Without a question the best singing teacher I've ever come across between 4 in person teachers and dozens of UA-cam coaches. Thank you for sharing this incredible content with us Mark!!
🙌🏽YES🙌🏽 I Love this man!! His knowledge is brilliant! Teaching style is fantastic! He’s so funny & entertaining! One class he cracked me up so much I coukdnt sing - (the vodka one) & he’s really consistent & gentle. (Years ago after an operatic soirée my teacher announced ‘you all sang like pigs’. She was a Holocaust survivor, so I guess her anger was never managed well. She went through some awful things & was extremely brave! Besides that, she was a good teacher & believed in me. RIP LUCY ALTMAN ❤️) In those days many music & ballet teachers were “mean & Nasty”! 😆
Mark, I value your opinion, as your videos have proved to save my voice, help me repair after I've sung incorrectly, and I would like to hear your opinion on vowel modifications that are pre-thought out or systematized, as opposed to the passive vowel modification that occurs naturally when we sing certain notes at certain pitches with certain timbres, etc. There's a lot of very detailed info out there on how to modify vowels, yet I don't believe I've ever heard you speak about this. Thanks for providing such a natural, holistic, "appreciate your body and how it's designed to work" kind of approach to singing. I go back to you all the time, especially when I've overstudied an aspect and find myself becoming less loose and more worried about producing a tone rather than communicating a feeling.
Hi Leilani - you're absolutely right about my never commenting on pre-planed vowel modification. The technique has been passed down through Bel Canto teachings and is only necessary when singing un amplified with an orchestra. In order to project the voice in that situation a singer must promote a cluster of overtones around 28K Hz (because that's where an orchestra isn't very strong). To maintain this ringing sound a singer must maintain a particular internal relationship between air, folds and resonators so that the aryepiglottis (just above larynx) is narrow yet the oral pharynx (back of mouth) is wide. This special posture requires that vowel sounds come in to the center towards the neutral "UH". The same requirement is true for sopranos singing as they near high C. I work with very few singers in these situations - and approach it appropriately for their genre. This UA-cam channel and most folks I work with sing in contemporary styles. Back in the 70's when I was coming up vowel modification was referred to as "correct" or "healthy" or "legit" singing. I took offense to these terms because they meant what I was doing was incorrect, unhealthy and illegitimate. Turns out these terms are merely a musical bias. It is not necessary to modify a vowel - you can choose to modify the air pressure instead (volume). There's a four way relationship going on all the time between air pressure, vocal folds, resonators and articulators. Whether you ask for a "cultured" Bel Canto sound or a bar-room belt - it's all modified one way or another.
After doing this exercise a few times, I can’t Not hear you say ‘n a s t y’ now, & see your ‘bad nasty’ facial expression! Love this lesson! Thankyou Mark!!
Every time I watch one of your videos I learn something so fun it's like a new toy, except it's just my voice with a new skill added. Sure, I have to practice, but it's more like just playing!
How did you know that this is the exact lesson that I needed at this time?? Thank you so much for making the concept of belting so clear. I've been looking at many approaches to this technique, but I haven't found an approach yet that made me feel comfortable and confident in producing this tone -- until now, that is! I've been working this lesson since you first posted it, and it has had an amazing effect on my ability to produce more stinky sweet savory tones! Opens up a lot of repertoire for a lyrical soprano who's switched over to rock! Thank you, Mark!
I've been working this lesson consistently for the last four months, and -- not to toot my own horn -- I'm sounding pretty darn stinky now and am much more comfortable and confident in asking for this sound and knowing that I know how to be stinky -- what a gift!?! You're awesome!
I totally agree with Nightingale below. I feel guilty for learning so much without paying you for it! But what the heck, I'm teaching Boogie Woogie piano on UA-cam and....same thing!
Doing a variety of voice exercises, perhaps also key to good vocal timbre? Both wide open throat "yawn" sounds AND brighter "twang" scales. These exercises not so much a way of singing, but a means of giving our voice a readiness ...for the full spectrum of life. thx.
