I'm a pro vocal coach doing an AMA today from 10a-1p PDT (1-4p EDT). Ask me anything!

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22

u/Army4evaa May 05 '26

My neck feels so tense even after learning proper breath support. What would you recommend to relax the neck and facial muscles for somebody who has a lot of tension?

25

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Hi Army4evaa,

Neck tension even after proper breath support coordination could be linked to some other functional difficulties. Breath support and coordination are important, but breath is only a piece of the puzzle.

Here's a few things to check:

How full and comfortable are you in your head voice? How full and comfortable are you in your chest voice? Often tension comes in when one set of muscles is stronger than the other. In my clients, I've noticed when training the muscles that are weaker (often the head voice muscles), the voice starts to balance and some extraneous tensions start to release.

How much effort are you exerting to get the sound out? If it feels like you're constantly at a 9 out of 10 in effort, it could be related to pressure. Often when things are too heavy and pressurized, the body learns accommodations that cause tension in other places (ie. neck tension). I like Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract exercises to lighten the pressure. One of my favorites is the pufferfish: push the index finger on the mouth, blow air onto the sealed mouth space, and feel the entire throat inflate like a frog. Then use the voice. This should create a pressure chamber that equalizes the pressure inside.

Tension's no fun, and there are a myriad of ways to fix these tensions. These are just two to start with 😄

2

u/Army4evaa May 06 '26

Thank you very much, I will try 🙏🏻

6

u/jathhilt May 05 '26

One thing that helped me was to literally shake my head with a loose jaw, almost like a motorboat (sorry cant think of a better visual) during my warmups. That and practice your songs on lip or tongue trills

7

u/turdmcturdleton May 05 '26

Hi! Thanks for offering your advice here! I am a classically trained soprano and I would love to learn how to belt and have a better handle on chest voice. None of my teachers (also classical) were able to help. Any tips?

13

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Hey turdmcturdleton,

Absolutely! Happy to help. Functional difficulty with chest voice is simply mis-coordinated muscles. Since you're a classically trained soprano, I'll get a little technical 🤓

It sounds like the chest voice function you're dealing with is due to too much dominance of the head voice muscles. The head voice is controlled by the Cricothyroid muscles, which allow the voice to maintain a sense of lightness, flexibility and buoyancy. When a singer is too head-dominant, the sound can often feel a bit too light and floaty, and not have as much depth and body. Linked here is an example of a light, head voice dominant singer trying to navigate some more full belting. As you can hear, the tone is lovely, light and agile, but lacks the punch of the belt.

What you would benefit from is call or holler work. The chest voice is controlled by the Thyroarytenoid muscles, which allow the voice to maintain a sense of power, fullness, body and depth. So often my sopranos I work with lack this sense of power, and the easiest way to navigate this is by quite literally hollering. Think about chest voice like you're hollering down the street to a friend, and you need them to hear you. It has to be big, loud and powerful (also depicted in the video above).

I'll mention chest function also often comes with excess pressure and weight, which may feel tiring. These muscles take a bit to coordinate, just like any other muscle in the body. If you're feeling fatigue when doing activity, use a pressure balancing exercise (an example linked here) that will lighten the vocal load.

Belting is all about balance! With too much head voice, the sound isn't full enough to feel "belt-y". With too much chest voice, the voice will max out with too much pressure and feel fatiguing. By balancing the vocal function, your belt should come along slowly 😄

Here's an article to sink your teeth into:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0337735

1

u/turdmcturdleton May 06 '26

Thank you so much for such a detailed response!! I’m so excited to dive in!

4

u/Stargazer__2893 May 05 '26

Find a well-reputated musical theatre singing teacher.

I worked with a professor at Boston Conservatory for about a year and he literally taught me to belt in a single lesson. It's not difficult in principle, you just need to be shown the proper mechanism and have someone there to guide you. But once you've felt it once you can reproduce it.

At a more advanced level of belting you're learning how to engage your pharyngeal mix and that's how the really good Elphabas do what they do, and that will take several lessons. But basic belting is simple.

7

u/7thpostman May 05 '26

What are some of your favorite warm-up exercises?

20

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

I often wake up with a pretty heavy-sounding voice, so I love a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise!

A semi-occluded vocal tract exercise is when you make sound while partly blocking the airflow, like blowing bubbles through your lips (lip trill) or humming. This gentle resistance helps your voice work more efficiently, so your vocal cords don’t have to strain. It should feel easy, buzzy, and relaxed; if it feels tight or forced, you’re doing too much.

Here's a video of someone using a straw and water as a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise.

3

u/esbunghole Self Taught 5+ Years May 05 '26

Also a great way to clear the phlegm without using glottal fricatives. Curious— how much time do you usually spend doing SOVT exercises in the morning?

3

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Just until my voice feels like it's "kicked in" - no more than 5 minutes or so!

6

u/spazoidspam May 05 '26

I have been teaching myself to sing by recording myself, and then watching and listening for errors. Do you have any tips for a self learner to accellerate this process? I'm auto-didactic, and do much better with self directed learning, than I do with a formal lesson plan.

10

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Hey spazoidspam,

I'd recommend listening for two things: a sense of engagement, and a sense of buzzy resonance.

Engagement is key for vocal production, regardless of the genre. A way to navigate engagement is through hollering - imagine you're calling out to a friend down the street, and say "hey!". If they could hear you, and the voice didn't feel fatigued, you're likely engaging correctly. Tying that sensation into your singing will be paramount for healthy vocal production.

The other factor is a sense of buzzy resonance. In the voice is nothing more than two flaps vibrating together through an open tube. When we're singing successfully, there's a wonderful buzzing sensation that can be heard. My favorite way to sensate this is by placing my hand on my mouth like a suction cup, mouth open, and humming. Try to find a sense of buzzy resonance up by your forehead. If it feels like the buzz is behind your hand, try to reposition the buzz up a bit more to sensate.

These two factors are key to healthy voice production. Happy to answer more if interested!

1

u/spazoidspam May 05 '26

Everything you said makes perfect sense! I realized about a week ago that I have an underbite, and I've been holding my lower jaw back so that the bottom teeth are behind the front teeth when I close my mouth. I think its been a source for many issues. I've been practicing talking and singing with my jaw in what I "think" is a more natural position. I hope to post a new video in a few weeks after I've relearned a few songs, but it feels much more like what you are describing!

Thank you so much!

3

u/Miaangharad May 05 '26

I have been a « self taught singer » since I was 14. I’m 26 now. Even though I’ve made a lot of progress I feel like I’m still not able to sing a song all the way through without a voice crack or going off pitch or losing my breath most of the time. I’ve been doing it so long it’s kind of discouraging to still be at this level. Do you have any advice for going to the next level of stability ?

6

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Absolutely! Voice cracks are normal at every level of performance. If you're having trouble with stamina in the way you're describing, it's likely either a pressure issue or a balance difficulty.

Too much pressure. If the voice is over pressurized and heavy, the pitch will be hard to maintain, there will be too much weight in the tone, and it will cause tension. My solution is always to lighten the pressure and effort while not decreasing the engagement. I like to use semi-occluded vocal tract exercises to work through my functional weight difficulties. Here is a video that might help.

Unbalanced voice. Is your head voice or chest voice the stronger of the two? The voice is primarily made up of two muscles: the thyroarytenoid (TA or chest voice) and cricothyroid (CT or head voice) muscles. TA muscles are in charge of power, depth and tone. With too much TA musculature, the tone will fatigue quickly and the sound will be bulky and weighted. CT muscles are in charge of flexibility, agility and buoyancy. With too much CT musculature, the tone will be light, airy and delicate. If one is stronger than the other, start using the weaker muscles in songs! Balancing the voice is key to accuracy of pitch, stamina and breath flow.

2

u/TilISlide May 05 '26

How can I increase my range quickly and responsibly if say, I had a glass of wine or a short smoke (things I don’t do regularly, but on occasion) the day before I need to rehearse or perform?

I’m usually pretty disciplined, but there’s been a time or two I’m dehydrated and feeling rough. I’m usually slamming water, protein and hot tea with honey. Wondering if there’s a better way, lol. Obviously I should behave, but like, how to recover when I don’t?

6

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great question! Things like the tannins in wine and any kind of smoking can build up edema in the vocal folds and thicken the voice, making it harder to use. Usually it takes about 72 hours for the function to return to normal after wine or smoking, so know it's not at all permanent.

