Warning! This is a long post!

Ok! I've read the first two chapters of Raise Your Voice. I've also read three basic principles from CVT and the basics about four "modes". On the other hand I already know much more about singing and the mechanism behind it than ever before but then on the other hand this all is quite overwhelming information!

I think that I'm going to do the following:
-Keep on reading, studying and understanding the voice more and more, bit after bit
-Start practicing every day.
-Quit from a band that I just jumped in as the lead singer. It's 80's rock cover band and I'm obviously not quite ready for it and I would propably just end up with bad vocal habits.

I need some help with the second part :) I got this idea that this could be a good "everyday routine": First warm up, then exercises, then I practice with a song or two and finally warm down. Something like 45 minutes or an hour maybe? And propably even more :)

What do you think about that? And then I don't know what exercises I should do. The book would propably give me answers to this but I want to get started already :) So what should I start to practice?

Right now I have very little idea of what I do when I sing, I go with instinct and habit pretty much. Sometimes I sing with ease and power and good range somehow naturally and other times (mostly) I get stuck somewhere. Support is a bit of a mystery (although I understand how it works in theory). I have little idea how to support with concious effort, I guess it just happens to me or it doesn't. Sometimes my upper range kinda flows with good energy and it feels natural and good (before I get tired) and sometimes I strain and force and don't quite know what to do and I'm "safe" only when I stay below E4 or G4.

Here you can hear me sing a siren:
http://www.filefreak.com/files/184730_zbvvo/Starlight%203oct.mp33oct.mp3

Here I sing a melody from 3 different octaves to show my range. The highest part went pretty badly. I strained, forced and had a bad sounding break, but instead of trying to do it better maybe you can listen it and help me, cause that is exactly what tends to happen when I "lose touch" with the upper range and try to get it together.

Here's the clip:
http://www.filefreak.com/files/184761_nimgp/siren.mp3

So I'd like to know how I should get started with my practice (what exercises etc.), but also if someone has something helpful to say about that sample and/or my straining. Every advice and help will be appreciated!

Take a look at the seven week program in RYV. It might be a good starting point. Here is one possible workout:

- water, water & water during day

- vocal stress release from RYV or something similar to get you relaxed and ready

- breathing exercises if you feel insecure about it. Try book on the belly while laying on the floor. Try sustained "sss" exercise and write down your best time every day.

- vocal warm up: lip rolls, humming

- isolation exercises from RYV or some other vocal exercise. Variation keeps it interesting!

- rest if you need

- singing exercise, maybe 5-10 songs with varying range

- warm down if you feel you need it

This all probably takes 60 to 120 minutes...

Ps. siren sample didn't work for me. I liked your singing, especially in the middle part. It sounded resonant and you have vibrato too.

Thanks Capehill! Gonna check those things out, but now I go and try running and singing at same time :) Got to develop some stamina and get fit.

Yeah that middle part is quite much where I usually sing and have always sung. I never sing as low as the first part, although I'm gonna work and improve that too! And for the third part.. I'm gonna work it out until it sounds and feels nothing less than Amazing! :)

And here is the siren again this should work now. I don't know if this is all full voice or not, it felt very light and sounds quite light too. So propably mixed voice:
http://www.filefreak.com/files/184761_nimgp/siren.mp3

Opa, you cannot expect to figure it all out without reading it all first;) 7-week program is cool to get started, but you will still have to read alot.

Jaime yes indeed :) I'll keep reading and studying but I want to get started with the practice too.

Hey gotta come back with two questions:

I don't know if it's just me, but transcending tone is very much easier in the high tenor range (F4-E5 or something like that) and the low notes below that are harder and crack more easily. Is this normal / typical? It doesn't bother me though cause I'm very excited that my high register is improving so fast!

And how long time should I spend with one exercise? I feel like I tend to get through with them rather quickly.

Opa, you are correct, TT exercises are much easier up high, because the cords are shorter and closer together. That's why you also do them low. Build up solidarity in your lower notes and the higher ones will be even easier;)