#vocal lessons

Anyone got any suggestions? I like the more melodic and symphonic goth metal stuff, but I don't know many bands that do that kind of music. I'm also open to more rock or punk suggestions

I just got back from my first vocal lesson

so…

the teacher was really nice!

She was heather chandler

she likes helluva and hazbin

specializes in musical theatre

It's been a hot minute since I've posted on here, so here goes my monthly rant 😅:

Let's see, work is still annoying but I've made it less annoying by telling my bosses that they aren't good at their job- in a professional manner of course 😏. Long story short I finally got tired of their bullshitting about how everyone needs to do better at their job and I pointed out that they aren't even good at their job and they couldn't tell me I was wrong when i provided LOTS of examples. This has resulted in me getting two new workers for my department as well as a (potential) raise! I could talk more about this later about how I achieved this but really it was through trial and error (and dealing with the discomfort of pushing myself to speak up). For once in my life, opening my mouth and telling the truth has gotten me rewarded. We'll see how long that lasts though.

My cat was throwing up two days in a row last week which has been sort of worrying but lately this week he seems fine so I'm wondering it he had a large hairball in his throat or if he simply was a dumbass and ate something he wasn't supposed too. Could be either one 🤷🏾‍♀️. If he does it again I'm shipping him straight to the vet.

Oh- and I wrote a really long chapter of my fic which was really good! It took a lot of energy out of me so I have to recuperate this week and start up again next week. Gonna work on my Youtube content this week.

My husband got me vocal lessons for Christmas so I'm about to begin that. Please pray for me and the teacher so i don't ruin both our eardrums 🙏🏾

Other than that, my mental health has been a lot better this month so far. The reasons being: I got my IUD removed (it just wasn't for me foreal, too much bleeding. I'm back to the nuvaring ✨ ), I fired my therapist (long story short i have very high expectations for therapists and the past three I've had were complete jokes), I've gotten back to my normal exercise routine, and I've been listening to more health and wellness podcasts that help keep me motivated and educated about how to deal with this thing called life.

I know that was a lot but I have more.... that I'm not gonna share bc I'll be writing forever. Maybe next time.

Hope you guys are doing well!

I'm trying to teach myself how to sing and I don't have any former vocal training, I've tried Googleing it but haven't found anything.

This is a video for reference:

Anatomy

Epiglottis: Basically a lid to your larynx that protects your trachea when you swallow liquids or eat. Redirects food to the esophagus. Closes like a trapdoor. Can be used for distortions in a more lighter growl or minor grit in pop or some rock music.

Arytenoids: Muscle that helps move the vocal folds. Used for distortion in a death metal low growl or scream.

False folds: Line the true folds on either side. Help to close the glottis. Thicker than the true folds and are used in distortions for many classic rock or pop songs.

True folds (vocal folds): As big as a pinky nail. (That's pretty small chief.) Thicken in more chesty and strong sounds and thin out in breathy quieter sounds. Lay horizontally and can stretch like a rubber band. Close together when engaged.

Larynx: The entirety of where these muscles and glands lie. Moves upwards during bright sounds and down in warmer/ heavier sounds.

Trachea: Your windpipe.

CT muscle: Pulls the thyroid and cricoid together. Activated in higher pitches.

Registers:

Fry: The scratchy register below the chest voice, engaged by (false folds?) Found by gradually decreasing volume or lowering pitch.

Chest voice: Resonates in your chest. Vocal folds will thicken. Use your speaking voice on pitch with a touch more added volume. Exercise words: Go, Bye, Hey, ect..

Mix: The register between chest and head. Used in more musical theater and contemporary styles. Found by holding back on volume and finding brighter and sometimes brattier sounds. Exercise words: Naaah, bay, Meow, Gig, Nyeenh, ect... Avoid spreading too much unless you're higher in the range.

Head voice: The register above your mix. Used a lot in musical theater or classical music. Found by raising soft pallet and making small contained sounds. Resonates more forward, or higher. Exercise words/ sounds: Any constant with “ooo” after it is a good one or a tall "Ah" Drop the jaw when you get high but avoid spreading the mouth too much until you're in the extremes.