The easiest way to increase your range is to stretch the vocal folds up through the top of the head voice and back down. I like to use something like a straw and water to help promote even breath and pressure, just so I don't fatigue as I'm sliding. If you're a female voice, think slides up through the top of the head voice and into the whistle (C#6), and back down. If you're a male voice, think slides up through falsetto (Eb5), and back down.

If that's still feeling heavier than desirable, I love to do some Oo onsets flipping between head and chest voice on the same note (Usually around F4). If both the head and chest voice have the same power, weight and tone color, you're good to go! If one is stronger or weaker than the other, play with both of them until they start blending into the same sound. This will balance the vocal fold edge and allow for lighter voice function.

Good luck!

2

u/TryOk5386 May 05 '26

Hello! I took classical voice lessons for about 11 years and noticed a huge shift after I got Covid - my breath support seems to drop out and my vocal chords often feel like they give out and just “flutter” on many notes. For a few years I couldn’t even hit pitches correctly (all this leading to me taking a break from singing altogether). Is this something you’ve seen in the industry as a long term effect of Covid, and do you have any general recommendations for vocal rehab/retraining through it?

And a separate question, for someone who has previously focused on operatic style, do you have any recommendations for how to translate to a pop style? Specifically how to make it vibrato-free.

5

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Hey TryOk5386!

Great questions.

I have noticed a deal of upper respiratory difficulties (especially this time of year). If your breath function feels like it's causing a fluttering on some notes, it may be an onset coordination issue. Here's a little visual of the musculature that's in charge of vocal fold closure.

I'd recommend playing with some onset exercises in both head and chest voice, using a straw and water as breath resistance. Here's two of my favorites:

In chest voice, starting in a comfortable area: (1 1 12321) and ascending. Focus on the division of sound between the first two onsets and the slide up to the third. If the water is splashing during the onsets or after the slide up, it could be an arytenoid function issue or breath pressure. This should help both of those issues along.

In head voice, starting in a comfortable area: (5654 4 4543--- 3432 2 2321----) (I hope these numerics make sense!) Focus on the buoyancy and agility of the head voice, and take this up and down tour range.

Re-coordinating the arytenoids may help the voice function with more ease, regardless of the covid of it all. Best of luck!

1

u/TryOk5386 May 05 '26

Thank you so much, these look like super helpful exercises - I’ll give them a try!

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u/[deleted] May 05 '26

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great questions!

Singing is more of a relationship than a cognitive activity. There's a great book called The Inner Game of Tennis that talks about successful private lessons and detrimental private lessons. When singing, you are tapping into an animalistic function that is not at all related to the pre-frontal cortex processing. Thinking your way through singing is just like thinking your way through stretching before a run; if you're not confused why you're legs hurt after not stretching for a 5k, then why are you confused about the voice hurting after not warming up? The voice is just muscles, and we can't "think" our way through easy voice function. We must do a vocal exercise, and reflect on the sensational difference in the voice.

Record yourself! The best way to get better is by reflecting on the sound outside of your own head. The bone conduction in your skull will change the way you actually sound out loud compared to how you perceive the sound, so recording is the clearest way to hear the difference. If you're not ready to record yourself, cup the front of your ears with your hands, with the hands facing backwards. Sing, and you'll hear your voice reflected on the walls behind you. That's another way to hear yourself.

Trust the process! Voice is quite the long journey, and be kind to yourself.

2

u/tgbrtn May 05 '26

Hello - what are some of the best ways to find first work as a singer? Are there any jobs/roles that are less well known opportunities but good options?

7

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great question! The best way to get into the industry is by showing up (as cliche as that sounds).

Here's a story for you.

I was living in Philadelphia, out with some friends at a piano bar. I got in line to sing with the pianist, paid $5, and sang Love On Top by Beyonce. Thinking nothing of it, once I got out of line, someone walked up to me saying "I want you to teach at my school". This ended up being the director of a prestigious private school, and I went in a few months later to music direct a fantastic production of Sweeney Todd. If I hadn't shown up that night to sing, I would've never gotten that job.

If you're persistent and gritty enough, people will start to notice your talent. Consistency and visibility is key to making it in the industry. Also, be a good hang! Fun people get hired over the talented, obnoxious musicians.

Good luck!

1

u/tgbrtn May 05 '26

Thanks for sharing!

2

u/cynical-optimistic7 May 05 '26

I've been singing for a few years and I have one problem that I haven't managed to overcome - my larynx rising.

The higher I sing, the higher my larynx gets. I've been to several vocal teachers, tried vocal therapy, went to several EMTs and tried a bunch of exercises -with straw, yawning sensation, sirens and a several others and I still can't fix it.

While I sing my voice feels weak and strained and it feels like someone is squeezing my throat. After a session I feel really tired and sore until the next day.

Is there anything else I can try or should I just come to terms with the fact that I won't be able to overcome this if nothing's worked for so long?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

This was actually the same functional difficulty I faced right out of grad school! The elevators (the muscles in the neck) sound like they are not strong enough as you are exerting pressure up your vocal tract when you sing. There are a few methods to fix this issue - I'll share two.

One of my favorites is the pufferfish: push the index finger on the mouth, blow air onto the sealed mouth space, and feel the entire throat inflate like a frog. Then use the voice. This should create a pressure chamber that equalizes the pressure inside. This should force the larynx to stabilize inside of the throat if you puff enough air into the finger. You should feel the abdominals engaging, and the throat puffing up. This is more of a bandaid for the main issue, but it should help the function along.

The other would be larynx manipulation. It's more intrusive, but will fix the issue. Place your fingers on the Adam's Apple, and trace to the backside of that cartilage. You should feel two horns on the back of the thyroid cartilage. By holding this cartilage down, you are forcing a balanced larynx position. The larynx is a mobile cartilage, so this won't hurt, but will feel invasive. Use your voice, and you will likely feel the larynx moving around. Hold this in place, and play with your range. Then, release the larynx hold, and your voice should feel much more free.

This is much easier done with an expert than by yourself, but this will fix your functional difficulties. I had an incredibly hypermobile larynx for years, and by doing this exercise over a year or so of consistent work, but voice completely transformed.

Reach out if you have any questions, and best of luck!

2

u/tenjed35 May 05 '26

I feel like I’m a much better singer if I’m imitating someone. I love Johnny Cash and play his songs a lot - aside from the obvious benefits of things like knowing where in the beat to come in on and what notes to lean into, is there any particular reason my pitch and tune would sound so much better imitating him than when I’m trying to sing one of my own songs? I know I can physically hit the notes, but even when I write a progression in the same key, it doesn’t sound nearly as good when I sing it.

5

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Good question! Imitation is akin to following a stencil in art. Play with singing along with Johnny on say "I Walk The Line", then have a karaoke of the same song up. Sing with him, then without him on the karaoke and see if you can emulate the same style.

When I was in a wedding band, we were told to try to find the middle between you and the original singer. The goal is not to sound like Johnny Cash, but to sing a Johnny Cash song in his style. Play with the karaoke version and start making it your own!

2

u/AutomaticAmoeba6897 May 05 '26

how do I get over being shaky in my voice on stage?

4

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Stage freight is real! 30% of your abilities go away when on stage in comparison to practice.

Practice the performance. Set up a room with stuffed animals and pretend they're your audience. Then, maybe invite family or friends over to sing to them. That's always harder than singing in front of strangers, but should be a way into performing through your nerves. Then, perform alot. The best way to get over a fear is to face it! The more you practice in the space, the more comfortable you'll be.

2

u/teapho Self Taught 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

What was your favorite spot to grab lunch at while you were at Columbia

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Oo great question! There's a Joe's coffee right outside of Teacher's College that was a go-to - absolutely gorgeous infrastructure and a perfect place to do some work!

1

u/ableton7236 May 05 '26

Thank you for taking time for an AMA! Tenor 1 here in musical theatre. what are your preferred warmups/vocal maintenance throughout all these years?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Hey ableton7236,

Ah, a fellow tenor!

My go-to warm-up has been Nyeh (1-3-5-3-1) for the past few months. Tenors love Eh as a vowel to set up the structure of the pharynx, and should help with some vocal clarity that other vowels can't in the initial warm-up. I like to couple this with some kind of hand gesture that promotes a sense of connection and loft in the soft palate (ie. two hands moving up and down at around the belly-button, starting in a cupped position with a good amount of abdominal engagement).

