This is a wonderful exercise! Thank you! I was aware that a high laryngeal position was problematic in singing, but I didn't think to apply it to my speaking voice. I've worked to bring my speaking voice "off my vocal folds/fry," but applying a laryngeal lowering exercise prior to hours of teaching will be a blessing. Thanks again!
I can appreciate what your exercise and sad voice is aimed at doing ... I encountered difficulty. Background in radio broadcasting and singing; I have used taking a deep breath to reset the position my larynx and relax throat. When I do the sad voice, I can't feel the larynx move lower (under my fingers) and although it helps me phonate with a different diameter vocal tract, it doesn't _really_ feel relaxing ... to move the larynx down requires *effort* and tension. Any insights please?
Honestly my muscle tension dysphonia is a everyday struggle while speaking. Thank you for being so nice and providing us with helpful information. Hope all that good comes back to you!
is this where it feels tight in the vocal chords or? bc im struggling with a lump feeling in my throat that makes it difficult to breathe speak and swallow and idk what it is
I’ve been having the same issue and I know its from anxiety. The only thing that helps me but it only lasts for about couple hours is psilocybe mushrooms in medium-low dosage but I know that its not eliminating the cause. But those are the only few hours when ai get me voice back and I enjoy listening to my voice
Hey all! I'm happy to report I have been taking a half dose of Ashwagandha daily and haven't had anxiety in months! I do not recommend buying just any Ashwagandha as I have had friends and family do that and they have had side effects. Nature sunshine products are wonderful I don't think I make any money recommending them I just can tell you that their products work. I'm 40 and have been taking their products since I was a kid.
wow this works really well. I noticed my voice is fine after waking up but the muscles felt a bit tense after awhile in my throat. This helped greatly. Thanks.
I’m a singer who suffers from GERD and sometimes my throat just gets so tight 😢 thankfully there a videos like this that help it relax and feel soothed
I also have gerd and told I have dyphonia and have been struggling. I wonder if I even have GERD and it's just throat and muscle tension! I can't really to do this to see if it'll help that choking feeling I have.
I have CPTSD really bad, and because of that, my muscles are constantly tense all the time. Its gotten to the point where I forget it's happening until it becomes noticable in some way. I'll be trying this exercise alongside meditation to see it it does anything. Thank you very much!
I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with a serious problem. See if these exercises help but the focus should be on dealing with your primary diagnosis. I am sure you are already doing something for that. I wish you all the best.
Oh my gosh i have been struggling with pain and tension under my chin for like 2 years. This almost instanty helped eleviate some of my throat tension! Thank you! You really have to try to bring your voice as low as you can.
Very helpful! This may be the exercise that finally works for me. It’s an easy one to remember and makes it easy to get in tune with my throat muscles even in the middle of a busy day when I have a lot on my mind.. Thank you for what you do!
03:05 omg I'm in for a treat with this video ... all the accumulated tension and a lifetime of having to *exert* to phonate clearly... Looking forward to discovering an answer
I have had MTD for a long time (10 years) and have failed several rounds of voice therapy. Learning to think of my MTD as an anatomic issue with a high riding hyoid has started helping me understand how to use my muscles (or not use them...) to achieve a relaxed voice for the first time since I have had the disease. Thank you for your videos.
I am sorry to hear that you have been dealing with MTD for such a long time. Here is a resource of how I help my clients with MTD: www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/blueprint It may help you see what approaches, exercises you have tried and which ones you have not tried yet. Maybe you will find it helpful in figuring out what else is out there.
I am suffering from whispering voice since May 2020. Whenever I am speaking loudly my voice is better sometimes in a day. Otherwise I am speaking with whispering voice only Your straw exercises are very useful for me. After completing my straw exercises I have done phonation. Because of this exercise my whispering voice slowly recovering. Thanks katarina madam. Please let me know how many times per day and how much time shall I practice these straw exercises. Also let me know how to sustain my voice without whispering and without breaking whenever I speaking.
It seems like your tension is anxiety induced. You may try visualization and some mindfulness exercises to train yourself to be less nervous when speaking in public. A performance coach or public speaking coach or program may be also helpful in training to feel more confident in these situations.
WOW! I was just diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction so I'm scoping out vids while I wait to get an appt and this exercise is blowing my mind! I didn't even think I had tension when I started the video until after I did the exercise and felt the difference. I don't even know how to describe the difference but everything - breathing swallowing, talking - just feels EASIER. IS there a limit to how often or how long to practice this? Also does your program serve people with a diagnosis like mine?
I hope you are doing well since getting your diagnosis. To answer your questions: Every person is different so I always say: listen to your body. Your voice and body will tell you when you are overdoing something. To answer your other question: our program is not for people with your diagnosis.
