I lost my singing voice over 6 months ago. Absolutely devastating for me. Singing has been my life for about 40 years. Mark's exercises, especially this one, have been brilliant. My voice is slowly coming back and I've started to sing out again. Can't thank him enough. I will continue with his exercises for the rest of my life!
@@artymunoz5060 he says in the video to do this exercise for an hour. Why would you watch six whole minutes everytime if you’re just trying to warm up for an hour??
Another success story! After a recent performance of one of Haydn’s masses (Michael, not his famous brother), I realized that I was pushing my voice too hard. I started doing this exercise. Sure enough, I could hear breaks in my vocal range. As I repeated the exercise over the next few days, my voice recovered. Thanks for your help!
Head register (thinning vocal folds) is what allows you to produce that female sounding voice. The quickest way to stop your throat from tensing as you sing higher is to allow your voice to crack and sound horrible. The tensing is due to you lifting the larynx as you sing higher - thereby engaging a swallowing behavior. You (and most people) have incorporated this lift into how you control your voice. So the simple way to defeat it is to lose control! You can work on a better sound afterwards.
How long should you do these exercises each day? And, when you get to "yellow light" -- what does that mean? Stop singing all together? Don't go beyond 15 seconds?
@@destiny9734 Lowering your tongue would create that more than lifting the larynx. I don't recommend looking at body parts when singing. The main questions are comfort and control. If the sound is what you intended and you're comfortable making it - missing accomplished!
I've been doing this for over a week. Started with my hums breaking up even at 10 seconds, I can now easily do 15 seconds smoothly 😍 Lost my singing voice and I'm trying to bring it back. Will update!
@@delvinfourcand300 my voice is definitely smoother and singing is much easier. I try not to push it too hard like I did before and practice this one along with other vocalization videos. I also drink warm water after and avoid shouting and other voice misuse.
Did you get your voice checked out by an ent? I damaged my voice a couple of years ago and tho exercises like this one and vocal fry helped a lot, the actual issue remained until i went to a doctor who discovered i had nodules. They were somewhat old and had to be removed surgically. Though i hope that’s not the case with your voice, don’t wait years like i did
I wouldn't call a lack of coordination "damage"! I'm sure there's nothing wrong with your vocal folds - but you'll be a much deeper singer once you gain this skill.
@@dynatwenty - how rude some people are - you are most certainly not a terrible writer - lol!! However, I have noticed something that you do when writing that leads me to ask: Is English your native tongue? I will explain: in both comments employ the word "of" in a similar, non-standard, way : "except of it" and "knowing of my". I have studied linguistics and have an interest in this type of thing. Generally we would expect "except that" and "knowing about". It reminds me of the way people from the West country England say "I be going" instead of "I am going".
Dear Mark, I just wanted to thank you deeply for this exercise: by doing it every day for nearly two months (40 mins - 1 hour a day), I managed to recover from a couple of very annoying micro-nodules on my folds. I will keep doing it for the rest of my life :-) :-) Rock on man \m/ \m/
@@daydream10.18 It can help with vocal nodules as long as they are immature and small. Polyps are different and usually require surgery (unless very small).
About 8 weeks ago I tried this for the 1st time...horrible, lots of cracking. I kept at it for about 6 weeks or so. Through research and paying attention to how I feel when I sing, I learned what it is I need to work on, so I haven't returned to this video until today...before I was mostly only able to do the humming in the men's pitch, trying the female pitch was too high but todaaaaaayy I did it ^_^ My all round vocal health is improving. Thanks Mark!
I just wanna say if there’s anyone who’s frustrated they can’t make it to 10, I was in the same position as you and now I can do it no problem !!! Just keep practicing and remember to control you’re breathing !!! 😊
When doctors don't see damage then the problem is either pinched nerves or stiff and rigid muscles. I think yours is the latter. This exercise is a perfect re-introduction to voice use because it can't do you any harm. It can help you gain back some flexibility - but only if you continue to hum when it cracks and breaks up. Think of yourself as a kid learning to play violin and be patient with a focus on simple form when you sound bad and don't resort to using throat muscles to sound better.
I'm experiencing throat pain on right side from more than an year, The ENT found nothing wrong with the cords. It hurts esp when I sing higher notes. Please guide.
I am part of a choir. I was talking to one of the other women there who told me that for some time now she has't been able to sing like before but the doctors can't find anything wrong. I will introduce her to this exercise with the hopes of her being able to sing easily once again. :)
@Karan Hawa SAME 😭 You guys are giving me my some hope... was 3 octave clear tone soprano in classics and folk music, but lost the top half of my voice for several years with chronic responses since at least 2014, and chronic congestion my whole life. So down about this, feels "immasculating" as a singer (is there a word like that for women?) Nothing seems to really help, on keto and ACV apple cider vinegar/lemon juice/ginger/electrolytes/no sugar now, that helped reduce/remove drinking usually only water, still quite a lot of dairy in my keto diet - hard to do without it 😳. Humming and conscious relaxation seem a good start. Open to suggestions...I can't even sing or record my own gorgeous original songs at the moment. 😭🎶❤️
back to this basic exercise. pinched nerves must be what i'm suffering from. most useful this. i can do 15 sec but it sort of itches, which i trust is a good sign.
this exercise really made me realize how much of an instrument our vocals really are. I really push to much with my falsetto these days. feeling the vibrations at quitter levels has been an eye opener
@@voicelessondotcom It's also allowing me to transition between head and falsetto seamlessly without a crack when I move up from one note to another. It's also cleaning my cords. I'm amazed.
Every time I try I discover a new detail from my voice. What helps me to do so is monitoring my voice live while training and also doing most of the exercises in a very low volume but steady on every note. Thank you for being there. Thanks to all gods out there and the TH-cam algorithm that led me find you.
The oscillation comes from your heartbeat - it's reflecting in your breath stream. It indicates you are a little rigid (nothing dramatic) and continuing to practice this exercise while focusing on eliminating the oscillations will guide you to more flexibility.
I just discovered this video last night and was trying it - and wondering about the subtle pulsing I was hearing. I'll keep this exercise in mind as it's so simple and more importantly, massively helpful from all these comments. Thank you!
I am in a touring tribute band and next year have over 100 gigs already booked in. I struggle with a sore throat and burning tongue. I am doing these exercises regularly but any other advice would be gratefully received.😊
Hello Mark. Greetings from Edinburgh,Scotland. I'm a high school English teacher who has been at it for over 22 years. Partially lost my voice a number of years ago and it really freaked me out. Found this video a while back and have been using it ever since. An absolute godsend and I just wanted to let you know it is much appreciated. Stay gold. ✌🏼❤️
PATIENCE... i suffered from flu last february and it totally damaged my voice. i cant even sing the lowest note that i could, no falcetto is coming out of my voice that i am masterful of,. cant even hit the usual high notes of my chest voice. but since i started doing hummings and othe rvocal exercices, i gradually regained my voice. now i am doing it these vocal exercices everry morning.. thank you for saving my instrument.
