Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Welcome to the My Voice Exercises training center. We have all of the resources you need to strengthen your voice. Voice exercises, vocal techniques, and ear training to help you advance your skill level in singing are just some of the useful pieces of information youll find here.
Breathing Exercises
Voice Projection
Voice Projection Exercises Voice Resonance Exercises Voice Exercises for a Stronger Singing Voice
Voice Control
Voice Control Exercises Vocal Technique and Sound Placement Vocal Training with Ear and Pitch Exercises
Exercises for a Deeper Voice Exercises for the Mature Singing Voice Neck Exercises to Deepen the Voice
Anatomy of Breathing
Before you learn breathing exercises for singing and how to properly maximize vocal effectiveness, it is helpful to first understand the basic anatomy of the human respiratory system.
Your lungs are surrounded by a muscle structure called the diaphragm. The diaphragm is connected to your ribs and acts as an inflation apparatus. Highly effective singers learn to manipulate their diaphragm system and control the rate and volume of air that is exhaled. This in turn affects the quality of a singers voice. To understand how the diaphragm works in practice, try holding your hand in front of your face and breathing on it slowly. Pay special attention to your diaphragm as you
breathe outwards. As you breathe out, feel you stomach move inwards as air is exhaled. Allow your stomachs inward movement to flow naturally; you dont want to suck in your stomach. Allow the diaphragm to steadily deflate at its own natural pace until you reach the end of your breath. This contracting motion is the correct breathing method to use when you are singing. Singers should not force excess air through their vocal chords in an attempt to produce a stronger sound. Pushing the diaphragm can place excess pressure against your vocal chords and this can cause damage to the voice. Singing is accomplished when a person expands the lungs by breathing in and controlling the amount of air exhaled, while singing a note. When a singer breathes in, you can imagine the diaphragm as the muscular support for the lungs as your lungs expand like a balloon. When you sing, you are simply slowing down the exit rate of air as your lungs deflate and air is exhaled. Most adults adopt shallow breathing habits and actively use only the top half of their lungs during normal respiration. However, the best way to breathe and the correct breathing method you should use for singing is to use the entire lung, filling the balloon in its entirety. This way singers have more air available, and you also take advantage of an extra set of refined muscles (the diaphragm and abdomen) to assist in the control of air exhalation and singing notes.
Lay down flat on your back. Place both hands on your stomach with your fingers pointing towards your belly button. Take a deep breath and concentrate on filling your stomach with air. You should not be filling yourself with air to the point of bursting, but make sure you inhale deeply enough that there is a noticeable difference between a deep and shallow breath. Feel your stomach expand and notice how your hands gently rise up and outwards as your chest also expands. This inhalation process occurs not only at the front of the body but also on the sides and back of your body as well. Exhale slowly for five seconds. Repeat this exercise 10x
Integrate these breathing exercises for singing into your daily routine. Practice this every morning in bed after you wake up, and practice once more before you go to sleep. The breathing exercise for singing only takes 5 to 10 minutes a day. Once you feel comfortable practicing this routine, you can gradually increase this workout to 3 or 4 times a day. Once you master this technique, you can start to practice as often as possible. Perform breathing exercises while sitting, standing, or even while youre doing everyday tasks. Practice until breathing from your abdomen becomes a natural habit. You can also try exercises to improve your breathing control.
While exhaling on a single breath, try singing numbers. Start with the number 1, singing each number in a clear, strong voice Sing out the numbers in sequential order, and see how far you can get. Continue to practice this breathing control exercise for singing until you can reach the number 25 without straining or running out of breath.
Inhale deeply, then exhale completely Inhale and exhale Inhale again, only this time, inhale for four seconds. Hold your breath for four seconds, then exhale for four seconds and wait four seconds before inhaling again
Inhale 2 3 4, Hold 2 3 4 Exhale 2 3 4 and Wait 2 3 Again. Inhale 2 3 4, Hold 2 3 4 Exhale 2 3 4 and Wait 2 3 Last Time. Inhale 2 3 4, Hold 2 3 4 Exhale 2 3 4 and Wait 2 3 4. You can practice this exercise everyday. Forming superior breathing habits is all about repetition. The more you practice breathing with your diaphragm, the stronger the habit will become, and the greater control you will have over your voice. As you become more skilled, increase the length of time in between breathing phases. Inhale for 8, 12, or even 16 seconds. Try varying the time between inhalation and exhalation. Singing incorporates many different phrase lengths, so you should practice managing different patterns of airflow.
