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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Downward push

Hey Jaime, the book RYV is great, I am just little confused about the downward push - somehow when I focus on the downward push its okay when I am in the mid and low notes/tones, bud whey try to reach for higher notes I strain even if I try to focus on my soft pallet.

I just still feel that I am using my neck and so I strain. It is visible most when I sing words like "No" or "Never" those tough words etc, when I sing "Yay" or "Easy" I can help myself better ....

Thanks man for everythnig

Re: Downward push

You know those things they sell to throw tennis balls? It's like a curved deal and you whip the tennis ball and the momentum launches it out of the top? Think of your high notes like that, it's not your chord that's making the high - it's the launching of the sound into your head resonance and out - like the tennis ball. Chin down, jaw relaxed, let it drop open to fill your face with the sound - and "Sean Connery" palate also helps. Your chords will have the same feel of position as the "yeah's" but the resonance will be high and forward in your head. Don't push it or it will sound tight and strained, and you shouldn't have a tight throat either high notes require LESS air so there is no need for clamped chords to act as flood levees... just let it flow as if it was the most relaxed, comfortable and easiest note in your toolbox. Start off with a "Yeaaaaa---oohhhhh" feel the way everything stays the same except the shape of your mouth and the placement of the resonance. As far as the downward push portion of it, it's a VERY light push because you are not requiring a lot of air - this is where feeling suspended and the "breathing in" sensation Jaime discusses rally shines. Relax into it and apply more air with a swelling intention, swell the sound until it's so natural and free you could hold it out there forever!

Re: Downward push

Dear Diane, thank you.... am I right that in the lower notes I can imagine more breathing in and in the higher notes more letting out the voice from my head resonation?.)

Thank you!



David

Re: Downward push

Are we talking about the power push? It's achieved through practicing a combination of abdominal breathing and kegel exercises. Oh and of course, practicing it on holds in song with decent posture.

It needs to be as natural as possible--don't strain anything.

If you mean the focus in your soft pallet, just do the smawn smile/yawn combo to refocus (you don't need to do it hard). If you lose this pallet sensation too long and feel strain it's because you're not really singing anymore but throwing your voice around. This is okay and natural when trying new things, but don't let it be a habit or go there during performances.

Re: Downward push

Yessir. Since you are "throwing" the high note further the lows will seem like you have more "room" for the breathing in sensation whereas the high notes will be ...like a fishing line when you cast. The note will pull out as much breath as it needs to get to it's destination, you shouldn't have to push or force anything - just let it run.
Lower tones need more breath than highs, but are not breathy, you still want nice vocal cord connection for sound production. For lows imagine the sound still coming up and out of your throat, but then dumping or falling out of your mouth. Even on lows you should still feel your face vibrating along with your chest/sternum - otherwise you "dropped the floor" out of your tone and made it more of a chore to get back up to your mid and high portion of your range without chopping at the break AND with the floor dropped you'll find yourself running out of air real quick. If you end up losing some of you low notes by keeping your "floor" in tact, fear not - work on it during your exercises and you'll get it back but in a healthy connected manner with more resonance and tone than before!

Re: Downward push

Don't push too much or you will kill your voice! If your alignment is right and you voice has room to travel to the resonance chamber, you will only need a little bit of pressure to hit higher notes. Only as you run out of breath, will you feel like you need to push more. Support=how high you sing + how much breath you have left.

Re: Downward push

Oh thats make definitely sense...! thank you guys :)