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.
Hi guys...I'm having a bit of trouble with lip rolls and especially with the tongue trills....what is the correct technique....how do you keep your lips vibrating consistently throughout your range...Is there any change of position of the lips needed for the higher notes?...at what place should the tongue strike the mouth in the trills to make sure they keep occuring smoothly...where does resonance fit in all of this?
Cheers
Don't worry about the resonances; the point of this exercise if to place your resonances in their place on their own. If you can't maintain the lip roll it could be for two reasons:
1) Too much tension in your face, especially around your lips
2) Lack of support
My recommendation is to start by taking a deep breath and relax. I read an article not long ago in the Canadian magazine MacClean about people not being able to loose their accent because of too much tension in the face. The author recommended to say "huh" to relax your facial muscles. So do that; say "huh". The tongue should come forward and lean slightly on the top of your lower teeth when you say "huh" as well. Than close your mouth and attempt the lip bubbles. Only the sound should move up and down. Not your mouth, not your tongue. Well, to the exception of your lips vibrating but you know what I mean I hope. Nothing else should move(at least not on purpose!). If you place you hand on your larynx, you will feel it tilt forward as you go up in your range but again, you don't have to make it happen. It should happen by itself. Hope that helps! 
