Hi you all,

First of all, let me say that I am just insanely happy, and excited that I found Jaime's Raise Your Voice book.

I am a 37 year old man from Finland, and music is my second job. Music is my passion and my main instrument is guitar, but just the last few years I have tried to concentrate on the singing. I've been singing in the background playing guitar along, but now I'm also trying to be the band's frontman. And it is really a difficult task for me.

For many years I sang without any vocal training, until a year ago, I decided that it is now forced to do something, because I have suffered too long with some voice problems(hoarseness etc..). I've tried to develop myself by self-studying, but it has been going wrong until I decided to take a few singing lessons. And, of course, they have helped me to understand the needs to be done. But like always a lack of money prevents taking more singing lessons. And that's so sad.. And this is the reason why I started to look some advices from a Internet..

I was considering in between of the three different programs. Brett Manning's Singing Success (too expensive), Ken Tamplin and Jaime. And I first bought Ken Tamplin, but I didn't feel it so right for me.. He's a great singer and maybe great vocal coach but for me I didn't feel his teaching could take me to right place with my voice. But gladly I found Jaime and his RYV book.. And it feels right.. And even stupid finnish guy can understand his method. :)

Ok, but that's it about my life story, and now the actual questions.

In these example's what's in RYV are is mostly done with vowels, but how should I proceed when the song texts also has those consonants? The Finnish language is full of consonants, and when I'm singing in English, I have been told that I am too much emphasize those consonants .. But aargh.. I don't know anything altough I tried to find the answer from the book (stupid finnish guy haha..). How I adapt those exercises in to singing? What is the best way to practice a new song?

I hope you understood all my questions?!?!

Thank you for this opportunity to tell you about my problems

And Thanks to Jaime for this site.

Best Wishes

Risto

The challenge with consonants is the you must maintain the space in the back of your throat although your lips are tongue is getting involved to pronounce consonants. I advice always letting the jaw drop to open to the vowel or sound you're about to sing as quickly as possible. Like a ventriloquy puppet. Watch you tongue so that it relaxes during elocution as well.

Hey brutha, glad you like the book:) The "exercises" are vowels only, but I also have a section in there that discusses consonants and how to turn them into energy producing consonants versus energy blocking consonants. Then the key is to sing more so you actually apply the technique (breathe low, support low, place up in the palate).

The above two posts are great. Just to add my 2 cents:
The reason why you practice vowels is because they open the throat and produce the resonance. that same open feeling with the resonance in the soft palate when you practice is exactly the same feeling you want when you sing.

Vowel training is teaching you to keep your throat open when you sing. When you sing you want to fade out the consonants as much as possible and really hit the vowels so that the throat stays open. over-enunciating consonants can close down your throat and get your throat caught on the cord.

Phil
www.bushido-self-improvement.com

Thank you very much for your answers.

Indeed, when I read the book again more closely, and I also found those things you mentioned. When the English language is not the native language, and if I do not focus enough, it is very easy to miss somethings. I understand English quite well, and on the other hand, I must also harder to focus on the topic, but sometimes I lose the grip. And the terminology is pretty new to me. But thank you very much still, when you gave advice to a Finnish man who asks silly and did not read the Jaime's book properly. ;)

-Risto-

ps. I'm very sorry for the spelling mistakes, etc.

pss. Oh yeah .. And one more quick question for you .. Can I send my voice sample somewhere or to someone for evalution? I do not really dare to send here in the forum for all to hear .. :/ Not yet.. :) It would be nice to hear some professionals opinion about my voice.. that is it horrible, etc.. Because I don't want to shattered anyones ears.. ;) haha..