@@voicelessondotcom it is,,, patience is really the key of gaining it back.. just 5-10 mins of vocal exercises a day, really has done a big change ,, thanjk u,
Hi Mark. I lost my voice and speech 20 years ago to a neurological disorder called oromandibular dystonia ( say that 10 times fast!) I had to retire from singing, as it was supposed to be incurable. I healed from the disease 10 years ago using neuroplasticity, and I have been back singing for the last seven years, but my voice had really atrophied, and I have been working to get back to my former natural abilities, but really struggling...trying and gigging, but hurting myself, and using techniques that just feel like they are doing more harm than good. You are the first person who I feel is showing something truly helpful. Thanks so much.
Kudos to you Thomas for never giving up! We all must seek new neuropaths to elevate our singing - but you rose to a completely different challenge. Wishing you patience and passion as you head towards vocal comfort and control.
You guys are giving me my some hope... was 3 octave clear tone soprano in classics and folk music, but lost the top half of my voice for several years with chronic responses since at least 2014, and chronic congestion my whole life. So down about this, feels "immasculating" as a singer (is there a word like that for women?) Nothing seems to really help, on keto and ACV apple cider vinegar/lemon juice/ginger/electrolytes/no sugar now, that helped reduce/remove drinking usually only water, still quite a lot of dairy in my keto diet - hard to do without it 😳. Humming and conscious relaxation seem a good start. Open to suggestions...I can't even sing or record my own gorgeous original songs at the moment. 😭🎶❤️
Dear Maestro, My infinite thanks to for helping me to get through a very rough period. Your exercises, though simple, are fundamental for every one , no matter what level of competency. You really helped me on my hour of need. Grazie tante 🙏
Just wanna say thank you Mark, from the bottom of my heart. I'm a British singer/songwriter about to record my first album. Your vocal exercises have saved me time and time again in the last 10 years. Been watching your videos for a long time now. My favourite warm up of yours is the 'Good Morning Voice' video you did. I've been doing that nearly every day for the past 4 years now. I hope to take lessons with you one day! All the best for 2024! 😁
@@kaleoscreations yea! actually I did it for like 2 months since the time I commented here, but I've been using daily voice workout now which you can also see on yt lol
Some 15 years ago I was able to get my voice back with your exercises. Now I'm 66 and figure there's nothing wrong with singing into my old age and I'm humming again. Thank you Mark Baxter. Faafetai tele from American Samoa.
Mark Baxter is, without a doubt, one of the most knowledgeable voice specialists in the business. He literally has not only helped rehab many voices, he teaches the facts of the voice, which most teachers either, don’t even know themselves or teach to their students. Anyone who wants to learn the facts of this instrument and how to sing in the most healthy state possible, follow and listen to everything and anything Mark says. 🙏🏻❤️
This is great, thanks Mark. I love to sing but also talk for a living - 12 hours at a time. I’m using this exercise to strengthen my vocal chords to reduce sore throats and improve my singing 😊
I also speak and sing for 12 hours a day. This exercise is great as a warmup or therapy, but it will not develop strength. Just as getting a body message is good for your health, but does not strengthen your muscles. Use a variety of vocal exercises to build a stable foundation for your voice. Speak with melody and breath freely. There's nothing abusive about using your voice 12 hours a day - if your behavior is balanced.
Hey Cole, There can be many reasons why you're experiencing a dullness in the upper middle of your voice. Allergies, sleep and reflux and three big culprits. But what I suspect is that you are micro managing your voice's registers. The hyper awareness of what register you're in compromises their ability to blend. Resonance is usually the loser when this happens and the sound will be as you describe. So the solution is to focus on the sound you want - not the register you think will get it.
I could barely talk for a week straight, it was too painful, but this video helped me solve that. I can't thank you enough for this. My voice is definitely better after two weeks of doing those gentle hummings. Hope I'll get my previous voice back.
Excellent video Mark. Getting the voice to work properly throughout each bridge is key regardless if the volume is low, the power will always come later if the coordination is right.
Sir whenever I am trying to sing high notes my voice becomes airy or..weak..I can't sustain that note wht can I do plz reply which video is helpful for me
There are exercises you can do to work on breath control, I would suggest working on some of those. that will help your voice also, so you're not raspy trying to get enough breath to finish notes :) Practice makes perfect!
??? I don't think any professional singer or vocal coach would tell you you're supposed to be holding your breath while you sing. Singers learn to use breath control rather than holding their breath.
You are an amazing teacher, I can tell you are very passionate about singing! This Vocal Exercise has helped me immensely with Vocal Flexibility in just a little over a week or two, I can fully explore my range with almost 0 pops or glitches, thank you so much!
Time stamps for the drills/exercises: 1:17 the 10 sec drills 3:45 the 15 sec drills Notes: Eventually want to practice every pitch in your range (5, 10, 15 sec) at a barely audible hum. If no improvement in voice happens after 1 hour, then stop and don't sing.
Mark, thanks for maintaining this channel. The (high tone, low volume, hold 10 sec) hum exercise here, AND the "hung - e -ah" exercise in "Repair Your Voice" video....have been especially helpful. Helpful not only for amateur singing I do, but also (AND perhaps especially) for keeping a good speaking voice in my everyday interactions with people. Nothing makes one, not want to "speak out", ...than knowing one's voice has lost a good timbre. So you're not only helping others with their vocal singing capabilities, but also helping others to "speak out"....into where-ever life is calling them to do so. Sincere Thanks, Ken K.
I have been singing professionally for 20 years and never heard this trick. I LOVE it and it makes complete sense. Also, gives me a way to cool down my vocal chords. THANK YOU!
This has been very very helpful. I was recently diagnosed with vocal polyps. My singing voice is destroyed. I’m in speech therapy. I do the exercises they tell me to do, but I’m doing yours as well and it’s been helping tremendously. Thank you so much for this content
@@voicelessondotcom Haha! But seriously if you drink and eat a lot of dairy I do notice the mucous is there even without damage at least that's what the neighbor I was yelling at told me.