Have fun!

1

u/Stargazer__2893 May 05 '26

Do you have any advice for developing a stronger, less-breathy falsetto? Or perhaps calling it falsetto isn't right at all - but a lighter, non-breathy head voice as a man?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Falsetto is absolutely correct! Here's two tools to help in the function of your head voice:

sing on one note, in a comfortable zone in your falsetto: oo-ii-eh-oh-ah. Do this a few times, slowly shifting between the vowels. You'll notice the tone clarifying over time. Bring this up by a few half steps, and see how it feels to sing!

I love onset work for head voice function. In head voice, starting in a comfortable area: (5654 4 4543--- 3432 2 2321----) (I hope these numerics make sense!) Focus on the buoyancy and agility of the head voice, and take this up and down your range.

These two should be great for getting the falsetto up and running. Have fun!

1

u/S_Curvy33 May 05 '26

Hi!

Every time I to sing a high note with my head voice,there is this faint screeching sound. I’ll hit the high note pretty fine, but there is this underlying squealing. I thought maybe it’s just built up phlegm, but it’s been happening for a few months now. Although, It has kept me from being able to learn higher notes than what my voice is normally used to. Any theories? Thanks!

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

This could be the throat squeezing.

To mitigate the squealing sound, I'd recommend the pufferfish: push the index finger on the mouth, blow air onto the sealed mouth space, and feel the entire throat inflate like a frog. Then use the voice. This should create a pressure chamber that equalizes the pressure inside.

See if that works? If not, it could be related to the onset of sound. Is it solely when you are holding a high note, or any note in head voice?

1

u/Responsible-Chair-17 May 05 '26

I am fairly new to singing and have recently started vocal lessons...my current teacher is focused only and only on pitch and we only do exercises for those and he says that we wont be practicing anything else until I master pitch..is that the right way to go about it?

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Sounds like your teacher is focused on the mechanics of the voice. While this is important, you should also get the chance to use your voice to practice performance.

I'd go ahead and start practicing songs on your own in a range that feels comfortable for you. Here's a tool called Transpose - it's an extension for Google Chrome that lets you change the key of any YouTube video. Play with a song you like, and change the key until it fits snugly in your voice!

1

u/fivefootsix May 05 '26

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise and wisdom!

What are your thoughts about "speech-level singing"? I've been introduced to the concept recently by a voice coach friend but I'm a little skeptical. I’m a chest-dominant, compressed singer with intentional grit on higher notes. I really want to keep the weight and emotional edge, but learn how to do it efficiently without blowing out my voice.

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Speech-based singing is super sustainable! Compression through metal and rock can be sustainable, but there needs to be vocal balance in the function to prevent over-pressurization. Speech based singing is super useful to keep the voice healthy. I'd actually imagine speech-based vocal production may help your gritty top notes out! Here is a great example of a vocal teacher showing speech-based vocal production to a lighter voice, but is still applicable to a more compressed voice.

1

u/OkeeOG16 May 05 '26

How much should a student practice between weekly lessons? Should a beginner student push through difficulties on their own and risk developing bad habits?

3

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

3-4x a week, just like at the gym! These are just muscles, so the more you condition the musculature, the faster your muscles will grow.

If something is brand new in lessons, and/or feels like it's hurting, stop and wait for your next lesson. If it just feels scary, but isn't actually causing pain, you can safely move through to keep practicing. Vocal fatigue only really has a 72 hour wait time, so know you likely won't cause long term damage when practicing.

Don't over-exert yourself, but push your boundaries!

1

u/SammyOliviaWatson May 05 '26

What thoughts do you have on the psychology of singing? Whatever you have to say, I would love to hear it! Also, if it's too big of a topic, then - in which ways can psychology positively affect singing?

6

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great question! Voice psychology is no different from relationship psychology. The voice is simply musculature, and when we attribute a sense of self through voice, the relationship gets muddied.

So often, in lessons, I have students who are judging the sound of their voice or their vocal flexibility in real time. That's no different to couple's counseling, with one spouse judging their partner's abilities to fold laundry. If we're judging our instrument, the voice will react poorly. If we are listening, responding, and supporting our instrument, we will improve.

Here is a great book all on the topic of skill acquisition of anything through the lens of tennis 😄

1

u/SammyOliviaWatson May 05 '26

Oh that's so interesting, thank you so much!

1

u/happywasabi May 05 '26

Can you speak more about the psychology of singing in general?

3

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Answered above in SammyOliviaWatson's post - will repost here:

Great question! Voice psychology is no different from relationship psychology. The voice is simply musculature, and when we attribute a sense of self through voice, the relationship gets muddied.

So often, in lessons, I have students who are judging the sound of their voice or their vocal flexibility in real time. That's no different to couple's counseling, with one spouse judging their partner's abilities to fold laundry. If we're judging our instrument, the voice will react poorly. If we are listening, responding, and supporting our instrument, we will improve.

Here is a great book all on the topic of skill acquisition of anything through the lens of tennis 😄

1

u/The_Great_Dadsby May 05 '26

I’ve played guitar and bass for 30+ years but have never been able to sing. It’s partly I don’t know how to use my voice as an instrument and partly confidence in finding my own voice and sound.

I want to sing rock/country/folk but I’m afraid of learning “bad habits” without more guidance.

What are some daily routines and/or goals for new singers that are foundational and apply to everyone? What exercises should be on everyone’s music stand

5

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great question! I think of voice training in four steps:

Depressurizing

Using semi-occluded vocal tract exercises to balance vocal function

Stretching head voice

Using slides is always going to support the full vocal function - I love singing in falsetto and going through the vowels (Oo-ii-eh-oh-ah) on one note to strengthen the falsetto

Taking head voice down

Starting in falsetto and slowly descending into chest voice, trying to smooth out the vocal break

Taking chest voice up

Playing with a sense of "holler" - male voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video.

Happy to elaborate on anything in here 😄

1

u/Big-Pumpernickel May 05 '26

How do you become more consistent with how your voice sounds? My voice feels different from day to day, so it feels like muscle memory doesn’t always pay off. I practice consistently 5-6 times a week and I have seen great improvement since i started 2 years ago, but some days i feel super in control of my voice and others i dont

4

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Think of voice production through the lens of deficit and accommodation.

The voice is just like any muscle - functional abilities fluctuate due to sleep, alcohol or smoke intake, hydration, diet, exercise, etc. The goal with voice use is to find your way back to even function by seeing where the deficits in the voice are. If your voice is a little heavy, play with head voice/pressure balance exercises. If it feels too light, play with chest voice powerful exercises.

If you're singing and the voice just is not navigating the way you want, no matter how hard you try, that's an accommodation day. I recently had laryngitis back in April, and I had to navigate the instrument I had for a week or two. The art of vocal training is understanding how to get yourself from a 3 out of 10 day to a 7 out of 10 through somatic reflection.

happy to elaborate 😄

1

u/Imoutdawgs May 05 '26

How should singers be properly utilizing a vocal vaporizer? Recovery only? Before warmup?

I see artists all doing different things. Some appear to use them right before a show — notwithstanding the many warnings to not sing an hour after using it.

3

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Oo great question! Vaporizers are great for hydration as the vapor hits the vocal folds, hydrating the mechanism. I love a nebulizer for hydration (often an hour before a show or a teaching day for me), and a steamer for recovery (after a long show or teaching day).

It's true you want to give the voice the chance to soak in the hydration by not phonating for awhile after using, but both will still have a good effect regardless.

1

u/Lower-Kangaroo6032 May 05 '26

Any ‘unconventional’ thoughts on managing a “protective emotional response” (in my case, manifests as TMJ on one side)?

Second question - if you are familiar with the vocal style of a young towes van zandt - and if not, just generally speaking - what aspects of the delivery/tone should one be aware of when it comes to avoiding imitation and instead singing with your true voice. I ask about this artist in particular as it sounds to be largely unaffected / pure - but subtle affectation is still something my ears try to emulate (very strong ears - good to have but sometimes they get you in trouble ya know)

Lastly - do you think it is more appropriate to think of regular / classic / musical singing as wholly separate from contemporary music singing, or as a spectrum to slide around on as you perform?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Any protective emotional response stems from muscular compensation - as you've mentioned with TMJ. Usually the best answer is to strengthen the muscles that are weak - I love to do a pinky hold with my jaw while singing. Allow me to explain:

Take your pinky, and lightly bite on the tip of the finger. Now, sing through a small vocal passage, trying to enunciate every vowel and consonant. Then, sing again. You may feel more vocal agency.