Flageolet: The register above head voice. Where your voice wants to crack. Squeaky, whistle sounds. Exercise words/ sounds: Work your way up with head voice sounds especially "Oos" until you start to crack or squeak. Keep the vowel tiny and do not drop the jaw.

Technique:

Lowering the larynx: For when you want warmth or more dark sounds. Yawn to move the Larynx down originally. Dumb down the voice like Patrick Star in more extreme cases, or use a very tall and dark "Huh" or "yuh"

Lifting the larynx: For when you want brighter more light sounds. Imitate SpongeBob for more extreme cases. Use sounds such as ayyy, or eee.

Singing more quietly: Use less air overall. Practice a controlled hiss

Singing louder: Use more air overall. Practice a more pushed hiss

Expanding your range: Use the tiny “ooo” sounds in the Flageolet section starting with a head voice and gradually moving upwards.

Using less breathiness: Do a short staccato "ee" or "eh" sound through range which will activate the glottals resulting in less breathy sounds. Also look into a more chest voice sound.

Using more breathiness: Sigh through your range, use words with an extended quiet "h" in front of them. Ex: "Hey" in a sigh.

Belting: Volume does NOT need to be super loud. Slightly louder than a normal speaking voice. Much like the chest voice except you can take it higher. The stronger you start with, the easier it is to keep. Use short staccato words, ex "Gig" and avoid spreading the mouth too much.

Whistle register/ tone: Vocal folds do not engage. Found by inhaling on a very high pitch with mouth rounded and tiny. Ooh or Ahh sounds good for this. Then use the same feeling in an exhale.

Melisma/riffs and runs: A stylistic choice usually done in very similar major or minor pentatonic. Can be found by slowing down the specific run/ riff to get each note and practicing on a laughing sound "ha." Gradually speed up this sound as you get used to it. Apply the real sound/ phrasing/ words from the song after you're comfortable with this.

Distortions:

Epiglottic: Make a Ms. Piggy sound "mmmm". Carry that feeling through your range.

Arytenoid: Do a heavy sigh like you just got home from work after a long day or you're annoyed. A cough feeling also works. Carry that feeling through your range.

False Fold: Pretend you are lifting a heavy object. Use Hey or yeah with that feeling and carry that through your range

Vocal health

Jaw tension: Massage the jaw, puff up your cheeks as you sing. "Bwub" is a good word for releasing jaw tension.

Tongue pulling back or tension: Stick the tongue out while you sing to get used to it first, then try to keep the tongue relaxed at the bottom gum line behind your bottom teeth.

Neck tension: Move the head side to side

Mucus/phlegm in the throat: Stay hydrated, drink water, gargle water, do a lip bubble, avoid clearing your throat too often. Avoid certain foods and beverages that you know affect you, for example dairy in some people.

Breath support: Inhale low into your abs and release a controlled hiss, “shhh” or “vvvv” sound. Lip bubbles are also good for it.

Posture: Keep your ears horizontal above your shoulders and stand up straight. Avoid lifting the head. Lay flat on the floor or stand up against a wall to help you find proper posture.

Staying hydrated: If your throat is feeling dry, drinking water right then and there isn't going to immediately help. Water takes hours to reach the vocal folds. A nebulizer or humidifier can be instant relief but don't rely on it all the time. Drink water throughout the day.

Coffee: It isn't inherently bad for the voice as no liquids actually pass over the vocal folds as you drink them. Just make sure you supplement it with water as it makes you have to go to the bathroom which dehydrates you.

Avoid alcohol. Unless you're drinking a lot of water with it. It dehydrates you, plus your inhibitions and judgements are impaired so you might not be able to focus on how you sound, or what techniques you are actively doing.

Fatigue/ pain: If your throat hurts or you're in pain when you sing, you're doing something wrong. See above tips and take a break if needed.

Voice recovery from illness or injury: Rest. Hydrate. Quiet humming or lip bubbles, light breathy sounds, quiet “oos” etc... Talk to an ENT if necessary.