sounds. What's more important is how the breathing is actually working WHEN YOU'RE MAKING SOUND, not just breathing as an isolated thing. You want the whole thing to function harmoniously as one unit.
So the question I ask is this: _With all the ways you've been trying to breathe, how does it make your THROAT feel when you sing? _ If it leaves your throat feeling more free, then you're doing it right. If it leaves your throat feeling the same or more tight, then what you're doing is wrong.
If you still have more questions or are feeling confused, a one-on-one Skype lesson would be the easiest way to sort this out, as more than likely, breathing is only a small part of the improvement you want for your voice. www.vocalliberation.com/singing-lessons
Im contracting but its making it hard to breathe and I still don't feel any expansion in my back. Oh well. Maybe it's because I've got an arch.
Kimi Uthman If it gets hard to breathe, you're probably either contracting the lower abs too hard OR contracting the lower abs AND upper abs at the same time. (The upper abs should stay loose so that they can expand while you breathe in.)
The lower back should flatten out. This is what helps the lower abs to turn on. You might need to stand against a wall and press your lower back flat against the wall -- you should not be able to get your hand in between your lower back and the wall. Keep your feet around 2 feet away from the wall. Just flattening out your lower back like this should already start to engage your lower abs and should help you to feel expansion in your sides and back a bit more. The back expansion is the trickiest to feel, though.
You may also want to try the balloon squat exercise. It helps to make it easier to find the expansion. Singing Breathing Exercises to Strengthen Your Diaphragm: The Balloon Squat | Singing Lessons
I did not find anything to show me how to breathe from the diaphragm I find very difficult
All of these videos are about breathing from the diaphragm as it applies specifically to singing. "Breathing from the diaphragm" for singing uses more than JUST the diaphragm. There is what happens on the inhalation vs. what happens on the exhalation. On the exhalation portion (when you're making sound), you use the abs, the back, the rib muscles, the vocal cords, and sometimes even the hamstrings. (The hamstrings are used to stabilize the pelvis as you are building up air pressure.)
When I try to do this I feel a tension in my upper chest (around the heart) and I don't know why that is?
misspurple97x There shouldn't be tension around the upper chest area. The upper chest is the primary area that we are looking to keep relaxed. If you are feeling tension there, you might be trying to inhale way too much air. Try taking in a lesser volume of air, and see if that helps the upper chest relax.
I try to do this but every time my throat gets tight and it's hard to breathe. I think it's my solarplexus getting in the way which makes it hard to breathe since it closes my throat please help me. Do you have any solutions or exercises that can help???
giancarlo garcia Thanks for watching the video! Some people have a hard time feeling the difference between the lower abs engaging and the solar plexus tightening. It sounds like you might be one of those people. I have made a video specifically on a tense solar plexus. Here it is in case you haven't seen it:
How to Release Throat Tension: The Solar Plexus Connection | Singing Lessons
I also cover that same issue in my lesson with Sergio. You can watch it here:
Skype Singing Lessons: A Sample Online Singing Lesson - Releasing Throat Tension | Part 1 of 3
If you have more questions, just ask.
+Marnell Sample great stuff i tried this and it took my singing to another level,more power more everything thanks a lot brother.
Thokozani Khuzwayo Glad you got results! You're welcome.
What if your back is naturally arced?
Hshhsss Naturally arced which way? If you mean the natural lordotic curve that's in your lower back, then you have to allow that to flatten out. The pelvis must tilt posteriorly for this to happen. If you lie flat on your back with your knees bent and place your hand under your lower back, you want to try to make your lower back go flat to the ground -- you should not be able to get your hand in between your back and the ground. My friend Phil Moufarrege demonstrates this really well in this breathing video: ruclips.net/video/Qduz1Nf6F2Q/видео.htmlm16s
You might also want to check out my video on the balloon squat, as it is very hard to keep the back arched in that exercise: Singing Breathing Exercises to Strengthen Your Diaphragm: The Balloon Squat | Singing Lessons
If you naturally have a flat back, then you are good.
hi marnell ihave some songs on youtube I wont to know if you can let me know if iam singing from my diaphragm
You already sing from the diaphragm, so you're good there. Your main issue is learning to keep your vowels in line as you go higher into your range. :-)
You are a genius of body/voice and teaching!..you reqlly now how to explain it!! high respect..i just wish your hours would be more like 50dollars per hour if I take many hours..really!! Maybe you can think about that i would be interested in 250 dollars for 5 hours skype lesson..
Thank you!
I know the lessons are expensive, but you get a LOT for each session. And you get a recording of the session too, so you don't have to worry about forgetting anything. I have people who only train once every 2 weeks or even once a month, and they all progress very well. Something to think about. :)
This video was great, but you should smile more to be more engaging
+Chris Duncan Thanks. Check out some of my more recent videos or videos from my lessons -- you will see a lot more smiling. :-)
The video can be translated into Arabic