Learn How the Pro’s Sing the “Right” Way and Beat Hurting Their Voice
The voyage to your true voice is a long one, it can take a long while to reach, and possibly a lifetime to perfect. When learning how to sing, one can never really have enough vocal coaching and so a good student is always searching for new coaches and information. For the lifelong singing student, here are a couple of tried and true tips:
A Balancing Act: Contract Some Muscles While Releasing the Others
Singing properly is much like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time – its more about coordinating multiple things at the same time. You have to keep some of your muscles completely relaxed while strenuously pushing different muscles to their peak. Place all of your focus on your keeping your diaphragm flexed while keeping your throat, jaw, tongue and shoulders absolutely relaxed. No power should come from flexing your shoulders or throat, this only serves to constrict your vocal cords.
A Myth: More Breath Means More Voice
To sing louder, many people try to focus on using more air behind their voice. Much the opposite is true – this only makes your voice more quiet. Exactly like whispering, your voice will actually soften if you release the breath out of your mouth before it has a chance to hit your sinus cavities. Instead of wind quantity, vocal volume actually comes from the reverberation in your body.
The Quest For That Phantom Diaphragm
Many people don’t know where their diaphragm is located. Here is a simple exercise to find where it is. First, put your hand just above your stomach and right below your rib cage – this is called the solar plexus. Then, let all the air go from your lungs. If you think you’re finished, push even more out. Feel the tightness? That’s your diaphragm getting tired. If you still can’t feel it, you might want to check out Singing Success for more exercises like this.
Get Your Machine Warmed Up
Make sure you warm up your voice before trying to hit the upper tones in your range. Your vocal range increases the warmer your cords get, and you’ll be able to hit higher and higher tones. If you go for tones that are too high, too soon, not only will it sound horrible, you’re putting your cords in risk of being damaged. If your voice begins to go coarse, just stop and sing pitches a little lower in range. For more information on increasing your vocal range, check out Singing Success by Brett Manning for more training
As you sing and craft your singing style, keep these tips in mind. Relax the correct muscles while contracting your diaphragm, keep a medium amount of air in your lungs (just about as much as you use when you’re speaking), and be sure to adequately warm up before hitting the notes in your upper register. Also, work with a vocal coach or an instructional course like Brett Manning Singing Success to continue to push your singing skills forward.
Tags: brett manning, how to sing, increasing your range, learn how to sing, singing success, vocal coach, vocal instruction