After I noticed I had damaged vocal chords I rested as much as I can for 4 weeks and now am doing these exercises Day 1: my voice is soo shaky Day 2: sustained it for 5 seconds :) (it shakes less and it sustained the 5 seconds a few times ) Day 3: rest day Day 4: hold a not straight for 15 seconds and tried it with different pitches Day5: the lower register is getting more consistent and the high notes too Day6: No big changes Day7: started to warm up in the morning with this exercise and straw exercises (they help to get your vocal chords vibrating in their natural way] Day 13: My voice breaks less and it feels healthier. I tried to sing but it still feels weird, so I decided to just do these exercises for another 2 weeks and then start with exercises to built my voice up again, for example strengthening my head voice and working on support and resonance. I‘ll still use these exercises as my voice probably will not 100% be healed or let’s say back to normal. week 3: my voice breaks not at all (it is still a bit shaky), the only expection is after some coffee, I noticed it irritates my vocal chords and they start to swell, I started to sing and my voice is much clearer, still a little bit weak but we can work on that as long as my vocal chords can fully heal and stay healthy
I notice that i cant even sound a humm at D3 D#3. Except this two the sound is decent enough (not best but nothing to be alarm about) Do you think that i will get those notes back?
@@ethanmagbanua7321 My vocal chords are doing really great. I feel so lucky. It’s exercises like those and straw exercises and lots of rest that got me here. I’ve started from scratch with my vocal technique to unlearn unhealthy habits. I‘m not going to lie sometimes it was really frustrating because I had to skip exercises because of the pain but now looking back, I’m just so happy that I‘m doing better. I have a different awareness towards my voice and know when to rest and what’s good and what isn’t.
This video was fundamental to my healing after vocal surgery 3 years ago (nodule/full recovery 🙏🏻), and it is still my baseline for checking-in on and maintaining my vocal health. Thank you so much, Mark.
Every year I suffer from hayfever and cannot sing properly for about two months. I did this for the first time this morning and about an hour later my voice had completely cleared up, no breathiness or anything. It's amazing how simple it is. Thank you so much!
Thank you Mark ! Your great knowledge and skills as a musician and rock performer are a gift to the world ! My singing voice has improved a lot while following you through Your whole range of videos for years. All the best to You and your family.God bless You !
Notes to self: 1. Do it before and after singing 2. It may take an hour of gentle humming to soothe your vocal folds. If no change occurs, stop and rest. 🛑Do not sing🛑 1:06 (10 seconds) 2:32 Tough for me to reach, even as a female. Voice breaks at 6 seconds in. But I think I was able to do the rest comfortably. 10 seconds first. Then 15 seconds. 3:43 (15 seconds) So I discovered with humming there are two sensations: 1. Hums that feel like they're from the back of my throat and not a lot of abdomen work. 2. Hums that feel like they're from the front of my throat and are supported by my abdomen. The voice sounds closer to my nose when I do the sigh. Are both alright or is one bad and the other good? December 15 2022 update: I got better at doing them, even the ones I had difficulty with. Thank you 🦋🌼
Sir, you have my respect! I've just unlocked vocal fry a few days ago and I also catched a cold. Now my laryngs hurts snd feels sore and I didn't know how to make sure it was because of the cold, not because of the oversinging in this new achieved voice that I love. You really saved me :)
I can't thank you enough! I had a nasty bout with "the ick" a couple of weeks ago and I sounded like a 4-pack-a-day smoker!!! Just starting to get my soprano voice back. This is really wonderful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! (Lucky to have found you! I've subscribed!)
Super helpful, thanks! I have a student recovering from thyroid surgery and this is a GREAT start to getting her back to singing. Thanks again for posting!
you only had 4043 comments and i wanted to make it nice 4044 number for you! I don't have any vocal chords damage, but i enjoyed just humming along with you. Cheers Mark!
Hey mark, thanks so much for this help! I’m really into death metal and screaming vocals and I started signing a long with these songs with no practice or technique at all. I would just scream until it somewhat sounded similar. It really damaged my voice and minimized my range a lot but after this exercise my voice feels a lot better and I’ve been using better technique when singing this type of music. :)
Not speaking from personal experience, but I've heard secondhand many times that technique is absolutely essential to doing screaming/growls right (or at least in a way that won't wreck your vocal cords in the long run). Definitely consider going through some videos from vocalists who you think really know what they're doing - I'm sure it'll help if you'd like to continue with death metal!
Awesome! I really needed something like this, totally doable and clearly understandable (no "am I doing it right?" "am I going to develop a bad habit?"). I love the fact that you can gauge the health of your voice with this. Thanks!
I love re-visiting your videos. They're very helpful. Sometimes, I don't give enough time to warming up when I get to singing, and this really helps me to remember that caring for the vocal chords really has to be first priority. Thank you!!!
I've had to take Prednisone over the years and I can definitely tell the difference in my voice. I have also been sick here and there and I'll say this simple exercise has helped tremendously!!! Thank you
Thank you for this fascinating and very practical video! I found my voice breaking up and getting scratchy, but have found that I wasn't getting enough air. I will do this exercise every day!
Hi Mark, I came across this a few weeks ago. I have to say it has really helped during a terrible spell of allergies over the last few months, as I have been extremely nasally . I'm a 60 year old Baritenor so starting from C2 up through each major note to C4 for 25 seconds each, then back down to C1 has really smoothed things out. I do this every day before moving on to warm ups. Having had polyps removed from my vocal chords a few years ago, this is a must for any singer who really wants to massage their vocals. I'm just about to have a look at your new Chill Warmup & Workout. Thanks again and keep up your great work that you so generously share with everybody!
I always return to this video whenever I'm having a bad allergies it soothing my voice, especially on rainy cold days. I don't know how I can pay you back the support. Thanks a lot and God bless you and your family.
HI my name is Mandy iv,e been a singer for many years and have a good range. i have not been singing for over 5 years as i needed a break and change of direction,i noticed my voice becomes sore after a couple of hours practice but most upsetting is my mid range sometimes comes through and other times nothing at all like loss of voice on certain notes and sometimes breaks.is this a phonatory gap through over working it in my day as i also have allergies which last time made my vocal chords swell .in general i am rusty but i still have a good range ..HELP PLEASE
@@mandygregan3933 If you had a break for a long time then it's better to start easy and soft, I also realized the longer I sing and keep practicing the stronger my voice gets but with ease, but when I stop for a some time it sounds weak and soft. So take it easy. That's my opinion.