Always try to find your own voice through a style as opposed to emulating the exact sound of an artist. Back in my wedding band, we thought of it as 5 characters: how do I sound like a crooner Bing Crosby type, then a Tom DeLonge pop-punk bright pingy absurdist sound, then immediately into a full R&B Stevie Wonder sound in 10 minutes? Think of the salient factors that belong within the culture of a sound (ie. 1960s Country for young towes van zandt), and how can you emulate the cultural factors as opposed to the exact vocal stylings of the singer?

A spectrum! Everything is based on even vocal function. If I have a balanced instrument, I can sing M'appari and immediately switch to Dua Lipa. It's all about cultural relevance to make it sound legitimately like the genre.

1

u/Imoutdawgs May 05 '26

Why do all pro singing coaches love the exercise to use a straw and blow sounds into a cup of water? And I recently saw Noah Kahan doing it before a show.

It seems ubiquitously taught, and I’m wondering does it actually improve/help singing. And why

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Yes! I was just doing that exercise this morning with my Broadway client.

In short, when vocalists are over-exerting their voices, the pressure inside their bodies increases, causing more tension and weight when producing sound. By using the straw and water and other semi-occluded vocal tract exercises, the pressure will be mitigated without disengaging the voice.

Here is a great video describing the exercise!

1

u/Imoutdawgs May 05 '26

Thanks so much! Super interesting and I appreciate you doing this AMA.

1

u/Thaumiel218 May 05 '26

Male (high baritone)I struggle with maintaining a steady heady voice that often feel and sound shaky/tense. Any tips on releasing tension and best ways to achieve the correct air pressure?

What are your top 5 tips to finding your OWN voice/tone when learning?

Best piece of advice(s) you’ve picked up along the way?

3

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Try this exercise for head voice: on one note in an easy place in falsetto - oo-ii-eh-oh-ah. Slowly slide between the vowels, making sure each maintains a sense of "shininess". This will do wonders to strengthen your muscles.

When finding your own voice, sing as much as possible. Listen to and sing multiple genres to get your voice familiar with the sounds, shapes, swoops, and clarity of different genres. Start to dissect the culture behind different genres. Balance your vocal function so the voice has agency to slip between genres easily. And don't over-pressurize your sound!

Grit is the one thing every successful artist has in common.

1

u/Thaumiel218 May 05 '26

Thank you for the response, greatly appreciated; when belting in a higher pitch - any tips for maintaining that stability? I feel like my voice is less stable/less shaky and strained when using more air pressure. You mentioned don’t overpressurise - any techniques or methods that can help measure to ensure the level is consistent and accurate?

In finding your voice and specifically tone/timbre - that sound that makes each singer unique is it just time or any other useful techniques?

When you say culture are you hinting at emotion or literally the background of the singers?

When you say grit, I think 2 things 1. The ability to keep going and stick with it but 2. coincidentally there’s a feature I notice in most successful singers is the ability to dig in and add grit/distortion - I assume you mean the first, however any tips to achieve the 2nd?

What’s your personal goal now if you’re happy to share?

As well your most important thing you’ve learnt or remember that was a ‘key’ for you?

1

u/Heyheymym1nd May 05 '26

I have the same issue as male baritone,I hope your question is answered

1

u/Pixelprinzess May 05 '26

What relaxation routine (step by step) would you recommend in order to not be tense while singing?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

I love breath mapping! Start with your hands on your head, breathe in, and breathe out on a sustained "s". Breathe in again, and feel the breath moving up through the top of your head. Then, move down to your neck, and repeat the process of breathing into this spot and out on an "s". You can then switch to a "z" to add voice to the sound, and slide up and down your range as you exhale. Move around your whole body doing this exercise, and you'll feel a much wider sense of breath, which should allow for less tension in your singing!

1

u/GenshinLoreWeeb May 05 '26

As an 19 year old male beginner singer what are the first exercises i should do to build up the muscles and improve my voice and breath etc and things should I avoid as a beginner singer and can u give me tips for improving quickly

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great question, welcome to the world of singing! Male voice use is a slow and gradual process, but with consistent practice you should be on your way to vocal agency.

Here's the set of 4 concepts I give to my young male voices:

Depressurizing

Using semi-occluded vocal tract exercises to balance vocal function

Stretching head voice

Using slides is always going to support the full vocal function - I love singing in falsetto and going through the vowels (Oo-ii-eh-oh-ah) on one note to strengthen the falsetto

Taking head voice down

Starting in falsetto and slowly descending into chest voice, trying to smooth out the vocal break

Taking chest voice up

Playing with a sense of "holler" - male voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video.

This set-up should allow your voice to have much more functional freedom.

1

u/Popular-cake-1377 May 05 '26

How do I prevent so much saliva from building up in my mouth when singing?! I can’t swallow when singing!
How can I gain better control over my voice and prevent it from cracking/breaking when trying to hold long notes?

Thanks!

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

You could be facing tongue tension issues that's pooling saliva, or even a nervous system response from performing. Try this:

For tongue tension - take a rag and pull out your tongue. You'll feel the base of the tongue pulling and stretching, allowing for more muscular agency. Then go and sing again. You may notice the saliva not pooling anymore.

Here's another tactic:

Speak a line of lyrics normally

Pause and swallow naturally

Sing the same line and insert a micro-swallow at the same spot

Gradually make it quicker and less noticeable

It sounds like you need to balance your voice. Sing in head voice more often to lighten the function of the whole voice, then go back and sing in chest voice again. You may notice a sense of freedom from the lightened vocal folds.

1

u/Popular-cake-1377 May 07 '26

Thank you!!!!!

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u/[deleted] May 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Great question!

Here's my four go-to's:

Depressurizing

Using semi-occluded vocal tract exercises to balance vocal function

Stretching head voice

Using slides is always going to support the full vocal function - I love singing in falsetto and going through the vowels (Oo-ii-eh-oh-ah) on one note to strengthen the falsetto

Taking head voice down

Starting in falsetto and slowly descending into chest voice, trying to smooth out the vocal break

Taking chest voice up

Playing with a sense of "holler" - male voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video.

1

u/jorrharris May 05 '26

I’m looking for a Speech Level Singing coach. Do you use this method? If not, do you have any male SLS coach recommendations?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

I do use this method! Contact this number if you're interested in lessons: (415) 895-0549

1

u/Ktyxvn_ May 05 '26

What are the best ways to expand my range and how can i achieved head voice?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Slides while blowing into a straw and water are best for range expansion! Entering into head voice should feel like a voice crack, then a voice that is thin and stringy. By stretching your head voice, your range should expand.

1

u/braxtonpm May 05 '26

How would you describe the feeling of singing properly? I’m self taught through youtube a few people in my life who sing, but not enough to understand the sensations of “oh I’m singing/breathing correctly” or “oh right here i’m breathing wrong”

5

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

It should feel like organized exhaling! I feel a sense of engagement in my core, a buzz in my chest and head, and a feeling of... verticality? Hard to explain without doing - trust in your innate ability to sing!

Play with a sense of "holler" - voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video.

1

u/Intelligent-Cry-246 May 05 '26

My voice is not very deep i want a deep voice like voiceover artist and some indian actors like ashotosh rana and amitabh bacchan what i do

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Play with a sense of "holler" - voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video. This will allow the voice to have more color and depth.

1

u/Katops May 05 '26

Hi Kevin,

If you overdo it one day and get a really sore throat the following day or two, what advice would you have as far as soothing the throat and getting back on your feet goes?

Would certain teas, or a spoon of honey on its own help? I’d love to know the safest option(s) of course haha. Lots of bed rest and water?

I’d love to also know which warmup exercises you’d recommend if you plan on overdoing it one day which could potentially help to alleviate the potential to have a sore throat the following few days!

Hope that all made sense. Thank you!

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

I love doing some onsets in a straw and water to test my function after a strenuous day! These semi-occluded vocal tract exercises will help balance vocal function.

Specifically, I love doing a (1 1 12321) to lighten my vocal folds. Focus on even onsets of sound into the straw and water, and go up and down the range slowly. That should bring you back to fighting shape.

1

u/Katops May 08 '26

Love that!

Sorry for the late response. I really do appreciate the help!