Stand with your feet about shoulders width apart Bend over at the waist, such that your hands are almost touching the floor. Relax your head and shoulders completely From this position, begin to inhale Let your torso rise a little with the inhalation of the breath Allow your body to slump down again as you exhale Take a second breath, allowing your body to rise as you breathe in, and fall as you breathe out On your third breath, gradually straighten your torso to the upright position, and slowly raise your arms above your head. The goal is to lift your rib cage higher. Make sure you continue to breathe in slowly throughout this movement. Allow your body to slump down again as you exhale Repeat this exercise three more times.
Stand up straight with your weight positioned slightly more on one foot than the other Relax your stomach muscles and breathe in slowly As you inhale, raise your arms sideways to shoulder level, then bring them forward, stretching as far in front of you as possible. You should be inhaling during this entire movement Exhale and relax your arms back down Repeat this exercise 4 times
Sit in a comfortable chair, with back straight and good posture Start panting, taking quick, deep breaths. 1 second for inhalation, 1 second exhalation Perform 20-30 repetitions Take a 2 minute break
Then pant faster, about half a second for inhalation, half a second for exhalation Perform 20-30 repetitions Take a 2 minute break Try panting even faster, aiming for quarter second inhalation, and quarter second exhalation Perform 20-30 repetitions.
Say the word hmm? You should allow the pitch to shift upwards as you hum.
As your pitch moves higher, you should feel a buzzing sensation in your nose. This sensation may progress towards your eyes and move upwards into your head. The humming sound will resonate inside your head, resonating off the space inside your skill to amplify the voiced pitches.
Repeat the voice warm up by saying hmmm? This time allow the pitch to shift downwards. This should be similar to the noise made when you are contemplative.
Feel the buzzing sensation move downwards into the chest area.
Hum the first three notes of the basic scale. Hum do re mi, then return to mi do Repeat this exercise 3 times
Do Rei Mi Rei Do
Repeat the do rei mi exercise, but shift up to the next pitch. Singing employs a variety of pitch ranges, so you want to warm up your vocal chords to all of the ranges. Repeat this exercise at each pitch 3 times
Once you are able to perform the lip trill successfully, practice trilling a single note.
First hum the note, in order to properly benchmark against a quality sound Reproduce the note using a lip trill exercise. Practice a five note basic scale using lip trills. Repeat this scale three times Practice the scale using a higher pitch range with the lip trill, repeating each note three times. Practice the scale using a lower pitch range with the lip trill. Repeat each note three times.
Practicing lip trills can help warm up your diaphragm and aid in relaxing the lips. Relaxed lips will help you better articulate when you are speaking and singing because this allows the mouth to pronounce words and sounds easier.
Complete the major scale by including another do in a higher octave following the last Ti note. Practice a voice warm up exercise by following the below steps:
Sing a low do note for a 5 second period Move up the basic scale in sequential order, holding each note for a 5 second period.
Special note: always begin a voice warm up exercise with lower notes because lower notes place less tension on the vocal chords.
Next, sing another basic musical scale called the Major Arpeggio. Hold each note for a 5 second period also.
Repeat the basic major scale using a higher pitch range Repeat the basic major scale using a lower pitch range Repeat the major arpeggio scale using a higher pitch Repeat the major arpeggio scale using a lower pitch
development of vocal nodules, which is a serious physical ailment that needs surgical intervention to correct.
Swiss Ball
Strong voice projection is directly related to your posture. This exercise focuses on improving posture to strengthen your voice projection. 1. Kneel on the ground, facing the rubber swiss ball 2. Lean forward until your stomach is on the ball. Place your feet on the ground behind you. Your hands should be placed on the ground in front of you. 3. Place you hands behind the back of your head 4. Lift with your lower back until your body forms a straight line from toe to head. 5. Lower your body slowly 6. Repeat the exercise 10 times 7. Perform 3 sets of 10.
In people, the hallow cavities are found in our throat, mouth, chest and nasal cavities. The differences in the sizes of your physical cavities is the reason why people have different sounding voices. When you have a cold, and your sinuses get blocked, your voice also does not resonate as well. This explains why people have a tendency to sound funny when they are sick.
9. Refocus your concentration to the vibrations in your chest once more. 10. Repeat this exercise 5 times, remembering to end the exercise with the focus on your chest in order to develop a full, vibrant sound. Special note: avoid forcing air when you are humming. Also remember to breath frequently. Stop if you get light headed.
To successfully master the middle range, practice the following exercise. This exercise is designed to help singers achieve a seamless sound when transitioning across notes while using a single breath.
Sing from the letter E to H, starting slowly and quietly gradually building volume as you cross from one vowel to the next Repeat the exercise, singing from E to H again. Only this time, alternate and change pitch between every vowel Repeat the exercise, singing from E to O Repeat the exercise, singing from E to O. Again, alternate and change pitch between every vowel.