I didn’t know what was wrong, but I feel like my throat is tight all the time and speaking is hard. Voice doesn’t flow it starts and stops. I don’t want to go to ENT if I don’t have to. This immediately makes my throat feel better.
I speak too low normally for my housemate. She's always telling me to speak up! But no one else has that problem. I wish she would get her hearing tested like she said she wanted...
That is unfortunate. Maybe a third person may give a more objective evaluation of the situation to you and your housemate, and help you find a solution that works for both of you? Just a suggestion.
This is the only exercise that help me to speak some words. Sad voice is excellent exercise. Thanks mam. Can u suggest any other exercise that help to speak with less muscle spasm of neck and jaw.
It is a lot less stressed but my voice is very very quiet and breathy, can you advise on how to make it clearer and louder whilst in this lower position? Thank you for this video 😊
My issues seem to be 100% driven by stress and fatigue. I hope I can find some relief, as my voice at work gets fainter, higher, and whispery through the day. I used to feel I had a good, warm, strong voice. It's just gone.
I am so sorry to hear that you have to endure stress and fatigue. You are absolutely right that our voice is greatly affected by those factors. i hope you are doing better today than when you posted this comment.
this worked really well! just some feedback on the video structure - you could keep it shorter and more concise, OR you could add time codes in the description directing viewer straight to where the exercise is and other key points in the video. thanks!
You are right, Avish, I wish all online tutors put the timing so that we can then come and find the exercises easily once we have watched the whole video, that way we don't need to mess up with pieces of paper!
I would disagree about making videos shorter or even focusing on time codes. Today people wants to get the results in a fast and easiest way. Without a good introduction, review and explanations, every vocal task simply becomes useless. If you are really excited about helping yourself you won't struggle watching a 8minutes video. On the contrary, longer it is - more useful becomes. Sorry, just my opinion. Thank you, Katarina!
@@pauliusdrabulis9091 I think that we are talking about different things... this is not about skipping the explanation every time but it is useful, when we just want the exercises, to have a video that shows them to us or at least know where to jump to. It is not as if we need to hear the explanations every time, I don't think... Helping one self, of course.... but there are times when just doing the exercises is great too! Just my opinion...
@@FranciscaRigaud I get your point as I get Avish's point too. I just mean that Katrina should force people to watch the whole video because she puts lot of effort to that instead of inserting time stamps or making it shorter. I'm not telling that's bad, absolutely. :) by the way, I saw your message as a notification but I cannot see a comment that you wrote. Cheers!
Sometimes, especially when I'm stressed out, I start sounding like Fozzie Bear or Kermit the frog - it's like my voice is swallowed up in my throat before it even comes out of my mouth. I don't know if it's exactly the problem described in this video, but I'm certainly going to try this technique. Thank you!
Your problem does not sound like a high laryngeal position, more like tongue tension or loss of resonance. But you can always try this exercise and see for yourself.
It's great when specific sounds evoke specific characters in our minds. Then, they are more accessible to us when we want to practice them. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Katarina. I have a quick question. I’ve had speech and language therapy for a painful voice, and my problem was that I was producing my voice from a place too low in my throat and putting strain on my lower throat muscles. My voice wasn’t resonating, so I learned to produce my voice higher up by speaking into my face where I could feel it resonate in my lips and mouth. I tried your exercise and it feels ok but I’m concerned it will put pressure on my lower throat again. Can you explain the difference?
This is a very good question. I agree that forward resonance is what we want to encourage. In the sad voice exercise, you lower the larynx but you can still feel the vibrations in your face. These are two independent structures. You can produce "forward sounds" with the larynx high, low or anywhere in between. However, if this exercise does not feel right for you, stick to your old exercises. Nobody said that you have to do them all.
Thank you Katarina i use vocal massage everyday when I train my voice today I used your tip and when I went back to sin an Aria the usual weak tone that do not work my in that aria was easy. I got a question for a couple of years I suffer from Phlegm / in my throat i do not eat milk produkt I do not have allergies , I have a very competent voicecoach who has taught me a lot about massage of the larynx . This phlegm is destroying my pro singing options because I can not trust whenever the phlegm will damage the notes , I tried saltwater, steamer, you name it , maybe you got a trick ? Kind regards Vibeke
Hi Vibeke, I just found your comment and your question. And I just published a video on the topic of mucus. Maybe you will find your answer there (if you still need it). I hope you are doing well and found a way to deal with the mucus.
There is no one specific exercise for this. It does not matter if the constriction happens one way or the other, paying attention to muscle effort and isolating the movements of position of different vocal structures is important. This sound complicated but start with a sound that you can already make with some freedom and go from there. I suggest that you work with a voice therapist who can guide you through the process.