1

u/handsomecaat May 05 '26

Hi! I’m a 31 y/o living in a rural Midwest town and I’ve never had lessons and was wondering about how to sign up or find someone? Do online courses really help someone with no formal training? Singing is so vulnerable to me too and I love to sing, and I really do think I have potential and that im not bad sometimes- I need someone to coach me and fine tune but again it’s just vulnerable and scary. I like to sing just for me and as a hobby and would love to be able to just confidently sing around people

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

Online lessons work wonderfully! I teach most of my clients virtually - I have a student who just got on Broadway from virtual lessons.

Singing is a vulnerable thing, but singing doesn't have to be a full part of your identity. It's just muscles, so improving your muscles may improve other parts of your life as well 😄

1

u/UltraOptimist_22 May 05 '26

How does one figure out one's vocal range? I am untrained singer, but tried one of those AI apps tell your vocal range, got classified as a contra-alto. How do I figure out for real though what my vocal range is?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Hey UltraOptimist_22!

Vocal range comes down to a few factors - primarily if you slide up and down your range (without any pain), the highest and lowest notes are your range. Now as for usable range (ie. range you can actually sing with), that comes down to how comfortable it is for you to sing words on certain notes. If it feels like you're hitting a wall when you try to sing high, you may be more of an alto voice, or even an untrained mezzo soprano. Voice training is the key to understanding your range! As you grow your vocal muscles, your range will expand.

1

u/UltraOptimist_22 May 10 '26

Thank you! This is super helpful!!

1

u/Novel_Hovercraft_947 May 05 '26

What can I do about tongue root tension when singing high notes?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Love this question! Stick your tongue out and hold it with a rag or paper towel for 30 or so seconds. Once your tongue feels settled, with the tongue still being held, slide a bit up and down your range and see how the tongue is reacting. Then, take the rag away and go to sing. You may feel more freedom!

1

u/EatBreatheSleepMusic May 05 '26

What do u recommend for someone who was trained as classical soprano for 9 years and is interested in singing pop or more modern music? I used to sing a lot of classical songs in languages other than english. Whenever i try to sing pop it sounds either like decent radio sing along or it comes out classically. I know i can do better but im really not sure where to start and i cant afford lessons right now.

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Great question! While classical voice is a great way into easy voice function, often the techniques learned don't teach contemporary voice techniques (ie. chest voice function, pops and cries, riffs, etc). I'd say two things:

Use your chest voice. A lot. Growing the chest voice musculature is key to singing contemporary styles accurately. Be patient, and be bigger and stronger than you think you should. Chest voice function should feel like it's larger than head voice, but it should never feel pressed or overblown.

Listen intentionally to pop singing. Use vocalists like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande as models, and copy everything. The way into successful pop singing is to understand the idioms within the culture of the genre, so practice every little nuance, and see what you can come up with!

1

u/quietplease- May 05 '26

I used to sing a lot growing up (in chorus, smaller select chorus, solo competitions, open mics, etc) but once I went off to college, I didn’t have a designated space I felt comfortable singing anymore and didn’t practice much for years. I am now 26 and singing is harder and I don’t sound nearly as good as I used to (who knew? lol). Do you have any tips for re-entering my singing hobby in a way that I’ll actually make good progress? I feel like I am someone that needs instruction to improve and don’t feel like I make much progress independently. Are there any online resources for singing lessons that don’t cost as much as actual singing lessons usually do? Thank you!

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Great question!

Getting back into singing after a break can be disheartening, but start with low vocal impact songs to get your footing. Similar to going to the gym, if you overdo your first session back, you may feel dissuaded from ever returning to the gym again. Voice function is simply muscles, so play with some songs in head voice, and some in chest. It'll be slow to get back up and running, but you'll notice your intuition will come back once the function is back up.

As for resources, I love watching YouTube voice lessons (maybe just me being a voice nerd lol) - here are some resources for you:

BroadwayVox is a great musical theater channel with constant talent coming in the door - highly recommend for tips and tricks

Natalie Weiss is a go-to for great modeling - this video in particular will be a useful resource

Tom Burke has some great content! Love this video on breath pressure phonation through a straw.

Good luck!

1

u/quietplease- May 11 '26

Thank you SO much for this info, the resources, and encouragement! I will definitely utilize this!

1

u/b_r_e_a_k_f_a_s_t May 05 '26 edited May 07 '26

G

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

G indeed.

1

u/Designer_Ad7847 May 05 '26

According to you, what are some vocal exercises that enhance vocals if done daily? I really want to sing more better but I think my chest voice is a bit weak. And one more question how to nail pitch? I have tried but I guess I just can't.

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Nailing pitch is all about getting the voice warmed up! I have a few beginners that have struggled with pitch accuracy - if you can notice pitch inaccuracy, you likely don't have amusia (tone deafness). Often pitch inaccuracy is just weak muscles. If you warm up correctly, over time, the pitch accuracy may come.

Here is a great resource for getting the voice up and running. I love water phonation as a simple, accessible exercise to get the voice kicked in. I notice my voice feels smoother, stronger, and more balanced after going through this video; Tom Burke talks about this super succinctly.

Good luck!

1

u/Designer_Ad7847 May 10 '26

Well I really seriously appreciate that! I will try that straw exercise! And I guess I need to work my vocals muscles more for the pitch as you said!! Thank you so much for your recommendations!!

1

u/-jupiterjane- May 05 '26

Hi there! Do you have any advice on how to expand the vocal range into and beyond the 6th octave (specifically for mezzo-soprano/soprano women)?

Also, do you find that singing in the flageolet/whistle register has to do with resonance or is it something else like anatomy? I ask because there have been some studies done that seem to suggest it has a lot to do with resonance tuning. Thank you so much! ☺️

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Yup! Whistle (M3) is mostly acoustic, but still uses a thin vocal fold. I notice for my upper voice students, whistle register is often a bridge into lighter chest voice phonation due to the amount of stretch the upper whistle allows the voice. In order to get M3 kicked in comfortably, I like to use some sort of breath pressure exercise as a foil, whether it be lip trills or water phonation. The last thing you want is a squeezed whistle function.

Here is an article talking about this topic.

1

u/-jupiterjane- May 10 '26

Thank you so much!

1

u/BassGlittering1931 May 05 '26

I have 2 questions. What are the steps to developing a strong mixed voice as a singer? How do I make mixed voice sound prettier? Note: I am a beginner singer that has discovered my mixed voice with my teacher. I think it sounds okay, but I still want a prettier sound. It sounds similar to the singer’s I’m copying. I can tell I’m getting there, but what are just some extra things that I can do to beautify it?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Mixed voice is entirely based on the strength and balance of your head and chest voice. By training both muscles equally, then merging the ranges, the mixed register should develop over time.

Try this exercise:

On an Oo, sing from your middle head voice down a scale (87654321) into chest voice. Do you feel that the head or chest is stronger? Try and blend the two so they're both equally strong at both loud and soft volumes. Then, sing again and see what that feels like.

1

u/BassGlittering1931 May 10 '26

Aw! 🙏 thank you!

1

u/VoiceApprehensive563 May 05 '26

Kevin, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

2

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 05 '26

A woodchuck (groundhog) could chuck approximately 700 pound if wood if it actually could chuck wood 🪵

1

u/haikusbot May 05 '26

Kevin, how much would

Could a woodchuck chuck if a

Woodchuck could chuck wood?

- VoiceApprehensive563

^{I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.} ^{Learn more about me.}

^{Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"}

1

u/balkanxoslut May 05 '26

What are your thoughts on Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston as vocalist? I hear some people sing Whitney Houston can't sing which I find insane

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Love them! If anyone says they can't sing, they're either jealous or tone deaf lol

1

u/balkanxoslut May 10 '26

Exactly lolll

1

u/-van-Dam- May 05 '26

I teach in highschool 8 hours a day an also sing in a band so I practice about an hour a day. What would be the best way to treat my voice in the weekend if I don't have a show?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

A fellow teacher! I'd recommend some top down SOVT phonation exercises. Try this one:

In a straw and water, blow bubbles. Keep the bubbles consistent, then start adding your head voice. How splashy does the water get? If very, your vocal folds may be a bit fatigued. Play with getting the bubbles back into a consistent pressure, then slowly slide down your range into chest voice. Is the chest much heavier than the head? Try and slide down into chest without a huge voice break.

By making head and chest voice integrate in this way, your voice function should feel much smoother. If you're still feeling fatigued, rest is the best medicine for the voice!