@@voicelessondotcom thanks for replying! I’ve been getting phlegm and recently read that my body could be creating it to protect my vocal chords. My mind is blown. I need to obvs go slower to rehab my voice. Thanks for all you do! ❤️✨🌈
@@dreikycaprice It all depends where the phlegm is coming from. Is it dripping down from above your larynx? Is it working up from your lungs? Neither are due to vocal stress (but will cause it). It's when we irritate the folds by grinding through swelling that the body produces an extra layer of mucous on the folds to protect them. Hydrate and rehab - you'll be good as new!
this video and a few of your other "health" vids (and your website FAQ) literally saved me a trip to the ENT. I was worried about my voice getting a bit scratchy etc and I was starting to have trouble hitting my normal higher notes, but I started humming a lot and doing other semi occluded stuff and my voice is doing quite well now. I think I was simply pushing into vocal cord swelling a tiny bit. Thanks Mark
I started singing like 3 months ago, and lately It's hard for me to talk like I used to, I hear my voice airy and sometimes I wake up a little dysphonic. I'm really worried , but I won't stop doing this exercise with my goal in mind. Thank you so much
I think I've finally grasped this exercise. The point is to make your diaphragm slowly push the air through your vocal chords; if you use too much muscles from around your throat, the sounds gets rough and you run out of air quickly.
Exactly right! And for more control - think of your diaphragm's movement as a controlled release rather than pushing the air. You are a balloon leaking air!
Thank you SO much for posting this! I damaged my voice about a month ago, and made very slow progress in recovering it, despite almost complete vocal rest. I started doing this exercise a few days ago, and combined it with steam inhalation (basically I made myself a hot cup of tea with voice healing herbs in it and inhaled the steam on every inhale, then with every exhale I did the humming), and I did this for about 10 minutes, or until my tea was cold, twice a day. I made incredible progress the last few days! This morning my voice sounded so good I almost cried. Thank you thank you thank you!
It’s safe to say I’m stuck binge watching your tutorials. I literally have only been singing for just under a year, but have always loved the idea of it. Starting out I never really did my research on vocal training/tuning until, well honestly, now! The amount of structure and emphasis I have added to my vocals just these past few weeks from watching your tutorials and many others have been remarkable! I truly appreciate your work and can’t wait to see how much more I improve!! :)
This is amazing! When I first started this I could only do it with a lot of fry through my break (F, G, A above middle C) - and a few lower notes too - now only after a few days I’m getting some clarity on those notes. Sometimes completely clear for 10 seconds! Still away to go to build some strength through those notes but feeling hopeful. Thanks so much 🙏
1:16 Start 3:43 "You wanna move on to 15 seconds" 4:20 "Let's try a pitch here" To skip the spoken sections and go straight to the hums credit -@Luca-tw9fk
Maybe 3yrs ago Mark recommended this for vocal PT, not singing lessons, cause my voice was in bad shape. I'm a female though had to take the lower octave. Man he was spot on with the wobbly in and out of air, so I changed down to the lower register being a female, I swear in about 2weeks there was such a change..I then reverted back to not being discipline and now, 2023 I also have COPD and 3 hums I have to go down to the lower range. Still can hold the breath the 15 mins yay..please do these, they work!! Oh, well if you do them! So, I'm back to doing this and knowing I'll get results, perhaps not as quickly as I did, some yrs ago.
Thanks! Giggin tonight with an illness and this a great way of judging what octaves I got that I can achieve safely without screwing me up. I wish I didn't have to play ill in general but a friend just got married and I committed way too long ago. Lemon, water, and teas for this guy, and off to rehab my throat this winter... woo...
I had a pretty good range then, About a month ago while talking on the phone my throat got really dry and felt like it was burning and on fire. I can't even get close to the range i used to have without my voice cracking now. Forget about high notes, no sound will come. I have falsetto but, i won't accept that. Its been a month and is getting slightly better thanks to your exercises.
Your vocal exercises are the best on TH-cam, thank you so much! I do most of them before I perform. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart! xxx
Brilliant Mark! I knew i had some damage and this technique revealed both the breaking and the fact that i can only sustain to about 13 or 14. thanks very much!
I think I made it to 15 seconds…. The clock was at 5 secs and next thing I know I woke up to the end of a Rogan podcast. Worked so good I got tenittis in both ears and my furniture levitates when I hum now Jokes aside, Amazing warm up, when I match your tone my vision , my room,and my body resonates. Thank you
+Voice Lesson.com can I get a nasal endoscopy and apply something to my vocal cords for a magical fix? I was learning to sing I practice every day. But now I cant even talk without feeling vocal strain and can't produce much noise. it's also irratating when I talk which brings my confidence down. idk what to do.. any suggestions?
Subscribed What I like about Mark's little tips is that there is very little B.S. he doesn't do a lot of unnecessary talking, he just gets right into helping you.
Thanks Mark, I have appointed you as my vocal coach, I have not a bad smoothened out voice my problem is going 15 secons and I should complain since I just ate and been smoking for 45 years nearly, no laughing matter! I need to strengthen my breating techniques, when I record I run out breath and need to remove it in melodyne, I would like to find good breathing techniques, my worst habit is breathing through my mouth, but I cannot see how I can draw in enough air through my nose to belt out rock vocals, thanks again
Vocal exercises can't solve your health issues! There's a reason rock singers are lean and in tip top aerobic shape - that's because the music they sing requires physical stamina. Address your health issues (for many benefits) and your singing will improve dramatically.
This is amazing. Once I got to the fourth note I couldn't even produce sound. I recently realized I have post nasal drip and clear my throat 1048x a day. Since breaking the habit I feel like I'm drowning, but I'm determined to have a healthy voice. Can't wait to start this ❤️
Diluted apple cider vinegar, raw garlic, and honey. Experiment with different versions of these. I take in the evening and have noticed a profound difference to the (need to swallow). Vagus exercises Also are extremely helpful. Slippery elm, mallow tinctures/tabs.. etc are all good
After having to take a full year of vocal rest and 3 years of barely singing a proper C# note. I am finally able to sing that note powerfully and even sing in a Bb wow. THANK YOU MAX, been using your exercises a year now. Finally, my voice is starting to feel amazing again. 4 years after vocal damage.
Oh my!!! I am so so happy to read this. It has been about 13 years since I injured my voice (in music school ironically) and I am just now looking for how to seriously recover it. I am excited that there may be hope yet.
@@DHILLA-yz4rx Overuse under alot of stress, poor sleep and nutrition, an undiagnosed thyroid condition, singing for hours daily even when I was sick (ignoring the pain), and using force.
I lost my singing voice over 6 months ago. Absolutely devastating for me. Singing has been my life for about 40 years. Mark's exercises, especially this one, have been brilliant. My voice is slowly coming back and I've started to sing out again. Can't thank him enough. I will continue with his exercises for the rest of my life!
Welcome back Pamela!
❤️❤️❤️
Starting these exercises now for the same reason.Curious how many times a week you do them and how long (an hour?). thx!
If you are a man and the pitch is too high, can I hum in falsetto, or is it better to drop the octave?