Hi Mark Baxter, Im a big fan of your videos. Your enthusiasm is really an inspiration to me. I studied singing at the conservatory in the Netherlands six years ago and I teach my own students and use your tips every now and then. Now I am a bit confused. In this video you use the words Twang and Belt together but also refer to both registers. I was told belting is singing hight notes with high pressure, like screaming, in the speaking voice or "modaal" as we say in Holland. As soon as Im in the higher register (falset) you don't say belt but you use twang to make this distinctive sound. I noticed Carolin Saddling (CVT) is also using twang as a word to describe belting. I use twang in both registers, and I think I hear you do the same in this video. Belting can only be done in the lower register right? It may just be a translation thing but can you clear this for me please? Thank you in advance, Im looking forward to your next video! Greeting Maud de Korte
Hi Maud - Your question is exactly why I posted a previous video with the suggestion that we forgo the mechanical descriptions and use colorful adjectives regarding the intended sound. Even while singing in an fMRI machine or while being X-rayed there is no definitive line between any of the vocal behaviors. At what point is the pressure enough to classify a belt? At what point is the thyroaryteniod reduced enough to classify the difference between modaal and falset? It always comes down to very individual observations and perceptions. The difficulty when teaching voice is that people use the words belt, chest, head, falsetto, whistle, scream and yell to describe various sounds - but it locks them into restrictive behaviors when doing so. Twang is simply a vocal color, like ring or hooty that can be present in any mode of singing. Your confusion is the very reason I don't use the word twang when teaching - I use bright. That's just my approach - and I know it's not the approach at the conservatory. But it's been my experience that the most direct connection between brain and voice is to ask for a sound rather than a behavior - no matter the genre. I hope this helps!
Also I shake real bad, and from what I know that can effect my singing abilities. I went to the doc, and it looks very poss I will be getting botox injections in my neck, and not to look younger, but to stop the tremors. Is painful to have done.. I could end having over 100 shots in my neck. I am so not looking forward to that. These botox injections do work. However, I need to be still to sing, properly. A wobbly head kind of makes it hard to sing. lol.
Great fan of your teaching. I wonder, if a singer makes a "weird" or "funny" face during singing (involuntarily), is this a sure sign that they're using an "unnatural" and harmful technique to achieve a note? I think that from most of my observations, the moment that the facial expression of a singer looks "off", the note usually sounds off, too. Is this the case? Is there such a thing as a healthy note delivered with an unusal facial expression?
Would you recommend this exercise if someone has swollen vocal folds? caused by shouting (a lot) and perhaps a ''silent reflux'' in combination? no nodules of polyps, but there are microscopic blisters. my folds aren't closing enough especially when going to the low notes, or even ''breathy'' notes.
Absolutely not. This exercise is like the icing on the vocal cake. First step for you is to address the swelling - then the behavior that caused the swelling and the blisters. Start here: ua-cam.com/video/ySgg2YUDGH4/v-deo.html When that's successful move on to the other exercises in my "Voice Recovery" playlist.
Who farted? That's just nasty. lol. (Excuse me while I hold my nose and sing). On a different note... I also dig your singing in this video. I believe I can sing silly songs to. (I hear cats in heat). ..Oh wait! that was my singing. Thanks for these cool vocal exercises. I love vocalizing with different sounds. You should hear my opera. It's quite entertain'.:)
And one more thing. I read singing makes a person lose weight. Is that true? I am very skinny, but I notice after singing for about a week, that I lost some more weight, not that I need to lose any. I need to gain. I read a person can burn a lot of calories singing, burn even more calories, while standing up. Hey, no more diet pills, just sing and lose weight. No need to for the gym. Sing your way to a slimmer you.
Singing can not tone the stomach, but sneezing can... And after a month of allergies, I once was surprised to find that my normally distended stomach (from Crohn's) was toned and sculpted from all the involuntary ACHOO (non-stop). This greatly impacted my breath support, which in turn helped with singing and projecting. You can get the same benefits from jogging, swimming, or riding a bicycle every day. Any cardio is GREAT for the voice! Just make sure to drink lots of water so that you don't get dehydrated.