I am seeing your message only now. How are you doing? If you want more information, either check out my website www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/ or email me at myhealthyvoice@gmail.com
I am 60, amateur Trombone player since 7 years and never had a problem with tone. Since 1/2 year the tone stops, vibrates, sounds bad, however, i did not change anything. Do you think, that the problem can come from troat and would your method help to overcome it?
I run an online group coaching program for people who experience tension or strain in their speaking voice. You can learn more about the program here: how2improvesinging.mykajabi.com/vocal-freedom-system
Hey Katharina My voice is been down for a Week now Have a Swelling in My Vocal chords or Folds ... Not Able to Recover.... wht should I do ?? Please... I need ur reply quick .... I can stay one Day without Practise 🙏
Sorry to hear that your voice is giving you a hard time. Not sure about the reason of your vocal issue - do you have a cold or flu? Or something else. In any case, hydrate well, get a lot of rest, try some gentle vocal exercises (SOVT) and if your vocal issue lasts for more than 2 weeks without the presence of acute infection such as common cold or flu, go and see a voice specialist (ENT) for a proper voice assessment.
Honestly it made the tension shift from center to bottom. I tried different ways but naturally i basically felt my throat was too weak for vocals and so i had to "try" to talk like that which caused tension in a new spot. I feel like someone has their hand on my throat. But i will say as im typing this, i realize i hold my breath in a lot when im focused so maybe thats my issue?
Hi Katarina, My voice becomes weak and husky almost an hour after every meal. My voice again seems to become clear when my stomach is empty. Also it becomes clear after a long rest or sleep. I also have tiring of voice with usage. I am a singer and literally I can't perform well beacuse of this. Usually people with acid reflux have problems in the morning while wake up. But my voice is very clear in the morning and starts deteriorating after breakfast. Could you please explain what is going on with my voice? Will any exercise suit for this condition? I think like I have a little bit over anxiety as well. Thank you so much...
Anxiety can definitely affect the quality of your voice but I don't think it is the only factor. Unfortunately, I cannot diagnose or help in any way over the internet. I suggest that you have your voice properly evaluated by a laryngologist who understands singing voices.
Hello Katarina, when doing this exercise I started to feel very nauseous and was gagging briefly. Also sore throat. Should I persevere and gradually build up? What is your avice?
No, don't continue. The sad sound is the gentlest sound you can make so if you are having a reaction like this, you are probably engaging too many muscles or you are using too much effort. There are many other exercises for releasing vocal tension. Find one that feels good for your voice and body.
Do you have patients who experience what feels like the vocal chords/muscles surrounding the vocal chords start to spasm randomly? Even when not speaking and/or when relaxing. What can cause spontaneous spasms?
I think this raised larynx problem is the CRUX of my problem - I’ve been suffering from MTD for almost five years now - and the longer I struggle with this, the more stressed I am about it and I think the worse my tension gets 😨 And since I’ve to use my voice a lot in my work, I find that I’ve to literally hold onto my throat and press the larynx down while I’m talking / singing to try and sound more normal. Will my larynx ever come back to a relaxed normal position on its own? What can I do to make this happen ( non surgically I mean ) I’ve been doing your straw and SOVT exercises for quite a while now but I’m not sure if my voice is getting any better
A raised larynx is very typical for people with excessive tension. There are more things you can do to release tension from your voice. Have you tried manual releases like massage or myofascial releases?
@@healthyvoicetips thank you for your reply. I’ve been doing some laryngeal massages ( stroking downward along the throat, moving larynx side to side, in circular motion, moving hyoid bone wise to side, massaging in circular motion somewhere near the hyoid, massaging along neck, downward with a vibrator. Not sure how long I’m supposed to do these for, for them to be effective? I do them for about 1 min per exercise once a day, not very regularly.
Dearest Katarina, Thank you for your tip, but I have a question. If the larynx is sitting too high, does it mean that you can basically feel that the larynx is almost going to come out of your throat and that your nose is affected, as if something is pressing under the nasal cavity? When I do ng-sirens, I do feel that my tongue is sitting higher and, of course, when I ascend/descend in pitch, I do feel that my larynx is moving upwards/downwards, but it does not feel as if the larynx is basically going to come out of my mouth. Does this observation make any sense, Katarina? So sorry for the long comment. Lots of love to you.
Very interesting question. Thank you. The answer is no. If your larynx is too high, most people don't even know about it. Because too high is a relative term. People who experience vocal tension usually have overworked and contracted muscles above the larynx which pulls the larynx more up but it does not come up to anywhere near the nasal cavity. Anatomically that is not possible. When I say too high, it means too high compared to a mid position which would be most relaxed position after we swallow. I hope this makes sense.