Thank you
Same for me
1:16 Start
3:43 "You wanna move on to 15 seconds"
4:20 "Let's try a pitch here"
To skip the spoken sections and go straight to the hums
I mean the video is only 6 minutes long
@@artymunoz5060 Ye I just made this so I could repeat it easily every time I revisit
Thank you for this!!
thx
@@artymunoz5060 he says in the video to do this exercise for an hour. Why would you watch six whole minutes everytime if you’re just trying to warm up for an hour??
Another success story! After a recent performance of one of Haydn’s masses (Michael, not his famous brother), I realized that I was pushing my voice too hard. I started doing this exercise. Sure enough, I could hear breaks in my vocal range. As I repeated the exercise over the next few days, my voice recovered. Thanks for your help!
Glad to help out!
When you think you've been humming for a long time and then you look at the clock and it's only been 4 seconds. 😅
Ha!
Saaaame
I was o.k but then kept running out of breath
Head register (thinning vocal folds) is what allows you to produce that female sounding voice. The quickest way to stop your throat from tensing as you sing higher is to allow your voice to crack and sound horrible. The tensing is due to you lifting the larynx as you sing higher - thereby engaging a swallowing behavior. You (and most people) have incorporated this lift into how you control your voice. So the simple way to defeat it is to lose control! You can work on a better sound afterwards.
How long should you do these exercises each day? And, when you get to "yellow light" -- what does that mean? Stop singing all together? Don't go beyond 15 seconds?
How do you lose control? Should I relearn to control it? I love your video's! Good place, for healthy information.
@@williamwatson8274 th-cam.com/video/EKOlgdiqarM/w-d-xo.html
Does lifting the Larynx make under your chin puff out, kinda like a frog 🐸? I can’t seem to help this.
@@destiny9734 Lowering your tongue would create that more than lifting the larynx. I don't recommend looking at body parts when singing. The main questions are comfort and control. If the sound is what you intended and you're comfortable making it - missing accomplished!
I've been doing this for over a week. Started with my hums breaking up even at 10 seconds, I can now easily do 15 seconds smoothly 😍 Lost my singing voice and I'm trying to bring it back. Will update!
Update: I can sing again! Though still not as well as before. Working my way back to my past voice!
@@mjlsantillan nice job !
@@mjlsantillan what about now
@@delvinfourcand300 my voice is definitely smoother and singing is much easier. I try not to push it too hard like I did before and practice this one along with other vocalization videos. I also drink warm water after and avoid shouting and other voice misuse.
Did you get your voice checked out by an ent?
I damaged my voice a couple of years ago and tho exercises like this one and vocal fry helped a lot, the actual issue remained until i went to a doctor who discovered i had nodules.
They were somewhat old and had to be removed surgically.
Though i hope that’s not the case with your voice, don’t wait years like i did
Thanks! My family will approve of these practice techniques.
Lmao!
I love people who have witty comments like you😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂
Charlie yeah I love singing jokes
Amaze yeah same
I came in perfect condition, left with knowing of my vocal damage.
I wouldn't call a lack of coordination "damage"! I'm sure there's nothing wrong with your vocal folds - but you'll be a much deeper singer once you gain this skill.
@like_totally_pending_approval i am? How so? Could you explain that ? I´m sorry if you´re having a bad day.
@@dynatwenty - how rude some people are - you are most certainly not a terrible writer - lol!!
However, I have noticed something that you do when writing that leads me to ask: Is English your native tongue? I will explain: in both comments employ the word "of" in a similar, non-standard, way : "except of it" and "knowing of my". I have studied linguistics and have an interest in this type of thing. Generally we would expect "except that" and "knowing about".
It reminds me of the way people from the West country England say "I be going" instead of "I am going".
@@honeychurchgipsy6 funny, thank you. No, im german. And now that you mention it my of sounds kind of off. :-o
@@dynatwenty I got your joke. Kind of like, "I didn't know I had a headache, until I took some aspirin". :)
Dear Mark, I just wanted to thank you deeply for this exercise: by doing it every day for nearly two months (40 mins - 1 hour a day), I managed to recover from a couple of very annoying micro-nodules on my folds. I will keep doing it for the rest of my life :-) :-) Rock on man \m/ \m/
Andrea Ianni That's great news Andrea!
Andrea Ianni s
Wow
Anything else help?
Any updates? You still practice?
Fantastic how good this simple ex is! Has really helped me get back into proper singing after vocal abuse. Thanks again Mark
Rob Lundgren Live Vocals Glad it helped Rob!
@@voicelessondotcom does it also help with vocal polyps or nodules?
@@daydream10.18 It can help with vocal nodules as long as they are immature and small. Polyps are different and usually require surgery (unless very small).
@@voicelessondotcom I see. Thank you.
Hallo sir I'm very interesting your training
About 8 weeks ago I tried this for the 1st time...horrible, lots of cracking. I kept at it for about 6 weeks or so. Through research and paying attention to how I feel when I sing, I learned what it is I need to work on, so I haven't returned to this video until today...before I was mostly only able to do the humming in the men's pitch, trying the female pitch was too high but todaaaaaayy I did it ^_^ My all round vocal health is improving. Thanks Mark!
You're welcome!
I just wanna say if there’s anyone who’s frustrated they can’t make it to 10, I was in the same position as you and now I can do it no problem !!! Just keep practicing and remember to control you’re breathing !!! 😊
Thank you so much for posting this Andrew! It means more coming from someone who's done the work.
@@voicelessondotcomBeen using these exercises and tips since late 2018. 🎉
Consistently do these, and you’ll get to 10,15, and beyond!
When doctors don't see damage then the problem is either pinched nerves or stiff and rigid muscles. I think yours is the latter. This exercise is a perfect re-introduction to voice use because it can't do you any harm. It can help you gain back some flexibility - but only if you continue to hum when it cracks and breaks up. Think of yourself as a kid learning to play violin and be patient with a focus on simple form when you sound bad and don't resort to using throat muscles to sound better.
I'm experiencing throat pain on right side from more than an year, The ENT found nothing wrong with the cords. It hurts esp when I sing higher notes. Please guide.
I am part of a choir. I was talking to one of the other women there who told me that for some time now she has't been able to sing like before but the doctors can't find anything wrong. I will introduce her to this exercise with the hopes of her being able to sing easily once again. :)
@@13harr Yes - this is a good place to begin.
@Karan Hawa SAME 😭
You guys are giving me my some hope... was 3 octave clear tone soprano in classics and folk music, but lost the top half of my voice for several years with chronic responses since at least 2014, and chronic congestion my whole life.
So down about this, feels "immasculating" as a singer (is there a word like that for women?)
Nothing seems to really help, on keto and ACV apple cider vinegar/lemon juice/ginger/electrolytes/no sugar now, that helped reduce/remove drinking usually only water, still quite a lot of dairy in my keto diet - hard to do without it 😳.