Very often singers will seek to bounce sound waves off of the soft palette, producing a hollower, deeper sound. But aiming the voice towards the hard palette can help amplify sound and can reduce any muffling that occurs when sound waves are bounced off the tissue in the soft palette. In order to practice the manipulation of space within your mouth, practice the following voice exercise for improved vocal technique.
Take a deep breath Pick a comfortable range and sing the alphabet from A Z with your teeth clenched together. Repeat the exercise alphabet, only this time with your teeth slightly apart Sing the alphabet with the jaw pulled back Sing the alphabet with your jaw pulled back as far as possible Sing the alphabet with your chin raise as high as possible Sing the alphabet with your chin moved as forward as possible
You should notice that the sounds produced by your voice box are very different with each step of the exercise. For example, raising the chin should close off the back of the throat and this can limit your ability to hit higher notes. Singing with clenched teeth reduces projection of sound. Practice this set of exercises diligently and you will soon discover that best placement of your soft and hard palette for higher quality sound.
alone. Some people are born with perfect pitch an innate talent to recognize notes but this is an ability that can be learned through practice. But what is pitch? Most instruments, including the human voice, are physically capable of producing an infinite number of notes, with only the most minuscule and tiny differences between each note. When instruments are tuned, a trained ear finds the exact fixed sound they want for a particular note. All other notes produced by the instrument are then played using this sound as a reference.
Likewise, someone singing off key or off pitch refers to someone that is not singing according to the recognized standard of the song. Often times, musicians use a middle C or E as the reference tuning sound.
A microphone if you to record yourself on computer. Alternatively a cassette tape recorder also works well A musical instrument that is already perfectly tuned and in pitch. Popular choices are a keyboard piano, guitar, or violin. Likewise a device designed for tuning such as a Chromatic Tuner also works well. If you no access to any tuned instruments, use the Virtual Piano, as a last resort. Its serviceable, but a live instrument always yields best results.
Use the instrument to play a single note C, which is within your normal vocal range. Listen to the note and then play it again. This time sing along with the note as you play. Repeat this exercise, progressing upwards through different notes of the scale. Continue this exercise, moving downwards through the bottom range of the scale Then repeat the exercise again using random notes
Play the chord C, or notes C, E, and G at once. Play the C chord again, listening for the specific note E and attempt to sing it. Repeat the exercise listening to individual notes within the chord until you can hear and sing each of them easily. Repeat this exercise with the chords D, E, F and G. Repeat this exercise using random chords Repeat this exercise using minor chords, until you feel comfortable hearing and reproducing any note from any chord on every scale.
Remember to record yourself singing these notes as you practice. You should be replaying your recordings to provide feedback that you are indeed hitting the correct pitches.
Play a C chord an octave above your normal vocal range. Sing the notes in the chord using your normal range Repeat this exercise using random and different chords above your normal octave range
You want to be able to recognize and reproduce the notes in a chord regardless of the scale they are played on. Steady practice will help improve your ear and vocal technique to pitch notes no matter what other noise the music is accompanied with.
There are several exercises you can practice at home to help deepen and smooth out the sound of your voice. Diligently practice the exercises outlined below and youll be surprising your friends with a deeper voice in no time.
Start reciting the alphabet, starting with the letter A. Take deep breaths. Go slowly and deliberately. Do not rush any of the letters. Speak each letter out completely. After you reach the letter Z, repeat the exercise, only this time drop your tone one octave lower. Repeat the exercise again, dropping your tone another octave lower. Continue repeating this exercise until you reach the lowest tone that your body is physically capable of reaching.
This exercise can be practiced multiple times a day. Over time, you will gradually start to notice the physical transformation in your voice box when you speak with a deeper voice. With enough practice, this exercise can loosen up your vocal cords so that the deeper voice becomes a habit.
Say the words binga bonga, dinga donga, and kinga konga Speak each word slowly and purposely Hold the end portion of each word as long as you can. Repeat the exercise, lowering your tone an octave lower each time the exercise is performed. Continue to repeat this exercise until you reach the lowest tone your body is physically capable of producing.
This exercise for a deeper voice can also be repeated throughout the day at your leisure. However as a special reminder, if your throat begins to feel sore and your voice hoarse STOP. Never overwork your voice box because this can lead to vocal cord damage and an injured voice box can severely impede your progress to achieve a deeper voice.