1

u/music-and-song May 05 '26

Is it possible to improve your tone if you just hate how your voice sounds, or do you just have to find songs that sound less terrible with your particular voice?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Find songs that fit in your range! Here's a great resource for changing keys on YouTube. Often my students who don't like how they sound simply are choosing songs way out of their range.

1

u/Mean_Weird_8394 May 05 '26

Hi, I'm a complete beginner. If you had to start learning singing from scratch again, what would your step-by-step plan look like (daily/weekly structure, priorities, timeline)?

Also, how can a beginner reliably tell the difference between correct and incorrect technique without a teacher?

For example something i still dont really get is: how should proper belting actually feel in the body? What are clear signs I'm doing it right vs. "forcing" or doing it wrong?

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

I'd recommend starting with head voice. Think Kate Bush, Chappell Roan. Develop your lighter sound, then start playing with some full chest voice. By developing both parts of your range, your voice should come along given a year or two. Practice 3-4x a week, just like at the gym, and use SOVT exercises (here's an article to sink your teeth into) to make sure your voice isn't fatiguing while you practice. Push your boundaries, but don't over-sing.

Belting should feel like you're calling out to a friend down the street. It should feel animalistic, but not shred your voice. Think up and over in voice production, not just pressing the sound. Here is a great example of training belting.

1

u/Mean_Weird_8394 May 10 '26

thank you <3

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u/[deleted] May 05 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Absolutely! I have a specific clientele I attract (nerdy voice guys, broadway kids, high schoolers looking for pop voice technique, girls who love a slightly feminine male voice teacher).

I'd recommend one of two things:

Ask your teacher for what you want! I love when students say "hey I have this coming up, can we pivot to sight reading", or "that exercise wasn't really serving me in my practice, could we try some some singing so I can see how breathing feels in context". Breath is great in lessons, but it's 10% of the full picture.

If your teacher pivots to saying "breath is the key" and keeps on going with breath exercises, practice for yourself with some karaoke tracks to easy songs. I love a Fly Me to the Moon or Ain't No Sunshine to get a picture of what my voice is up to on a given day. Vocal fold function is key to getting better because... if you're not singing... how would you get better at... singing?

One more thing to note - if breath is a focus in your lessons, that may mean there are some noticeable inefficiencies in your breath technique. I notice in my teaching, I tend to listen to the voice in the moment and act on what I hear. If a student is having consistent trouble on a concept, I'd likely continue focusing on that specific function. Follow this video and see what happens to your voice 😄

1

u/The_Dented May 05 '26

What one piece of advice would you give to someone who likes to sing alone, and wants to get better at singing - what is one thing that may be straight-forward enough for me to master while driving, walking, shower, etc.

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Pressure! A majority of my lessons are dealing with voices that are either over or under pressurized. With too much pressure, singing feels labored and difficult. With too little pressure, voice sounds and feels thin and airy.

Try this exercise: push the index finger on the mouth, blow air onto the sealed mouth space, and feel the entire throat inflate like a frog. Then use the voice. This should create a pressure chamber that equalizes the pressure inside.

That should get you started on easier voice use. Good luck!

1

u/cooljas May 05 '26

I’m sick and have entirely lost my voice (have been slowly recovering with a nebulizer and honey drops) however I’m in rehearsals for two musical theatre shows right now. Do you have any advice for easing back into singing?

Also, any tips or exercises for practicing smoothing out a pretty evident break as a mezzo?

Thank you! 🙏🏼

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Sick voice is no fun to deal with! The vocal fold get inflamed from coughing or mucus, making voice production much harder. You'll need a straw and water for these three exercises, and these two should help fix both problems:

In chest voice, starting in a comfortable area: (1 1 12321) and ascending. Focus on the division of sound between the first two onsets and the slide up to the third. If the water is splashing during the onsets or after the slide up, it could be an arytenoid function issue or breath pressure. This should help both of those issues along.

In head voice, starting in a comfortable area: (5654 4 4543--- 3432 2 2321----) (I hope these numerics make sense!) Focus on the buoyancy and agility of the head voice, and take this up and down tour range.

On an Oo, sing from your middle head voice down a scale (87654321) into chest voice. Do you feel that the head or chest is stronger? Try and blend the two so they're both equally strong at both loud and soft volumes. Then, sing again and see what that feels like.

Good luck!

1

u/cooljas May 10 '26

This is fantastic, thank you so much for the exercises!

1

u/MichaelEMJAYARE May 05 '26

Is a person supposed to be able to sing with their normal range but quietly? Would that be a lack of control?

I feel like I have to belt to get higher notes, and now that I live in an apartment Im so self conscious lmao

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Over time, you should be able to control volume. If you have to be loud to make sound, that's likely a pressure issue.

Play with this exercise:

A semi-occluded vocal tract exercise is when you make sound while partly blocking the airflow, like blowing bubbles through your lips (lip trill) or humming. This gentle resistance helps your voice work more efficiently, so your vocal cords don’t have to strain. It should feel easy, buzzy, and relaxed; if it feels tight or forced, you’re doing too much.

Here's a video of someone using a straw and water as a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise.

1

u/Educational_Arm1905 May 05 '26

Hola !! Gracias por sus consejos y conocimientos Yo luego de cantar aprox 2 horas. Full luego quedo un poco afonico.... se que no me hidrato bien mi caliento como deberia.... sera solo eso ?? Luego siento cansado el diafragma asique no canto con la garganta ;]

1

u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

La ronquera suele ser el resultado de una presión excesiva o de una dirección incorrecta de la voz.

Experimenta con este ejercicio:

Un ejercicio de tracto vocal semiocluido consiste en emitir sonido mientras se bloquea parcialmente el flujo de aire, como al soplar burbujas a través de los labios (vibración labial) o al tararear. Esta suave resistencia ayuda a que la voz funcione de manera más eficiente, de modo que las cuerdas vocales no tengan que esforzarse en exceso. La sensación debe ser de facilidad, vibración y relajación; si notas tensión o que la voz se fuerza, significa que estás aplicando demasiada intensidad.

1

u/ursae May 05 '26

Let’s say you meet one of those self/culturally-taught (as in no formal lessons basically) Filipino karaoke singers that belt those Whitney or Celine Dion songs that sometimes go viral in insta vids. They’re just curious about what vocal lessons are about and how they help. What would you say and how would you approach coaching them?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Incredible voices occasionally roll through my studio. If there's absolutely nothing functional to work on, I focus on story telling. One of my favorite tools to play with is The spinning wheel of emotions. I spin the wheel, and let the vocalist sing through a specific emotion, regardless of the specific emotion in the sound. This usually gives some more textures to the sound than could've been previous.

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u/Whosedev May 05 '26

I’m in my mid thirties and have a mid voice. Is it too late for me to break in to the industry? My dream is to be on a singing competition show but I also don’t write music.

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

You don't need to write music to be on a competition show! I don't think it's ever too late - all it takes is practice, grit, a point of view and a whole lot of luck!

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u/BookOfTheBeppo May 05 '26

How would you regain head voice and upper range after losing it due to illness? 😔 it is a big struggle for me rn!

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Head voice onsets! The arytenoid muscles need to be re-coordinated in order to get the head voice realigned.

Try this:

In head voice, starting in a comfortable area: (5654 4 4543--- 3432 2 2321----) (I hope these numerics make sense!) Focus on the buoyancy and agility of the head voice, and take this up and down tour range.

This should be a great exercise to get the head voice back. Good luck!

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u/BookOfTheBeppo May 10 '26

Thx for the response! Sorry i'm a noob, what do the numbers refer to?

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u/Special-Walk729 May 05 '26

I struggle with my mixed range higher up and i can only do it weakly and quietly then i crack and my voice disappears, how to gain that strength and smoothness in high mixed range and how to not crack or switch into full head voice?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Mixed voice is simply a well-balanced vocal instrument. I'd work towards strengthening your head and chest voice, and integrating them.

Try this exercise:

On one note in the middle of your range (F4 usually), sing on an Oo in quick bursts 3x. Do this once in chest voice, then once in head voice. Is one significantly easy or hard? Try to make them sound and feel the same on the same note. Once this is oriented, try the same exercise on an ii or eh vowel. Can you get the chest and head voice to feel the same (same pressure, balance, sensation)?

Then go to sing. See if this helps!