Humming and conscious relaxation seem a good start. Open to suggestions...I can't even sing or record my own gorgeous original songs at the moment. 😭🎶❤️
back to this basic exercise. pinched nerves must be what i'm suffering from. most useful this. i can do 15 sec but it sort of itches, which i trust is a good sign.
this exercise really made me realize how much of an instrument our vocals really are. I really push to much with my falsetto these days. feeling the vibrations at quitter levels has been an eye opener
You are correct!
@@voicelessondotcom It's also allowing me to transition between head and falsetto seamlessly without a crack when I move up from one note to another. It's also cleaning my cords. I'm amazed.
@@lorcanturner4508 Glad to help!
this exercise has been invaluable in healing my voice! it really works ya'll. God bless you mark!
Glad to help!
Every time I try I discover a new detail from my voice. What helps me to do so is monitoring my voice live while training and also doing most of the exercises in a very low volume but steady on every note.
Thank you for being there. Thanks to all gods out there and the TH-cam algorithm that led me find you.
The low volume strategy works very well!
The oscillation comes from your heartbeat - it's reflecting in your breath stream. It indicates you are a little rigid (nothing dramatic) and continuing to practice this exercise while focusing on eliminating the oscillations will guide you to more flexibility.
The humming breaks no matter how low or what I do...ideas? Will keep trying with lowest strongest part of voice...miss my upper half 😭🎶🙏
I just discovered this video last night and was trying it - and wondering about the subtle pulsing I was hearing. I'll keep this exercise in mind as it's so simple and more importantly, massively helpful from all these comments. Thank you!
Lifetime vocalist here getting back in shape for a huge event in 2 weeks. Soooo glad I found you!!!!
Good luck, Devin! There are many more routines to work with on my channel. Have at it!
Thank you!@@voicelessondotcom
I am in a touring tribute band and next year have over 100 gigs already booked in. I struggle with a sore throat and burning tongue. I am doing these exercises regularly but any other advice would be gratefully received.😊
Hello Mark. Greetings from Edinburgh,Scotland. I'm a high school English teacher who has been at it for over 22 years. Partially lost my voice a number of years ago and it really freaked me out. Found this video a while back and have been using it ever since. An absolute godsend and I just wanted to let you know it is much appreciated. Stay gold. ✌🏼❤️
So glad I could help!
PATIENCE... i suffered from flu last february and it totally damaged my voice. i cant even sing the lowest note that i could, no falcetto is coming out of my voice that i am masterful of,. cant even hit the usual high notes of my chest voice. but since i started doing hummings and othe rvocal exercices, i gradually regained my voice. now i am doing it these vocal exercices everry morning.. thank you for saving my instrument.
Great comment! Patience is the key!
@@voicelessondotcom it is,,, patience is really the key of gaining it back.. just 5-10 mins of vocal exercises a day, really has done a big change ,, thanjk u,
Hi Mark. I lost my voice and speech 20 years ago to a neurological disorder called oromandibular dystonia ( say that 10 times fast!) I had to retire from singing, as it was supposed to be incurable. I healed from the disease 10 years ago using neuroplasticity, and I have been back singing for the last seven years, but my voice had really atrophied, and I have been working to get back to my former natural abilities, but really struggling...trying and gigging, but hurting myself, and using techniques that just feel like they are doing more harm than good. You are the first person who I feel is showing something truly helpful. Thanks so much.
Kudos to you Thomas for never giving up! We all must seek new neuropaths to elevate our singing - but you rose to a completely different challenge. Wishing you patience and passion as you head towards vocal comfort and control.
@Thomas Wade can you say more about oromandibular dystonia, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, progress 🎶🙏
You guys are giving me my some hope... was 3 octave clear tone soprano in classics and folk music, but lost the top half of my voice for several years with chronic responses since at least 2014, and chronic congestion my whole life.
So down about this, feels "immasculating" as a singer (is there a word like that for women?)
Nothing seems to really help, on keto and ACV apple cider vinegar/lemon juice/ginger/electrolytes/no sugar now, that helped reduce/remove drinking usually only water, still quite a lot of dairy in my keto diet - hard to do without it 😳.
Humming and conscious relaxation seem a good start. Open to suggestions...I can't even sing or record my own gorgeous original songs at the moment. 😭🎶❤️
Dear Maestro,
My infinite thanks to for helping me to get through a very rough period. Your exercises, though simple, are fundamental for every one , no matter what level of competency. You really helped me on my hour of need.
Grazie tante 🙏
I'm very glad my videos were there to help! And you are correct - the basics apply to every singer.
@@voicelessondotcom 😌
Just wanna say thank you Mark, from the bottom of my heart. I'm a British singer/songwriter about to record my first album. Your vocal exercises have saved me time and time again in the last 10 years. Been watching your videos for a long time now. My favourite warm up of yours is the 'Good Morning Voice' video you did. I've been doing that nearly every day for the past 4 years now. I hope to take lessons with you one day! All the best for 2024! 😁
I'm happy to help. Best wishes on the new album, Liam!
You are the best teacher in the world, i have been following you for years ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I'm happy to help!
my voice were ruined for a year, I'm trying to repair it now so starting today I'll tryna do this. mark this comment!
You can do it!
Hey! Did you repair it?
@@kaleoscreations yea! actually I did it for like 2 months since the time I commented here, but I've been using daily voice workout now which you can also see on yt lol
.
@@itsmkari Can you send the link of those videos? I lost my upper range :/
Some 15 years ago I was able to get my voice back with your exercises.
Now I'm 66 and figure there's nothing wrong with singing into my old age and I'm humming again. Thank you Mark Baxter. Faafetai tele from American Samoa.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Mark Baxter is, without a doubt, one of the most knowledgeable voice specialists in the business.
He literally has not only helped rehab many voices, he teaches the facts of the voice, which most teachers either, don’t even know themselves or teach to their students.
Anyone who wants to learn the facts of this instrument and how to sing in the most healthy state possible, follow and listen to everything and anything Mark says. 🙏🏻❤️
Ellen you rock! Actually, you swoon, soar, float, fly, blaze and beautify anything you sing! :)
This is great, thanks Mark. I love to sing but also talk for a living - 12 hours at a time. I’m using this exercise to strengthen my vocal chords to reduce sore throats and improve my singing 😊
I also speak and sing for 12 hours a day. This exercise is great as a warmup or therapy, but it will not develop strength. Just as getting a body message is good for your health, but does not strengthen your muscles. Use a variety of vocal exercises to build a stable foundation for your voice. Speak with melody and breath freely. There's nothing abusive about using your voice 12 hours a day - if your behavior is balanced.