@@healthyvoicetips But is the larynx still supposed to be moving when ascending/descending in pitch? Is that movement different from having a too high larynx? Again, thank you for your wise words!
in my county, speech therapist think thats dry needling or acupuncture is good, do u think its helpful? as a voice actress, my life is so bad after mtd
It feels a bit weird to have the larynx so far down, so how do I know the difference between using my real voice/vocal range here and just getting used to it or just disguising my own voice?
@@healthyvoicetipsi have been doing your other exercise the past few days where you massage the neck and adams apple. It has works so well. Thank you. I wish i can cure this issue completely though. Just trying to find out why it keeps happening.
is it normal to feel tension in my vocal chords on my pms days? and what can i do to release vocal tention? sometimes it can be too much that i can not sing very well:(
Yes, hormones greatly affect our voices. Be in tune with your body and do some relaxation exercises or maybe you need to warm up for a little bit longer than usual. I have a lot of exercises for releasing tension on this channel so check them out.
Well, not using this is the reason why opera is becoming unpopular and why there aren't any good singers around anymore. Everyone is singing with a high larynx, which is why everyone in pop music sounds like a little girl.
Thank you for stopping by and watching this video. How is your voice feeling now after doing this easy vocal exercise to release throat tightness?
This is a wonderful exercise! Thank you! I was aware that a high laryngeal position was problematic in singing, but I didn't think to apply it to my speaking voice. I've worked to bring my speaking voice "off my vocal folds/fry," but applying a laryngeal lowering exercise prior to hours of teaching will be a blessing. Thanks again!
@@DivaMaman I am glad you found the exercise beneficial!
wow, so practical at the same time very informative! Thank you, Katarina. You are such a great teacher/therapist!
I can appreciate what your exercise and sad voice is aimed at doing ... I encountered difficulty. Background in radio broadcasting and singing; I have used taking a deep breath to reset the position my larynx and relax throat. When I do the sad voice, I can't feel the larynx move lower (under my fingers) and although it helps me phonate with a different diameter vocal tract, it doesn't _really_ feel relaxing ... to move the larynx down requires *effort* and tension. Any insights please?
Honestly my muscle tension dysphonia is a everyday struggle while speaking. Thank you for being so nice and providing us with helpful information. Hope all that good comes back to you!
Sorry to hear that you are struggling every day! And thank you for your very kind words.
Hope you get better soon 🙂
I’m in the same boat. I share your pain! Sending tons of positive vibes!
Same boat as you! Praying for you all!
is this where it feels tight in the vocal chords or? bc im struggling with a lump feeling in my throat that makes it difficult to breathe speak and swallow and idk what it is
Thank you - I believe my throat tension is due to anxiety.. this seems to help me be mindful and move my body through what's happening..
Yes, anxiety can cause throat tightness.
That can definitely be an issue. The problem is finding a way to eliminate anxiety ... it's incredibly difficult.
I have the same issue. Anxiety causes the tension. I keep practising my public speaking and I think it helps the anxiety a little.
@@qso3566
I’ve been having the same issue and I know its from anxiety. The only thing that helps me but it only lasts for about couple hours is psilocybe mushrooms in medium-low dosage but I know that its not eliminating the cause. But those are the only few hours when ai get me voice back and I enjoy listening to my voice
Hey all! I'm happy to report I have been taking a half dose of Ashwagandha daily and haven't had anxiety in months! I do not recommend buying just any Ashwagandha as I have had friends and family do that and they have had side effects. Nature sunshine products are wonderful I don't think I make any money recommending them I just can tell you that their products work. I'm 40 and have been taking their products since I was a kid.
Damn... i always thought this was my voice but after doing this exercise the results were immediate. This is amazing!
Happy to hear that!
This is great wow! I can feel my muscles tensing up after doing it so it’s definitely releasing the tension…now to keep it that way!
Releasing tension that already accumulated in the muscles is the first step. I am glad that it worked for you.
wow this works really well. I noticed my voice is fine after waking up but the muscles felt a bit tense after awhile in my throat. This helped greatly. Thanks.
Happy to hear that it was a helpful exercise.
I’m a singer who suffers from GERD and sometimes my throat just gets so tight 😢 thankfully there a videos like this that help it relax and feel soothed
I am happy to hear that you found the video helpful
I also have gerd and told I have dyphonia and have been struggling. I wonder if I even have GERD and it's just throat and muscle tension! I can't really to do this to see if it'll help that choking feeling I have.
@@ShirFryy
For so long I've been struggling with this, thank you so much!
With pleasure
Wow! What an incredible difference this exercise made right off the bat. Excited to see if this will teach me to relax my voice in the long term!
Did this exercise help in the long run?
I have CPTSD really bad, and because of that, my muscles are constantly tense all the time. Its gotten to the point where I forget it's happening until it becomes noticable in some way. I'll be trying this exercise alongside meditation to see it it does anything. Thank you very much!