I have to let go all that mindfck about: BREEZE IN - HOLD YOUR DIAPRAGM ...... over your head ..... or wherever .... 🤩😶 ........ LET YOUR TONGUE BE oben unten links rechts ..... you give me my true FREEEEEE wonderful voice back, dear. Love you much. DANKE❣️
I like the voice of Maynard James Keenan (Tools), especially when he sings with the mixed voice (and a little bit of cry). How does he do that ? and what exercises to achieve this ?
Without a question the best singing teacher I've ever come across between 4 in person teachers and dozens of UA-cam coaches. Thank you for sharing this incredible content with us Mark!!
You're very welcome! Glad to help!
Totally agree Gabriel. Mark is the best!
Agree
🙌🏽YES🙌🏽 I Love this man!! His knowledge is brilliant! Teaching style is fantastic! He’s so funny & entertaining! One class he cracked me up so much I coukdnt sing - (the vodka one) & he’s really consistent & gentle.
(Years ago after an operatic soirée my teacher announced ‘you all sang like pigs’.
She was a Holocaust survivor, so I guess her anger was never managed well. She went through some awful things & was extremely brave!
Besides that, she was a good teacher & believed in me. RIP LUCY ALTMAN ❤️)
In those days many music & ballet teachers were “mean & Nasty”! 😆
The best teacher on the internet... or anywhere for that matter!!
Wow - thanks Charlie!
Anywhere ??......so that includes the whole universe ?? ....wow mark really is good !
Wish i'd found this guru 20 years ago. Better late than never! Mark makes discovering how to use your voice a lot of fun! Can't thank you enough!
Singing is too important to take seriously! Glad to help!
You are the best when it comes to anything about the voice and singing. And I’m not even a “singer” lol
"Comfort and control"; thank you.
That's the ultimate target.
So glad I found you here! I bought your singing survival guide ages ago! Thanks for your teaching!
Welcome to the channel!
That would be the other kind of open throat. I'm dying. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
GREAT lesson, Mark!!
Wow! I never could sing loud. I am able to in one minute following you. I am so impressed! Really appreciated!!!
Glad to help!
Mark, I really love how you work and how you present and frame content. You've just added access to a lot of color on my palate. Great stuff! Thanks.
You're welcome, Neil!
Mark, I value your opinion, as your videos have proved to save my voice, help me repair after I've sung incorrectly, and I would like to hear your opinion on vowel modifications that are pre-thought out or systematized, as opposed to the passive vowel modification that occurs naturally when we sing certain notes at certain pitches with certain timbres, etc. There's a lot of very detailed info out there on how to modify vowels, yet I don't believe I've ever heard you speak about this. Thanks for providing such a natural, holistic, "appreciate your body and how it's designed to work" kind of approach to singing. I go back to you all the time, especially when I've overstudied an aspect and find myself becoming less loose and more worried about producing a tone rather than communicating a feeling.
Hi Leilani - you're absolutely right about my never commenting on pre-planed vowel modification. The technique has been passed down through Bel Canto teachings and is only necessary when singing un amplified with an orchestra. In order to project the voice in that situation a singer must promote a cluster of overtones around 28K Hz (because that's where an orchestra isn't very strong). To maintain this ringing sound a singer must maintain a particular internal relationship between air, folds and resonators so that the aryepiglottis (just above larynx) is narrow yet the oral pharynx (back of mouth) is wide. This special posture requires that vowel sounds come in to the center towards the neutral "UH". The same requirement is true for sopranos singing as they near high C. I work with very few singers in these situations - and approach it appropriately for their genre. This UA-cam channel and most folks I work with sing in contemporary styles. Back in the 70's when I was coming up vowel modification was referred to as "correct" or "healthy" or "legit" singing. I took offense to these terms because they meant what I was doing was incorrect, unhealthy and illegitimate. Turns out these terms are merely a musical bias. It is not necessary to modify a vowel - you can choose to modify the air pressure instead (volume). There's a four way relationship going on all the time between air pressure, vocal folds, resonators and articulators. Whether you ask for a "cultured" Bel Canto sound or a bar-room belt - it's all modified one way or another.
After doing this exercise a few times, I can’t Not hear you say
‘n a s t y’ now, & see your ‘bad nasty’ facial expression! Love this lesson! Thankyou Mark!!