@ Thank you, I will take that advice 😊
This is so so fantastic! Reduces swelling. So many people don’t know this and it’s SO important 🖤 thank you for sharing with your followers
I just did this for the first time in my life and I;ve noticed a DRASTIC improvement in my vocal flexibility already! Thank you so much for this!!!!
The same happened to me. Did the exercise on high notes only and could sing deeper notes than usually afterwards. Wow :)
Hey Cole, There can be many reasons why you're experiencing a dullness in the upper middle of your voice. Allergies, sleep and reflux and three big culprits. But what I suspect is that you are micro managing your voice's registers. The hyper awareness of what register you're in compromises their ability to blend. Resonance is usually the loser when this happens and the sound will be as you describe. So the solution is to focus on the sound you want - not the register you think will get it.
I could barely talk for a week straight, it was too painful, but this video helped me solve that. I can't thank you enough for this. My voice is definitely better after two weeks of doing those gentle hummings. Hope I'll get my previous voice back.
Glad your voice is returning! Easy does it!
Excellent video Mark. Getting the voice to work properly throughout each bridge is key regardless if the volume is low, the power will always come later if the coordination is right.
Sir whenever I am trying to sing high notes my voice becomes airy or..weak..I can't sustain that note wht can I do plz reply which video is helpful for me
How are you 😂
It's one of those classic videos I keep coming Back to again and again. Thanks ever so much for this!
I'm so glad you're using it!
I always return home for my tune-up. Thanks, Boss.
Welcome home!
Wow. Im actually surprised how easy this was for me. But the only thing that I had trouble in was holding my breath for that long lol
me too
I can hold it for 30 seconds but I am a bad singer and beginner
10 seconds is easy but 15 is much harder
There are exercises you can do to work on breath control, I would suggest working on some of those. that will help your voice also, so you're not raspy trying to get enough breath to finish notes :) Practice makes perfect!
??? I don't think any professional singer or vocal coach would tell you you're supposed to be holding your breath while you sing. Singers learn to use breath control rather than holding their breath.
Not a question but I just wanna say, it's impressive how you respond to almost all question xD like wow
Now, how can I NOT respond to your post?! It's simple: Helping singers means a lot to me.
@@voicelessondotcom that's really sweet, you're very dedicated :D
You are an amazing teacher, I can tell you are very passionate about singing! This Vocal Exercise has helped me immensely with Vocal Flexibility in just a little over a week or two, I can fully explore my range with almost 0 pops or glitches, thank you so much!
You're welcome! I'm happy to help!
Time stamps for the drills/exercises:
1:17 the 10 sec drills
3:45 the 15 sec drills
Notes:
Eventually want to practice every pitch in your range (5, 10, 15 sec) at a barely audible hum. If no improvement in voice happens after 1 hour, then stop and don't sing.
Mark, thanks for maintaining this channel. The (high tone, low volume, hold 10 sec) hum exercise here, AND the "hung - e -ah" exercise in "Repair Your Voice" video....have been especially helpful.
Helpful not only for amateur singing I do, but also (AND perhaps especially) for keeping a good speaking voice in my everyday interactions with people. Nothing makes one, not want to "speak out", ...than knowing one's voice has lost a good timbre.
So you're not only helping others with their vocal singing capabilities, but also helping others to "speak out"....into where-ever life is calling them to do so. Sincere Thanks, Ken K.
You're very welcome Ken! Glad to help every voice ring true.
I have been singing professionally for 20 years and never heard this trick. I LOVE it and it makes complete sense. Also, gives me a way to cool down my vocal chords. THANK YOU!
This has been very very helpful. I was recently diagnosed with vocal polyps. My singing voice is destroyed. I’m in speech therapy. I do the exercises they tell me to do, but I’m doing yours as well and it’s been helping tremendously. Thank you so much for this content
Take your time coming back and you'll be good as new!
For the second time in five years, following instructions from this fantastic video has helped me restore my singing voice. Thank you so much!!
Thanks Mark. Constantly yelling at my family and my neighbors has made my voice really hoarse. This really helps!
Or - tell your family to go live at the neighbors. Then you'll only have to yell half as much!
@@voicelessondotcom Btw I notice that sometimes that breaking is due to phlegm and mucous rather than actual vocal damage.
@@paulpena5040 You're not damaged - you're irritated. The phlegm is a response to that irritation. Up your hydration and stop yelling at people!
@@voicelessondotcom Haha! But seriously if you drink and eat a lot of dairy I do notice the mucous is there even without damage at least that's what the neighbor I was yelling at told me.
After I noticed I had damaged vocal chords I rested as much as I can for 4 weeks and now am doing these exercises
Day 1: my voice is soo shaky
Day 2: sustained it for 5 seconds :) (it
shakes less and it sustained the 5
seconds a few times )
Day 3: rest day
Day 4: hold a not straight for 15 seconds
and tried it with different pitches
Day5: the lower register is getting more
consistent and the high notes too
Day6: No big changes
Day7: started to warm up in the morning with this exercise and straw exercises (they help to get your vocal chords vibrating in their natural way]
Day 13: My voice breaks less and it feels healthier. I tried to sing but it still feels weird, so I decided to just do these exercises for another 2 weeks and then start with exercises to built my voice up again, for example strengthening my head voice and working on support and resonance. I‘ll still use these exercises as my voice probably will not 100% be healed or let’s say back to normal.
week 3: my voice breaks not at all (it is still a bit shaky), the only expection is after some coffee, I noticed it irritates my vocal chords and they start to swell, I started to sing and my voice is much clearer, still a little bit weak but we can work on that as long as my vocal chords can fully heal and stay healthy
Easy does it - you'll build back up again.
I notice that i cant even sound a humm at D3 D#3. Except this two the sound is decent enough (not best but nothing to be alarm about)
Do you think that i will get those notes back?
Great practice notes!!
update again?
@@ethanmagbanua7321 My vocal chords are doing really great. I feel so lucky. It’s exercises like those and straw exercises and lots of rest that got me here. I’ve started from scratch with my vocal technique to unlearn unhealthy habits.
I‘m not going to lie sometimes it was really frustrating because I had to skip exercises because of the pain but now looking back, I’m just so happy that I‘m doing better.
I have a different awareness towards my voice and know when to rest and what’s good and what isn’t.
This is awesome! I had 6 x 3 hour solo acoustic shows this week. This warm up really helped me survive it 🙏🏻😀
That's great - it's a wonderful recovery tool.
Hi! I'm a singer recovering from nodules and I really appreciate your videos. They've been helping me so much.
Thanks i have GERD and singing is pretty difficult this video is actually so helpful to heal my voice
I'm glad to be helping!
thank you sir... i was worried my voice was damaged.i passed with flying colors,just need to practice lol.subscribed
This is brilliant exercise to do. I've certainly noticed an improvement in my voice. I try to do this at least 5 times a day.
