Practice controlling the airflow when exhaling by using a [s]hiss (teeth almost touching but jaw relaxed and tip of tongue touching behind the lower teeth). Pay attention to how steady you can make the sound without any excess use of airflow.
However, remember it is airflow that you are going to sing with or speak in a full sound. Also pay attention that the abdominal wall does not grip. It should be firm but not excessively tight. Work towards twenty seconds on the hiss.
December 28, 2018
When not using your voice to speak or sing, breathe only through your nose, because it:
1. Filters the air you breathe.
2. Humidifies the air that you breathe.
3. Warms the air that you breathe.
4. Breathing this way will not dry out your throat.
July 19, 2017
People see you before they hear you in most instances. Posture becomes very important in a person’s evaluation of your abilities without even ever realizing it.
April 19, 2017
In order to maintain vocal resonance, a number of processes must occur.
First, the head, neck, larynx and thoracic cavity must be in correct alignment and completely free and relaxed. Second, the connection of breath flow to the larynx must continually be present. Third, the resonant chambers of the head, neck and thoracic cavities must be the place where the free vibrations from the vocal folds themselves go for proper resonance. By using the nasal consonants (m,n,ng), one can establish optimal resonance.
July 23, 2015
Find a good otolaryngologist who specializes in working with professional voices. It is important for singers to have someone who knows their anatomy, to be able to recognize when it is healthy and when it is not. This information will enable the otolaryngologist to make the wisest decision as to the course of treatment. When touring, a clear, recent picture of the larynx and the vocal folds, taken when the voice is healthy, can be an invaluable aid. If the singer has to see a new otolaryngologist during a tour, the doctor can compare what he sees at the time with what the patient’s healthy vocal folds look like. Everyone has slightly different anatomy and this can affect the decision that a new doctor would make as to treatment and whether any scheduled performance can go on or must be cancelled.
March 11, 2014
In order to keep a healthy voice for singing and speaking, do a speech warm-up before you begin using your voice at all. This would include exercises to ensure a healthy neck, relieving jaw and abdominal tension, strengthening breathing muscles, mixing your high (loft voice) with your speaking (model voice) voice, and gradually through exercises get your proper speaking pitch with good resonance activated.
October 11, 2013
When speaking or singing, always feel like you could have done it longer, louder, or used a larger vocal range. Your larynx should never feel tired at the end of a performance, even if the rest of your body does. Avoid speaking in places with loud background noise. If you must, limit what you say and get as close to the person as possible. Also in these loud environments wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.
March 1, 2013
Since we speak much more than we sing, it requires us, for healthy voice usage, to pay attention to our speaking voice. When we center our speaking voice around the optimum pitch for our voice, we get the most energy out of it with the least amount of effort. This pitch should tell voice experts, what voice category we are (soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone, bass).
December 1, 2012
The use of the lip trill is a very effective tool for creating better air connection in singing and speaking. It is also very helpful in establishing the correct vocal resonant placement. One can use the lip trill for singing the melody of your song before you use the text.
February 1, 2012
All vowels and many consonants, including D L N T Y K G can be produced by only using the tongue. This is very helpful in maintaining the correct vocal resonance. If the jaw is not involved, the chance for a free, resonance sound is increased.
July 1, 2011