Ewwww - that's nasty!
🤣
Thanks for sharing so much knowledge!
Fantastic Mark----Doing this while cooking. very helpful.
My Sunday practice exercises has encompassed many of your lessons , thank you , I am feeling and hearing the benefits 👏👏
Mark Baxter, you have so many wonderful lessons and they all have helped me improve but this ones a NUGGET!! Bless you.
I'm happy to help.
This is phenomenal, Mark!
Glad you liked it!
thank you thank you thank you
You're welcome! Perspective is everything!
Always great real world knowledge. I'm always grateful.
Thank you so much for your wonderful techniques .🙏
You're welcome - glad to help!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! So much..... I found this really helpfull to get a bright and more attractive. Thank you!🙂
Grandioso Mark!
Thank u great i am breathing better great work like a vain get loose between my shoulders thank u
Glad to help!
thank you
You're a great teacher
I'm scaring the 10 week old kittens with the na na na na na whine lol 😳. I guess I found a voice to use to get their attention...
Amazing channel!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!! Thank you thank you!!
You're welcome Ignacia! I'm here to help.
YESSSSSS ❣️
Have been bing watching your videos and implementing them slowly day by day, thank you for these videos Mark! You truly are a legend! \m/
Welcome to the channel Anup!
@@voicelessondotcom I'm from India and would like to learn from you, do you have Skype classes if yes, how much do you charge?
@@anupk.r.5012 Yes - I'm teaching online Monday through Thursday. Best to contact me at mbaxter@voicelesson.com for information about lessons.
@@voicelessondotcom just shot you a mail :)
Every time I watch one of your videos I learn something so fun it's like a new toy, except it's just my voice with a new skill added. Sure, I have to practice, but it's more like just playing!
That's exactly what practice should be . . . FUN!
How did you know that this is the exact lesson that I needed at this time?? Thank you so much for making the concept of belting so clear. I've been looking at many approaches to this technique, but I haven't found an approach yet that made me feel comfortable and confident in producing this tone -- until now, that is! I've been working this lesson since you first posted it, and it has had an amazing effect on my ability to produce more stinky sweet savory tones! Opens up a lot of repertoire for a lyrical soprano who's switched over to rock! Thank you, Mark!
Keep it stinky Leilani!
I've been working this lesson consistently for the last four months, and -- not to toot my own horn -- I'm sounding pretty darn stinky now and am much more comfortable and confident in asking for this sound and knowing that I know how to be stinky -- what a gift!?! You're awesome!
Mark is the real deal👍✌
Thank you sir
I totally agree with Nightingale below. I feel guilty for learning so much without paying you for it! But what the heck, I'm teaching Boogie Woogie piano on UA-cam and....same thing!
Loooove it!!!
Doing a variety of voice exercises, perhaps also key to good vocal timbre? Both wide open throat "yawn" sounds AND brighter "twang" scales. These exercises not so much a way of singing, but a means of giving our voice a readiness ...for the full spectrum of life. thx.
Great Stuff DUDE! :)
Free your mind - and your voice will follow!
That was so helpful
Hi Mark Baxter, Im a big fan of your videos. Your enthusiasm is really an inspiration to me. I studied singing at the conservatory in the Netherlands six years ago and I teach my own students and use your tips every now and then.
Now I am a bit confused. In this video you use the words Twang and Belt together but also refer to both registers. I was told belting is singing hight notes with high pressure, like screaming, in the speaking voice or "modaal" as we say in Holland. As soon as Im in the higher register (falset) you don't say belt but you use twang to make this distinctive sound. I noticed Carolin Saddling (CVT) is also using twang as a word to describe belting. I use twang in both registers, and I think I hear you do the same in this video. Belting can only be done in the lower register right? It may just be a translation thing but can you clear this for me please? Thank you in advance, Im looking forward to your next video! Greeting Maud de Korte
Hi Maud - Your question is exactly why I posted a previous video with the suggestion that we forgo the mechanical descriptions and use colorful adjectives regarding the intended sound. Even while singing in an fMRI machine or while being X-rayed there is no definitive line between any of the vocal behaviors. At what point is the pressure enough to classify a belt? At what point is the thyroaryteniod reduced enough to classify the difference between modaal and falset? It always comes down to very individual observations and perceptions. The difficulty when teaching voice is that people use the words belt, chest, head, falsetto, whistle, scream and yell to describe various sounds - but it locks them into restrictive behaviors when doing so. Twang is simply a vocal color, like ring or hooty that can be present in any mode of singing. Your confusion is the very reason I don't use the word twang when teaching - I use bright. That's just my approach - and I know it's not the approach at the conservatory. But it's been my experience that the most direct connection between brain and voice is to ask for a sound rather than a behavior - no matter the genre. I hope this helps!
