THE VOICE CONNECTION
SOUND OFF

Welcome to The Voice Connection Sound Off; a forum for users of books like Raise Your Voice, Melody to Madness, The Ultimate Breathing Workout, and Unleash Your Creative Mindset, as well as a place for Vendera Vocal Academy members to interact.

This message board was created so that singers could come together and "sound off" to help support each other during vocal development and the creative process of unleashing the creative spark that occurs when writing and producing music. Currently, myself and vocal coaches Ben Valen, Ray West, and Ryan Wall are here to respond periodicially to your questions, with new vocal coaches coming soon. But, feel free to help each other too:)

This board is here for you to ask questions about my and my fellow coach's books, videos, and MP3 programs, as well as offer others help with our vocal techniques. You may also post videos of yourself and your band to share your music and ask for critiques.

Please refrain from negative comments, profanities, spamming, and inappropriate criticisms of vocal methodologies, vocal coaches, and singers. All negative posts will be deleted and subject to banning without question. I will not respond to negative posts, because, as Mark Twain once said, “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” With that said, positive criticism is welcome because that is how you'll grow as a singer during the training process.


The Voice Connection - Sound Off
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Re: Stuck on A5, please help!!!

If you are only practicing once a week that isn't giving your voice enough time to develop and become stronger. If you're able try to add more on like do 3 days a week to start and see how that does. Are you doing any scales or just the isolation method? Doing scales might help since some of the can trick your voice into going higher where you don't have to think about what you're doing.

Re: Stuck on A5, please help!!!

When I barely get to A5, my throat feels real coarse and it breaks down to G#5 immediately and I almost cry in despair, it's sooo frustrating!!!

Here is your problem. 1st i agree with Melanie , you dont practice enough. You need to work the voice more and remember that progress is made when you are staying positive , not when you are frustrated. You are like me , you want it immediately. It doesnt go that way. And what's with that 'head voice' thing? Its full voice if it is supported the right way and placed into the soft palate. Forget that head voice stuff. It only limits you. Start with the sirens and make sure you strenghten all notes ONE BY ONE. Focus on the resonance. As you do the siren , start big , end big. Resonance is the key. On the high notes your voice will 'ring'. Take your time and practice at least 5 days a week.

Re: Stuck on A5, please help!!!

Well girls, thank you both for your advice! I did it, I increased my practice time to day on/day off, which makes it 3.5 days a week lol. Finally, on Mar 11th I WAS ABLE TO REACH CONSISTENTLY B5 FLAT, 5 TIMES! I did it doing chromatic scales, from C5 attempting to reach B5. I was stuck on the ooo ooo ooo's, so I started to do more no no no's instead and, together with the increased practice and some wonderful face, chin and neck exercises I just started doing every day to strengthen the muscles around the neck, I finally overcame the obstacle!
Now, should I keep doing the same and expect to [finally] reach a C6 pretty soon? Or could there be anything even better than doing chromatic no no no's to increase the range?

Re: Stuck on A5, please help!!!

What you are describing is pulling chest. You need to mix in some head resonances into your middle register before reaching your head register and extend your range. You might loose a bit of volume in the beginning but as you learn new muscle memory, by doing this correctly, your volume will increase and your range will be more consistent. Let me know if you'd like some guidance in the form a a lesson. My info is here:

http://www.valeriebastien.com/VY4singers-home.html

Val

Re: Stuck on A5, please help!!!

No I'm not pulling chest, Val. I'm an alto, my voice breaks on A4. My head voice is around C5 to A5, where it breaks again. My super-head voice is the register I'm unable to access as of yet, although as I mentioned I was able [finally!] to reach Bb5 several times, the other day, doing No No No's. I wish I knew SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES to be able to access the super-head voice register, since tongue trills --my favorite warm up exercise-- aren't achieving it so far, along with the No's.

Re: Stuck on A5, please help!!!

Anything that feels like "yelling" is not proper head voice or full voice. I can pull chest on a B5 (and much higher) and it's still pulling chest voice. However, when I do that my throat strains because the larynx is tilting in the opposite direction that it should to find the space it needs to extend the vocal cords. Just saying ;)