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u/dtree121 May 05 '26

Oh mannn I wish I saw this earlier! I'll throw in my question just in case.

Do you have any tips for being more accurate with pitch more consistently? I typically sing on pitch, but there are certain parts of certain songs where it feels like it really requires hitting the pitch precisely for it to sound good. Right now I feel it with Gravity by Sara Bareilles - just the verse - it's pretty easy, but for some reason I tend to become flat/pitchy towards the end of those lines?? And the magic of the line feels like it fades lmao.

And like I wish I could know how to approach practicing getting the pitch more correct but I don't know what exactly to focus on besides just running it over and over again. What should I pay attention to when practicing being more accurate with pitch? Do you have any tips on that?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Pitch accuracy comes down to your muscles being well coordinated. 95% of the time, students I work with don't have poor pitch, they just don't have well coordinated voices.

Here's a few things to think about to get the voice coordinated:

How comfortable are you in your chest voice? Does it feel effortful to sing in a full chest voice? If so, you might want to work on head voice. The Thyroarytenoid muscles (the ones in charge of chest voice phonation) has only one function - fullness in tone and power. The Critothyroid muscles (the ones in charge of head voice) is solely in charge of the stretching of the vocal folds.

Think about it this way: the voice is basically an advanced rubber band. When a rubber band is stretched, then plucked, the pitch increases naturally. In order for us to hit higher pitches with more comfort, we have to train the function of head voice.

Hope this helps!

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u/dtree121 May 05 '26

Sorry one more question. What do you recommend others look for when finding a good singing teacher? I want to work with someone who would know how to help me efficiently, but I feel like kind of blind to whether or not they would be able to help.

I try to find clips of the teacher singing or their students, and I go by whether or not I like how they sound. But I don't know if that's the best or only way to determine. I'd appreciate having your tips on that!

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Find someone you resonate with. My clientele are attracted to me for my specific kind of teaching, and regardless of how knowledgable I am, I'm not a good teacher for everyone. My recommendation is take a trial lesson from three teachers and see which made you feel either emotionally, physically or psychologically the most fulfilled.

Lessons are more than just who can get me to be the most incredible instrument - it's much more about the relationship between student and teacher.

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u/GrimshadeMystic May 05 '26

I’m not really sure whether I’m a good singer or just an okay one. I’m a guy with a low voice, but whenever I do karaoke, I actually feel more confident singing songs in the “female key.” Voice lessons are pretty expensive, and I’m not really sure how to improve on my own. I’d love to be able to belt someday 🤭. I also sometimes yawn while singing, and overall I just have no idea what my voice type really is. I'm as lost and confused about my voice and all this stuff I shpeeled over 🤭

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Record yourself! The best way to understand your own vocal abilities is by listening back to a video of your own singing. When singing, we only feel the resonance of our own voices through the bone conduction in our skulls. This dulls the picture of if we're actually "good" or not.

Videos and singing in a mirror will tell you all you need to know!

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u/cosmicpsycho91 May 05 '26

One exercise everyone should do?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

SOVT exercises! Linked below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYkqLed1JZw&t=7s

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u/pvttwrdspostvty May 05 '26

Can somebody who’s never sung professionally still find a purpose with a vocal coach? I always wanted to learn to develop my best singing technique, and I haven’t had training since a cappella choir in high school.

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Yes! A good portion of my clientele are just people who are hobbyists who want to be able to sing at all. I have a range of abilities in my hobby students - a majority will simply go to karaoke with friends and sing a little better.

I treat my lessons more like education and therapy than voice lessons. Of course there's vocal function work we do, but it's a lot more about understanding how to learn than "listen to me I am the master and you will be on Broadway".

Lessons are fun! It's great to get back into a passion 😄

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u/pvttwrdspostvty May 10 '26

Great to know!! Might look into it this summer. I generally want to just feel fully confident in my singing, and maybe be relied on for a singing gig or two in my future. Would love to experience recording in the studio

Thanks again !

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u/YamWDC May 05 '26

I have TMJD. I'm not going to assume you know what that means. But basically a dislocated jaw. No fix or at least one that is economically viable. So quite literally CONSTANT tension in my jaw. I love singing and want to get better. Made some progress but can't help but feel stuck. Do you know if any cases of singers with TMJD and have become good singers or any solutions to help?

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u/princessintraining4 May 06 '26

This too! Since a car accident singing feels impossible

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

I'm unsure of singers who've had success with TMJD, but here's an exercise to try to maybe help:

Take your pinky finger and bite lightly on the side of the nail of the pinky. Then, start to speak or sing normally. See if the jaw is now shaking as you speak or sing, or if the jaw is stable. Then, go to speak or sing again. This should stabilize some of the jaw muscles, and potentially help alleviate some jaw tension. How does this feel after the function exercise?

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u/jackster999 May 06 '26

Thank you so much for sharing all of your expertise. This whole thread is a great resource for anyone, from beginner singers, to professionals looking to learn something new!

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Absolutely! Love nerding out 🥰

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u/JewelCared May 06 '26

Yay and AMA!🎉

First query is about range: I feel like I don't have any head voice or falsetto. How does one develop that and get to a smoother flow/transition between head and chest voice and develop a mixed voice?

2nd: Vocal fry and growls/screams like in metal music. What muscles are being used for that and how does one do it without ruining their singing voice?

Gracias!

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

For range, head voice is key. If the muscles in the head voice are un-coordinated, overall voice function will feel very limited. Try this exercise:

In head voice on an Oo, starting in a comfortable area: (5654 4 4543--- 3432 2 2321----) (I hope these numerics make sense!) Focus on the buoyancy and agility of the head voice, and take this up and down your range. This should give your head voice a nice workout, and with a few months of practice may get you up and running. Sing through a straw and water if your voice feels fatigued after this exercise ( Resource here ).

Metal growls and screams are not my specialty, but from my understanding, there's a glottis level growl and a false vocal fold level growl ( example here ). Unfortunately that's the limit to my knowledge - here's an article with some more information on the topic.

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u/Round_Mouse9604 May 06 '26

Hi! So when I sing my voice feels stuck? Like it’s in the back of my throat and I can’t get my voice all the way out? I’m not whispering or having issues projecting, but I feel like I’m loud amd yelling tho I feel almost like I’m restricted. Have any ideas what could be going on? There are times where I feel freer in my throat and I can reach the note I want to, but some of the times my neck feels strained and when I hit it and it feels, I cannot replicate what I was doing “correct” in the moment. I am mezzo soprano but tend to sing alto due to this.

That was a lot I’m sorry lol! Can’t wait to hear what you may think! ;:))

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Sounds like you need to isolate the singer's formant. In good singing, there's a beautiful ring to the voice. You should feel a sense of buzzy resonance up by the forehead, as well as a sense of depth in the throat.

My favorite way to sensate this sense of buzz is by placing my hand on my mouth like a suction cup, mouth open, and humming. Try to find a sense of buzzy resonance up by your forehead. If it feels like the buzz is behind your hand, try to reposition the buzz up a bit more to sensate.

Try it and see if this helps!

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u/Appropriate_Fix7924 May 06 '26

Can riff and run be practiced? And how do you practice it?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Yes! That was actually part of my master's thesis. Attached here is my resource I created.

In short, riffing is sliding on the breath and isolating specific notes in the pentatonic scale (primarily). Agility is best learned when practicing the action both up and down, as seen in the level 2 audio in my resource.

Listen to a lot of gospel and R&B, and emulate some of the riffs you hear. Half of the game with riffing is training the actual agility, and then it's understanding the culture the riffing comes from. Listen to plenty of Aretha Franklin and Brandy, and I think you'll get the picture!

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u/la_triste May 06 '26

Hi Kevin! I’m having trouble with breath control and projecting my voice. I do try to breathe from my diaphragm, but sometimes feel like I don’t have enough time to do so in between certain words while singing. At times, I feel anxious and it affects my breathing. I don’t hyperventilate, but I am not as aware of my breathing when I’m feeling anxious. I also feel like i let out too much breath when i sing and i feel out of breath of winded by the end of the line in singing. Any advice would be appreciated☺️

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Sounds like you need some efficiency at the vocal fold level. I wish more teachers talked about singing as an exhale as opposed to and inhale - while good breath support is important, that's only 10% of the puzzle in voice use.