Many men are genetically blessed with a deep voice once they pass puberty. Others might accidentally achieve a deeper voice through extensive yelling and smoking. Some people achieve a deeper voice over time through training. If you currently possess a high pitched voice and would like to develop a huskier, more mature singing voice, investing some time and effort into practicing a few deep voice exercises can help you naturally deepen your voice and achieve the tone and pitch you desire. Follow the tips outlined below to learn about some of the more effective exercises that you can use to start developing a deeper voice today.
Humming: the Best Exercise for Developing a More Mature Singing Voice
Most expert vocal coaches agree that humming is the most effective voice exercises to deepen a persons voice. To use humming as a natural method to deep the sound of your voice:
Pick a low sounding song. Often rhythmic music such as blues or jazz are good choices. Hum along to the beat of the music, making a conscious effort to hum slowly As you hum along to the music, try to lower the tone of the voice deeper and deeper
The key to make humming an effective deep voice exercise is to practice often. But never overwork your vocal cords to the point where you feel pain or become hoarse. This is a signal that you are injuring your voice box.
Lower your chin so that it touches your chest. Using your diaphragm, push air through your voice box and begin humming at a low pitch, keeping your chin at your chest
As you hum, gradually raise your chin. Note the location of your chin as your voice loosens and your voice becomes deeper.
Slowly turn your head to the left. Try to align your chin with your shoulder. Hold this position for a count of 10 seconds You can increase this stretch by placing your left hand outside your chin and applying a very gentle pressure Relax and repeat the stretch on the right side
Begin by placing your hands flat on your forehead Firmly, push your forehead against your hands, using your neck muscles to resist this force. The goal of this exercise is to not allow your forehead to move forward or backward and maintain a constant level of tension on your neck muscles Continue pushing for a 10 second count and relax Repeat this exercise, only switch to the backside and push from the rear part of your head. It helps to first clasp your hands together behind your head Perform 3 sets of neck exercises for the front and 3 sets for the back.
Begin by placing your right hand against the side of your head. Push firmly against your right hand, using your neck muscles to resist this force. The goal of this exercise is to not allow your head to move and maintain a constant level of tension on your neck muscles. Continue pushing and hold for a count of 10 seconds, then relax Repeat this exercise, only switch to the left side Perform 3 sets of this exercise on the right side, and 3 sets on the left side.
Hold a comfortable amount of free weights; youre going to be using the free weights as dead weight. Keep your chin up, looking straight ahead and your chest up Lift your shoulders up in a shrugging motion, flexing the upper trapezius muscle Relax your trapezius muscles and allow your shoulders to return to a resting position Repeat this motion for 10 repetitions Complete 3 sets of this exercise.
A simple exercise to stretch out the neck involves targeting the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This is a muscle positioned behind your ear, past your throat, and attached to your collarbone. A sternocleidomastoid muscle under high tension can place stress on the throat and vocal cords. This can cause the sensation of having a sore throat and restrict the amount of air that flows through your windpipes, which can make you voice sound higher. Fortunately, regular stretching can loosen this tension and deepen the voice. To perform the neck stretching exercise:
Slowly turn your head to the left. Try to align your chin with your shoulder. Hold this position for a count of 10 seconds You can increase this stretch by placing your left hand outside your chin and applying a very gentle pressure Relax and repeat the stretch on the right side
Begin by placing your hands flat on your forehead Firmly, push your forehead against your hands, using your neck muscles to resist this force. The goal of this exercise is to not allow your forehead to move forward or backward and maintain a constant level of tension on your neck muscles Continue pushing for a 10 second count and relax Repeat this exercise, only switch to the backside and push from the rear part of your head. It helps to first clasp your hands together behind your head Perform 3 sets of neck exercises for the front and 3 sets for the back.
Begin by placing your right hand against the side of your head. Push firmly against your right hand, using your neck muscles to resist this force. The goal of this exercise is to not allow your head to move and maintain a constant level of tension on your neck muscles. Continue pushing and hold for a count of 10 seconds, then relax Repeat this exercise, only switch to the left side Perform 3 sets of this exercise on the right side, and 3 sets on the left side.
Hold a comfortable amount of free weights; youre going to be using the free weights as dead weight. Keep your chin up, looking straight ahead and your chest up Lift your shoulders up in a shrugging motion, flexing the upper trapezius muscle Relax your trapezius muscles and allow your shoulders to return to a resting position Repeat this motion for 10 repetitions Complete 3 sets of this exercise.
Hold a comfortable amount of free weights or with a bar. This exercise works the deltoids and neck With your back straight, hold the weights with an overhand grip Bring the weight down to approximately chest level, inhaling as you bring the weights down Lift the weight up, exhaling as you lift the weights up Repeat this motion for 10 repetitions Complete 3 sets of this exercise