I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with a serious problem. See if these exercises help but the focus should be on dealing with your primary diagnosis. I am sure you are already doing something for that. I wish you all the best.
Let's meditate on Jesus Christ? Our Savior ❤ ✝️
Oh my gosh i have been struggling with pain and tension under my chin for like 2 years. This almost instanty helped eleviate some of my throat tension! Thank you! You really have to try to bring your voice as low as you can.
Happy to hear that you found this exercise helpful.
I have a very squeaky voice ....this exercise has helped me reach full potential....tysm🎉
So happy to hear!
Very helpful! This may be the exercise that finally works for me. It’s an easy one to remember and makes it easy to get in tune with my throat muscles even in the middle of a busy day when I have a lot on my mind.. Thank you for what you do!
Oh, you are so welcome! I am glad that you found this exercise helpful and easy to remember.
OMG so helpful. Thank you so much for posting this. I feel better right away
That is great to hear!
i had to go through some unhelpful full videos to find this gem...thank you,now its time i practise-ill update on the results
Let me know if you have any questions.
03:05 omg I'm in for a treat with this video ... all the accumulated tension and a lifetime of having to *exert* to phonate clearly... Looking forward to discovering an answer
I hope you found the treat you were looking for ... 😉
@@healthyvoicetips Thankyou
I have had MTD for a long time (10 years) and have failed several rounds of voice therapy. Learning to think of my MTD as an anatomic issue with a high riding hyoid has started helping me understand how to use my muscles (or not use them...) to achieve a relaxed voice for the first time since I have had the disease. Thank you for your videos.
I am sorry to hear that you have been dealing with MTD for such a long time. Here is a resource of how I help my clients with MTD: www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/blueprint It may help you see what approaches, exercises you have tried and which ones you have not tried yet. Maybe you will find it helpful in figuring out what else is out there.
wow, so practical at the same time very informative! Thank you, Katarina. You are such a great teacher/therapist
!
Thank you for your very kind comment.
This exercise help me expore my chest voice. Thank you
Great to hear!
Fun and valuable exercise, an exercise where the performers put a smile on. Thank you Katarina. Please go on!
💗🙏
I am suffering from whispering voice since May 2020. Whenever I am speaking loudly my voice is better sometimes in a day. Otherwise I am speaking with whispering voice only Your straw exercises are very useful for me. After completing my straw exercises I have done phonation. Because of this exercise my whispering voice slowly recovering. Thanks katarina madam. Please let me know how many times per day and how much time shall I practice these straw exercises. Also let me know how to sustain my voice without whispering and without breaking whenever I speaking.
Have you seen this video: th-cam.com/video/IQjoOWngz0I/w-d-xo.html You may be able to find some answers to your questions there.
This is absolutely wonderful! Thank you for sharing this excellent technique. Kindest regards.
With my absolute pleasure.
@@healthyvoicetips Many thanks.
I love your videos! They have helped me so much. I sing a lot and your videos have helped me sing and speak with a healthier
So happy to hear that! Thank you for taking the time to share this comment with me.
I will try it. Thank you for posting. 🌹
With pleasure. Let me know how it goes.
I get tension and dry mouth
For the first 5 to 10 minutes when I speak in public,
What would you recommend?
Your exercise helped me so much
Thank you
It seems like your tension is anxiety induced. You may try visualization and some mindfulness exercises to train yourself to be less nervous when speaking in public. A performance coach or public speaking coach or program may be also helpful in training to feel more confident in these situations.
I literally told my friend today that I might go to an SLP for this exact problem. Your timing is impeccable
Mind reader????
Wdym your timing is impeccable?
WOW! I was just diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction so I'm scoping out vids while I wait to get an appt and this exercise is blowing my mind! I didn't even think I had tension when I started the video until after I did the exercise and felt the difference. I don't even know how to describe the difference but everything - breathing swallowing, talking - just feels EASIER. IS there a limit to how often or how long to practice this? Also does your program serve people with a diagnosis like mine?
I hope you are doing well since getting your diagnosis. To answer your questions: Every person is different so I always say: listen to your body. Your voice and body will tell you when you are overdoing something. To answer your other question: our program is not for people with your diagnosis.
I didn’t know what was wrong, but I feel like my throat is tight all the time and speaking is hard. Voice doesn’t flow it starts and stops. I don’t want to go to ENT if I don’t have to. This immediately makes my throat feel better.
Happy to hear. However, if your voice problems persist, I would visit an ENT to find out how you can help your voice.
This exercise is wonderful. My voice DOES sound warmer and darker afterwards. Thank you!
So happy to hear that!
thanks Katarina, it did work instantly!
No worries. Well done!