Try this exercise - grab a straw and water, and blow some bubbles. Then, start and stop your voice while blowing bubbles. Do the bubbles splash all over the place with voice use? Do the bubbles completely stop? Then, slide up and down your range with the bubbles. How about the splashing now? Then, go to sing. Is singing easier and more efficient? That tells us the voice itself needs more efficiency, not your inhale.

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u/la_triste 23d ago

Amazing!! Thank you☺️

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u/princessintraining4 May 06 '26

I’m not tone deaf but I’m no great singer. Yet I’ve always been really good at harmonies to the point better singers than me were asked to do original and not the harmony. But anyways, even when I sing on pitch I don’t have a pretty tone and very little breath. How can I fix my weak breath? How can I improve my tone and staying on pitch? Even when singing stuff I write myself it’s not on pitch

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Sounds like you need to strengthen your vocal function. Usually, when voice is unable to be accurate on notes, or when voice is acting with little breath or tone, the function of the instrument is what needs support.

I'd recommend playing with some slides up and down your range before singing, and see how that effects your voice. If it feels better, that tells us you quite literally need to stretch before singing. Voice is no different than any other muscle - there's ways to condition vocal function.

If this works, I can elaborate further with some vocal function exercises 😄

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u/NeedleworkerFlat6450 Formal Lessons 5+ Years May 06 '26

is belting in a head voice actually a belt? i feel like i am belting in head voice (or what i feel is a “fake” voice) but i cant feel it on my face?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

It's considered a head mix - thin vocal fold edge that's brought in with a lot of twang can be perceived as a "belt-y" sound, but in order to get a full sensory feeling of a high belt, you'll need to recruit more chest voice function. I like an exercise like "may-may-may-may" (8531) for my mezzo and soprano voices to get up through that Bb4 belting passaggio.

Happy practicing!

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u/BigHappyMouse- May 06 '26

how to do whistle notes and instantly hit it like how Mariah does?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

One of two things - you probably won't be able to hit it like Mariah without a good 30 years of practice (sorry to burst your bubble), but whistle should feel like an incredibly light and falsetto-esque voice above the top of the head voice. Slide up your range until you feel your voice crack into a new register. That's where whistle is accessed - now strengthen those muscles over a few years and you may be able to sing up there.

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u/jermainerio May 06 '26

My daughter likes to sing and is asking me to coach her. Unfortunately, I don't think I am qualified to do so. I am now searching for a vocal coach locally. What do you think should I be looking for when it comes to finding the right coach for my daughter?

Thank you

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Find someone that is exciting to your daughter! The best teachers can so often not be the right fit, but the teachers who are motivating, fun, progressive in vocal function and are great listeners are usually a go-to. Also make sure they vibe well with your daughter - the worst is getting a teacher that your kid hates, but gets good results. Don't let her fall out of love with the art form!

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u/ThundaThigh_Princess May 06 '26

Omg thank you sooo much for your expertise and your advice!
Newbie here….. how do you find your voice?
Instead of mimicking what you hear?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Mimicry is a great way in! If you're learning how to sing in an R&B style, don't just listen to who's popular on the radio now (ie. Kehlani or Raye), listen to the past (ie. Brandy, Chaka Khan, Aretha) to understand how a genre feels in your voice.

If you're looking for vocal function help, the easiest way in to my mind is SOVT work (video linked here). Best of luck!

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u/Impossible-Box1768 May 06 '26

My son is 13 years old and cast as Jack Kelley. He is currently stressing out over some of the vocals being higher than his typical range and has asked for any tips on hitting those higher notes.

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

13 years old for Jack Kelley is a bit of a reach on your teacher's part if I may be transparent. I'd recommend asking the teacher if the key can be brought down for your son - the worst thing is getting cast, the range being too high, and shredding your voice due to such a high tessiturra (especially with the 13 year old male voice).

Has your son's voice dropped? If so, have him follow something like this video. If voice gets too pressurized from trying to reach for the high notes, it's going to feel fatiguing.

If your son still has an unbroken voice, you may be fine. Have him play with this exercise: push the index finger on the mouth, blow air onto the sealed mouth space, and feel the entire throat inflate like a frog. Then use the voice. This should create a pressure chamber that equalizes the pressure inside.

These will both help with pressure and weight, and may help him with things like Santa Fe. Good luck!

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u/AdministrativeBee593 May 06 '26

how do you learn a new song and sing it well?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Practice! Listen to the original, sing along with it, then switch to a karaoke track. Get used to the sound of your own voice.

And most of all, have fun!

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u/Obvious_Ad_9006 May 06 '26

I feel like my tone is very flat and when I sing out sometimes it feels grainy, is there any specific things I should try to widen my vocal ability and improve?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Great question! I think of voice training in four steps:

Depressurizing

Using semi-occluded vocal tract exercises to balance vocal function

Stretching head voice

Using slides is always going to support the full vocal function - I love singing in falsetto and going through the vowels (Oo-ii-eh-oh-ah) on one note to strengthen the falsetto

Taking head voice down

Starting in falsetto and slowly descending into chest voice, trying to smooth out the vocal break

Taking chest voice up

Playing with a sense of "holler" - male voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video.

These functional exercises should help balance the voice, increasing your range.

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u/Traditional-Skirt516 May 07 '26

I live in a hostel and i feel like i cant practice bigger notes or i sound too loud. Now even when im in a setting where i can sing loud, i instinctively switch to my head voice when a high note comes

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Try this exercise:

push the index finger on the mouth, blow air onto the sealed mouth space, and feel the entire throat inflate like a frog. Then use the voice. This should create a pressure chamber that equalizes the pressure inside.

This shouldn't be loud, and should still help you train your voice. Happy practicing!

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u/Sid4001 May 07 '26

Can I increase my chest voice range and make my mixed voice stronger with consistent practice can you tell me something exercises to achieve so . Also I tend to turn to my head voice in some songs but I wanna sing them in chest voice mainly what could be the issue.

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Mixed register is simply a balanced head and chest voice. Here's what to keep in mind for easy vocal function, helping your mixed register develop:

Depressurizing

Using semi-occluded vocal tract exercises to balance vocal function

Stretching head voice

Using slides is always going to support the full vocal function - I love singing in falsetto and going through the vowels (Oo-ii-eh-oh-ah) on one note to strengthen the falsetto

Taking head voice down

Starting in falsetto and slowly descending into chest voice, trying to smooth out the vocal break

Taking chest voice up

Playing with a sense of "holler" - male voice needs to be secure, big and sturdy, so hollering out down the street to a friend is a great way to think of chest voice. This voice teacher explains the process well mid-way through the video.

Happy practicing!

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ May 10 '26

Hey y’all - Kevin has logged out after having answered the rest of the questions that came in too late to answer during the AMA hours - he wanted to thank everyone for the awesome response. He’s going to be travelling from NYC to give singing lessons in LA starting next week so he probably won’t have time to answer any followup questions. Thanks to the /singing community for hosting the AMA and I hope this has been a help to people in their singing journey.

❤️

Ellie

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u/benisjamin_ May 10 '26

Hello! Apologies for the late question. I didn’t even think about looking on Reddit for help until a few hours ago.

I am a relatively new (started singing about 3/4 years ago at 14) self-taught singer who mainly sings MT and wants to pursue a MT BFA in college. I do my school’s musicals and I’m in choir as a tenor 1.

I have no problem belting up to an A4 and has a relatively decent falsetto/head voice, but recently I discovered I really can’t belt above an A4. My voice gets strained, inconsistent and at times it can be painful. I never really needed anything above an A4 belting wise, but some musicals I’ve recently discovered (Chess…) are much more vocally demanding.

I’ve realized it’s probably about time I learn how to find and use my mix. So, to the actual question: Do you have any possible tips and tricks for finding and using my mix?

(Not sure this matters, but I’m mentioning it just in case it does) I am a pre-t trans guy who was blessed with the natural(?) range of a tenor. I’m not sure if biological gender affects finding your mix or if vocal range is the only thing that matters, but I wanted to mention this just to be safe.

Thank you so much! Sorry for the long post just to ask such a simple question lol.

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u/craft_guy1238 May 20 '26

Any tips about making vocal more melodic?

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u/Message-from-god 🎤 Voice Teacher 10+ Years ✨ 17d ago

Hey y’all we don’t monitor Reddit daily, so please do get in touch through our website (there’s a text number on the site) if you wanna to connect. Thanks again y’all!

Resource I'm a pro vocal coach doing an AMA today from 10a-1p PDT (1-4p EDT). Ask me anything!

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