The best
U DA MANNNNN
Every good Tec a how to sing thanks
You're welcome!
Also I shake real bad, and from what I know that can effect my singing abilities. I went to the doc, and it looks very poss I will be getting botox injections in my neck, and not to look younger, but to stop the tremors. Is painful to have done.. I could end having over 100 shots in my neck. I am so not looking forward to that. These botox injections do work. However, I need to be still to sing, properly. A wobbly head kind of makes it hard to sing. lol.
@HeavenlyPeace: Did you have this procedure done? How did it turn out?
rich rich lesson.
Great fan of your teaching.
I wonder, if a singer makes a "weird" or "funny" face during singing (involuntarily), is this a sure sign that they're using an "unnatural" and harmful technique to achieve a note?
I think that from most of my observations, the moment that the facial expression of a singer looks "off", the note usually sounds off, too. Is this the case? Is there such a thing as a healthy note delivered with an unusal facial expression?
Lmao. Thats another kind of open throat... that is nasty, LOL
OOOOOOh yeah!
Would you recommend this exercise if someone has swollen vocal folds? caused by shouting (a lot) and perhaps a ''silent reflux'' in combination? no nodules of polyps, but there are microscopic blisters. my folds aren't closing enough especially when going to the low notes, or even ''breathy'' notes.
Absolutely not. This exercise is like the icing on the vocal cake. First step for you is to address the swelling - then the behavior that caused the swelling and the blisters. Start here: ua-cam.com/video/ySgg2YUDGH4/v-deo.html When that's successful move on to the other exercises in my "Voice Recovery" playlist.
Thank you so much. Will do.
Who farted? That's just nasty. lol. (Excuse me while I hold my nose and sing). On a different note...
I also dig your singing in this video. I believe I can sing silly songs to. (I hear cats in heat). ..Oh wait! that was my singing.
Thanks for these cool vocal exercises. I love vocalizing with different sounds. You should hear my opera. It's quite entertain'.:)
And one more thing. I read singing makes a person lose weight. Is that true? I am very skinny, but I notice after singing for about a week, that I lost some more weight, not that I need to lose any. I need to gain. I read a person can burn a lot of calories singing, burn even more calories, while standing up. Hey, no more diet pills, just sing and lose weight. No need to for the gym. Sing your way to a slimmer you.
Singing can not tone the stomach, but sneezing can... And after a month of allergies, I once was surprised to find that my normally distended stomach (from Crohn's) was toned and sculpted from all the involuntary ACHOO (non-stop). This greatly impacted my breath support, which in turn helped with singing and projecting. You can get the same benefits from jogging, swimming, or riding a bicycle every day. Any cardio is GREAT for the voice! Just make sure to drink lots of water so that you don't get dehydrated.
So I am able to do the exercises, but how I convert that into the singing?
By "asking" for the appropriate sound for whatever lyric you're singing rather than thinking about behaviors like chest, head, mix or belt.
I have to let go all that mindfck about: BREEZE IN - HOLD YOUR DIAPRAGM ...... over your head ..... or wherever .... 🤩😶 ........ LET YOUR TONGUE BE oben unten links rechts ..... you give me my true FREEEEEE wonderful voice back, dear. Love you much. DANKE❣️
I like the voice of Maynard James Keenan (Tools), especially when he sings with the mixed voice (and a little bit of cry). How does he do that ? and what exercises to achieve this ?
You achieve that by NOT thinking "I'll sing in my mix voice with a little bit of cry." You achieve it by diving deep into the lyrics.