I speak too low normally for my housemate. She's always telling me to speak up! But no one else has that problem. I wish she would get her hearing tested like she said she wanted...
That is unfortunate. Maybe a third person may give a more objective evaluation of the situation to you and your housemate, and help you find a solution that works for both of you? Just a suggestion.
Excellent exercise, Katarina! It helped me a lot with my muscle tension dysphonia and LPR
Glad it was helpful!
What’s LPR?
@@OfficialEvaAvila Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
@agusmongelli Hi Agus! In which way did the exercise help you with your lpr. Im an lpr sufferer as well..
This is the only exercise that help me to speak some words. Sad voice is excellent exercise. Thanks mam. Can u suggest any other exercise that help to speak with less muscle spasm of neck and jaw.
I have a lot of videos with different types of exercises. Sometimes, it is trial and error to find the ones that work for you.
It is a lot less stressed but my voice is very very quiet and breathy, can you advise on how to make it clearer and louder whilst in this lower position?
Thank you for this video 😊
u are amazing this really works
Glad to hear that!
My issues seem to be 100% driven by stress and fatigue. I hope I can find some relief, as my voice at work gets fainter, higher, and whispery through the day. I used to feel I had a good, warm, strong voice. It's just gone.
I am so sorry to hear that you have to endure stress and fatigue. You are absolutely right that our voice is greatly affected by those factors. i hope you are doing better today than when you posted this comment.
this worked really well! just some feedback on the video structure - you could keep it shorter and more concise, OR you could add time codes in the description directing viewer straight to where the exercise is and other key points in the video. thanks!
Thank you for your tips.
You are right, Avish, I wish all online tutors put the timing so that we can then come and find the exercises easily once we have watched the whole video, that way we don't need to mess up with pieces of paper!
I would disagree about making videos shorter or even focusing on time codes. Today people wants to get the results in a fast and easiest way. Without a good introduction, review and explanations, every vocal task simply becomes useless. If you are really excited about helping yourself you won't struggle watching a 8minutes video. On the contrary, longer it is - more useful becomes. Sorry, just my opinion. Thank you, Katarina!
@@pauliusdrabulis9091 I think that we are talking about different things... this is not about skipping the explanation every time but it is useful, when we just want the exercises, to have a video that shows them to us or at least know where to jump to. It is not as if we need to hear the explanations every time, I don't think... Helping one self, of course.... but there are times when just doing the exercises is great too! Just my opinion...
@@FranciscaRigaud I get your point as I get Avish's point too. I just mean that Katrina should force people to watch the whole video because she puts lot of effort to that instead of inserting time stamps or making it shorter. I'm not telling that's bad, absolutely. :) by the way, I saw your message as a notification but I cannot see a comment that you wrote. Cheers!
Sometimes, especially when I'm stressed out, I start sounding like Fozzie Bear or Kermit the frog - it's like my voice is swallowed up in my throat before it even comes out of my mouth. I don't know if it's exactly the problem described in this video, but I'm certainly going to try this technique. Thank you!
Your problem does not sound like a high laryngeal position, more like tongue tension or loss of resonance. But you can always try this exercise and see for yourself.
I am a singer experiencing vocal tension. I want to join your program for singers please guide me
waouh, thank you it is very effective
Happy to hear that you found it effective.
Great video. BTW, did 'sad Panda' pop into anyone else's mind when Katarina first demonstrated the sad voice?? It's a South Park character.
It's great when specific sounds evoke specific characters in our minds. Then, they are more accessible to us when we want to practice them. Thanks for sharing.
This is amazing Katarina! Another great technique for us! Definitely helps me!
So happy to hear that you liked this exercise!
Thank you 🙏
With pleasure/
Hi Katarina. I have a quick question. I’ve had speech and language therapy for a painful voice, and my problem was that I was producing my voice from a place too low in my throat and putting strain on my lower throat muscles. My voice wasn’t resonating, so I learned to produce my voice higher up by speaking into my face where I could feel it resonate in my lips and mouth.
I tried your exercise and it feels ok but I’m concerned it will put pressure on my lower throat again.
Can you explain the difference?
This is a very good question. I agree that forward resonance is what we want to encourage. In the sad voice exercise, you lower the larynx but you can still feel the vibrations in your face. These are two independent structures. You can produce "forward sounds" with the larynx high, low or anywhere in between. However, if this exercise does not feel right for you, stick to your old exercises. Nobody said that you have to do them all.
Thank you Katarina i use vocal massage everyday when I train my voice today I used your tip and when I went back to sin an Aria the usual weak tone that do not work my in that aria was easy.
