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.


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Skullsplitter
Nov 6, 2012 - 9:37PM
Re: Larynx Position while using the PTD 1 ?

Ryan,

To answer your first Question:

My honest answer is: I'm not sure that it should remain neutral while training with it, because it's purpose serves a different purpose.

I do my throat exercises before I use the PTD-1 in my routine and I haven't noticed my larynx rising but keep in mind I've been doing Bullfrogs for quite a few years, among other exercises that I learned from Jaime. When I first learned to do the Bullfrogs, I was doing them like 1,000 times a day because I was one of those guys who raised the larynx like an elevator whenever I went to sing high notes.... plus, I tend to go overboard with things.

So, I'm just not sure that it matters in the sense that - the device's sole purpose is to allow you to recognize and focus on keeping the intercostal muscles/floating ribs in an expanded state.

Try doing your bullfrog exercises before using the PTD-1, and see if your larynx still rises when you exhale. If it still rises up, try this:

1.Trim you fingernails and wash your hands.

2.Lower your larynx.

3.Slide your index finger along the raphe (the middle section where the two side muscles of the tongue meet in the middle) of your tongue, massaging it until the muscles relax.

4.Keep going until you can slide your finger down your throat to get rid of the gag reflex.

5. When you reach the epiglottis, slowly begin to bend your index finger forward, pushing the base of the tongue, forward and out. Keep your finger in this position and keep thinking "relax".

The idea is to make the back of your tongue move forward at a 45-degree angle. Warning: you are going to do a lot of drooling, so keep a towel handy. LOL

If you do this exercise every day, you can then slowly begin applying pressure from the outside with your fingers, like you are squeezing your tongue and neck area together. It will take a little getting used to, but you can reshape the interior of your throat in this manner.

Afterward, slowly pull on your tongue and hold it to release the pressure/tension in the muscles of your throat.


Then do your bullfrogs.


Tim

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