I got a question for a couple of years I suffer from Phlegm / in my throat i do not eat milk produkt I do not have allergies , I have a very competent voicecoach who has taught me a lot about massage of the larynx . This phlegm is destroying my pro singing options because I can not trust whenever the phlegm will damage the notes , I tried saltwater, steamer, you name it , maybe you got a trick ? Kind regards
Vibeke
Hi Vibeke, I just found your comment and your question. And I just published a video on the topic of mucus. Maybe you will find your answer there (if you still need it). I hope you are doing well and found a way to deal with the mucus.
Excellent. Thank you. :-D
No problem!
I have significant back to front arytenoid constriction. My SLP said my throat is like a tourniquet. What are the best exercises for this condition?
There is no one specific exercise for this. It does not matter if the constriction happens one way or the other, paying attention to muscle effort and isolating the movements of position of different vocal structures is important. This sound complicated but start with a sound that you can already make with some freedom and go from there. I suggest that you work with a voice therapist who can guide you through the process.
Great advice
Thank you, Ali!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Voice exercises should be do with empty throat before taking the foods of breakfast, lunch, dinner. Because I need to know.
I would suggest between meals when your stomach is not too full. But this is different for different people.
hi Katrina
how do i get on to the freedom course?
Thanks
I am seeing your message only now. How are you doing? If you want more information, either check out my website www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/ or email me at myhealthyvoice@gmail.com
I am 60, amateur Trombone player since 7 years and never had a problem with tone. Since 1/2 year the tone stops, vibrates, sounds bad, however, i did not change anything. Do you think, that the problem can come from troat
and would your method help to overcome it?
Are you talking about tone when you play trombone? I don't think I can help in this area.
Thank u🙏
With pleasure
God bless youuu ❣💫
🙏💗
Helped a lot mam 💛💛
I am very happy to hear that! Now you can use it on a regular basis when you feel tightness.
Is there a way to make the results permanent? Or will my voice always have tension :(
The majority of people can get rid of their tension. Sometimes, it may be challenging to find "the thing" that works for you.
While doing each throat voice exercise how many times and minutes should take to do.
Whatever feels good for you. There is no one answer for this.
Hi Katarina...I struggle with muscle Dysphonia and was wondering if you do video calls for private costs...and if you do, how much etc?
I run an online group coaching program for people who experience tension or strain in their speaking voice. You can learn more about the program here: how2improvesinging.mykajabi.com/vocal-freedom-system
Thanks...I will take a look
Hey Katharina My voice is been down for a Week now Have a Swelling in My Vocal chords or Folds ... Not Able to Recover....
wht should I do ?? Please... I need ur reply quick .... I can stay one Day without Practise 🙏
Sorry to hear that your voice is giving you a hard time. Not sure about the reason of your vocal issue - do you have a cold or flu? Or something else. In any case, hydrate well, get a lot of rest, try some gentle vocal exercises (SOVT) and if your vocal issue lasts for more than 2 weeks without the presence of acute infection such as common cold or flu, go and see a voice specialist (ENT) for a proper voice assessment.
Honestly it made the tension shift from center to bottom. I tried different ways but naturally i basically felt my throat was too weak for vocals and so i had to "try" to talk like that which caused tension in a new spot.
I feel like someone has their hand on my throat.
But i will say as im typing this, i realize i hold my breath in a lot when im focused so maybe thats my issue?
Yes, holding breath can cause tension. Have you had your voice evaluated by a laryngologist?
@Katarina H. no, I'm not even sure if one is anywhere near me to be honest. It's small town farm lands for miles upon miles out here
Hi Katarina,
My voice becomes weak and husky almost an hour after every meal. My voice again seems to become clear when my stomach is empty. Also it becomes clear after a long rest or sleep. I also have tiring of voice with usage. I am a singer and literally I can't perform well beacuse of this. Usually people with acid reflux have problems in the morning while wake up. But my voice is very clear in the morning and starts deteriorating after breakfast. Could you please explain what is going on with my voice? Will any exercise suit for this condition? I think like I have a little bit over anxiety as well.
Thank you so much...
Anxiety can definitely affect the quality of your voice but I don't think it is the only factor. Unfortunately, I cannot diagnose or help in any way over the internet. I suggest that you have your voice properly evaluated by a laryngologist who understands singing voices.
You look so pretty in new hairstyle 🙂
Thank you!!!😊
After too much cough I started pain under my chin.. I don't know what to do with
How are you feeling now?
Hello Katarina, when doing this exercise I started to feel very nauseous and was gagging briefly. Also sore throat. Should I persevere and gradually build up? What is your avice?
No, don't continue. The sad sound is the gentlest sound you can make so if you are having a reaction like this, you are probably engaging too many muscles or you are using too much effort. There are many other exercises for releasing vocal tension. Find one that feels good for your voice and body.
Do you have patients who experience what feels like the vocal chords/muscles surrounding the vocal chords start to spasm randomly? Even when not speaking and/or when relaxing. What can cause spontaneous spasms?
Yes, this is a symptom that some people report. I suggest that you speak to a laryngologist.
I think this raised larynx problem is the CRUX of my problem - I’ve been suffering from MTD for almost five years now - and the longer I struggle with this, the more stressed I am about it and I think the worse my tension gets 😨 And since I’ve to use my voice a lot in my work, I find that I’ve to literally hold onto my throat and press the larynx down while I’m talking / singing to try and sound more normal. Will my larynx ever come back to a relaxed normal position on its own? What can I do to make this happen ( non surgically I mean ) I’ve been doing your straw and SOVT exercises for quite a while now but I’m not sure if my voice is getting any better
A raised larynx is very typical for people with excessive tension. There are more things you can do to release tension from your voice. Have you tried manual releases like massage or myofascial releases?
@@healthyvoicetips thank you for your reply. I’ve been doing some laryngeal massages ( stroking downward along the throat, moving larynx side to side, in circular motion, moving hyoid bone wise to side, massaging in circular motion somewhere near the hyoid, massaging along neck, downward with a vibrator. Not sure how long I’m supposed to do these for, for them to be effective? I do them for about 1 min per exercise once a day, not very regularly.
Dearest Katarina,
Thank you for your tip, but I have a question. If the larynx is sitting too high, does it mean that you can basically feel that the larynx is almost going to come out of your throat and that your nose is affected, as if something is pressing under the nasal cavity? When I do ng-sirens, I do feel that my tongue is sitting higher and, of course, when I ascend/descend in pitch, I do feel that my larynx is moving upwards/downwards, but it does not feel as if the larynx is basically going to come out of my mouth. Does this observation make any sense, Katarina? So sorry for the long comment. Lots of love to you.
Very interesting question. Thank you. The answer is no. If your larynx is too high, most people don't even know about it. Because too high is a relative term. People who experience vocal tension usually have overworked and contracted muscles above the larynx which pulls the larynx more up but it does not come up to anywhere near the nasal cavity. Anatomically that is not possible. When I say too high, it means too high compared to a mid position which would be most relaxed position after we swallow. I hope this makes sense.
@@healthyvoicetips But is the larynx still supposed to be moving when ascending/descending in pitch? Is that movement different from having a too high larynx? Again, thank you for your wise words!
in my county, speech therapist think thats dry needling or acupuncture is good, do u think its helpful?
as a voice actress, my life is so bad after mtd
Some people may find acupuncture helpful.
I tried mam. But I am unable to feel any movement in my throat. I cannot feel that larynx moving down. Can you help on how to realise that?
Put your hand on the throat and yawn without opening the mouth. Feel the larynx move down.
It feels a bit weird to have the larynx so far down, so how do I know the difference between using my real voice/vocal range here and just getting used to it or just disguising my own voice?
It's all your voice. You have choices. I would suggest that "own voice" is something that feels easy and resonant.
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you very much! I feel like I got used to talking in a higher manner than my voice naturally is.
I appreciate your answer! :)
All of these youtube channel take forever. My advice to you, & it’s FREE ! Get to the point !!!
When i try to do the sad voice my voice is going out
And that is ok. You may be using too much effort or this is not the right exercise for you. Or something else.
@@healthyvoicetipsi have been doing your other exercise the past few days where you massage the neck and adams apple.
It has works so well. Thank you. I wish i can cure this issue completely though. Just trying to find out why it keeps happening.
is it normal to feel tension in my vocal chords on my pms days? and what can i do to release vocal tention? sometimes it can be too much that i can not sing very well:(
Yes, hormones greatly affect our voices. Be in tune with your body and do some relaxation exercises or maybe you need to warm up for a little bit longer than usual. I have a lot of exercises for releasing tension on this channel so check them out.
@@healthyvoicetips thank you so much! you are amazing**
I can't seem to find my larynx at all?
That is ok. I am sure it is there, you are just not used to touching it and finding it.
Mam , I always feel like something is stuck in my lower throat.
?
Have you seen an ENT?
@@healthyvoicetips Yes, mam i have taken madicine from 2 months but it don't work enough..
Waw
😉
that wont solve tongue tension
Correct, this exercise is not aimed at tongue tension.
that sad voice make me have more tension
Then, don't continue doing it. There are many other exercises that can feel better for your voice.
Well, not using this is the reason why opera is becoming unpopular and why there aren't any good singers around anymore. Everyone is singing with a high larynx, which is why everyone in pop music sounds like a little girl.
Hopefully not everyone but I understand what you are saying.
No offense I feel like it made ot worst
None taken. When you do the exercise, pay attention to muscle effort. What would happen if you "tried less"?