This video was fundamental to my healing after vocal surgery 3 years ago (nodule/full recovery 🙏🏻), and it is still my baseline for checking-in on and maintaining my vocal health. Thank you so much, Mark.
Glad to help you get your mojo back!
Every year I suffer from hayfever and cannot sing properly for about two months. I did this for the first time this morning and about an hour later my voice had completely cleared up, no breathiness or anything. It's amazing how simple it is. Thank you so much!
I suffer from allergies as well. I've got more videos on the subject in this playlist: th-cam.com/video/YCicvAeVQ4g/w-d-xo.html
Thank you Mark ! Your great knowledge and skills as a musician and rock performer are a gift to the world ! My singing voice has improved a lot while following you through Your whole range of videos for years. All the best to You and your family.God bless You !
You're welcome! I'm glad to help.
🙏
@@societysista6187 I hope it helps!
My vocal chords have issues. Time to admit that. Darn. Well, time to recover.
This totally works... been doing it the past week, everyday about 10 minutes... and my voice is clear, strong and available... Thank you!
You're welcome! I'm glad you used it!
dude,you helped me so much,THANK YOU! It also made my voice better,I cant believe it O.O
Notes to self:
1. Do it before and after singing
2. It may take an hour of gentle humming to soothe your vocal folds. If no change occurs, stop and rest. 🛑Do not sing🛑
1:06 (10 seconds)
2:32
Tough for me to reach, even as a female. Voice breaks at 6 seconds in. But I think I was able to do the rest comfortably.
10 seconds first. Then 15 seconds.
3:43 (15 seconds)
So I discovered with humming there are two sensations:
1. Hums that feel like they're from the back of my throat and not a lot of abdomen work.
2. Hums that feel like they're from the front of my throat and are supported by my abdomen. The voice sounds closer to my nose when I do the sigh.
Are both alright or is one bad and the other good?
December 15 2022 update:
I got better at doing them, even the ones I had difficulty with. Thank you 🦋🌼
Both are correct if at a low volume. Always default to what is comfortable.
@@voicelessondotcom thank you.
Sir, you have my respect! I've just unlocked vocal fry a few days ago and I also catched a cold. Now my laryngs hurts snd feels sore and I didn't know how to make sure it was because of the cold, not because of the oversinging in this new achieved voice that I love. You really saved me :)
Recovering from laryngitis!! This is a great help!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Glad to help out!
I can't thank you enough! I had a nasty bout with "the ick" a couple of weeks ago and I sounded like a 4-pack-a-day smoker!!! Just starting to get my soprano voice back. This is really wonderful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! (Lucky to have found you! I've subscribed!)
Welcome to my channel and glad to help!
Super helpful, thanks! I have a student recovering from thyroid surgery and this is a GREAT start to getting her back to singing. Thanks again for posting!
You're welcome!
you only had 4043 comments and i wanted to make it nice 4044 number for you! I don't have any vocal chords damage, but i enjoyed just humming along with you. Cheers Mark!
Thanks for evening out the comments - cheers!
1:16- 10 seconds
3:41- 15 seconds
Thankyou for this!!
Hey mark, thanks so much for this help! I’m really into death metal and screaming vocals and I started signing a long with these songs with no practice or technique at all. I would just scream until it somewhat sounded similar. It really damaged my voice and minimized my range a lot but after this exercise my voice feels a lot better and I’ve been using better technique when singing this type of music. :)
Glad to help!
Not speaking from personal experience, but I've heard secondhand many times that technique is absolutely essential to doing screaming/growls right (or at least in a way that won't wreck your vocal cords in the long run). Definitely consider going through some videos from vocalists who you think really know what they're doing - I'm sure it'll help if you'd like to continue with death metal!
Awesome! I really needed something like this, totally doable and clearly understandable (no "am I doing it right?" "am I going to develop a bad habit?"). I love the fact that you can gauge the health of your voice with this. Thanks!
I love re-visiting your videos. They're very helpful. Sometimes, I don't give enough time to warming up when I get to singing, and this really helps me to remember that caring for the vocal chords really has to be first priority. Thank you!!!
You're welcome Lorrie - keep those folds pliable and they'll sing forever!
I've had to take Prednisone over the years and I can definitely tell the difference in my voice. I have also been sick here and there and I'll say this simple exercise has helped tremendously!!! Thank you
Glad you're using it!
Thank you for this fascinating and very practical video!
I found my voice breaking up and getting scratchy, but have found that I wasn't getting enough air. I will do this exercise every day!
It's a great way to re-connect with your voice every day!
Hi Mark, I came across this a few weeks ago. I have to say it has really helped during a terrible spell of allergies over the last few months, as I have been extremely nasally . I'm a 60 year old Baritenor so starting from C2 up through each major note to C4 for 25 seconds each, then back down to C1 has really smoothed things out. I do this every day before moving on to warm ups. Having had polyps removed from my vocal chords a few years ago, this is a must for any singer who really wants to massage their vocals. I'm just about to have a look at your new Chill Warmup & Workout. Thanks again and keep up your great work that you so generously share with everybody!
Glad you're doing well!
I always return to this video whenever I'm having a bad allergies it soothing my voice, especially on rainy cold days. I don't know how I can pay you back the support. Thanks a lot and God bless you and your family.
Knowing I am helping is all the support I need.
HI my name is Mandy iv,e been a singer for many years and have a good range. i have not been singing for over 5 years as i needed a break and change of direction,i noticed my voice becomes sore after a couple of hours practice but most upsetting is my mid range sometimes comes through and other times nothing at all like loss of voice on certain notes and sometimes breaks.is this a phonatory gap through over working it in my day as i also have allergies which last time made my vocal chords swell .in general i am rusty but i still have a good range ..HELP PLEASE
@@mandygregan3933 If you had a break for a long time then it's better to start easy and soft, I also realized the longer I sing and keep practicing the stronger my voice gets but with ease, but when I stop for a some time it sounds weak and soft. So take it easy. That's my opinion.
Mark your exercises are the best. They are truly renewing my confidence in my voice.
That's great! I'm glad to help out.
@@voicelessondotcom thanks for replying! I’ve been getting phlegm and recently read that my body could be creating it to protect my vocal chords. My
mind is blown. I need to obvs go slower to rehab my voice. Thanks for all you do! ❤️✨🌈
@@dreikycaprice It all depends where the phlegm is coming from. Is it dripping down from above your larynx? Is it working up from your lungs? Neither are due to vocal stress (but will cause it). It's when we irritate the folds by grinding through swelling that the body produces an extra layer of mucous on the folds to protect them. Hydrate and rehab - you'll be good as new!
@@voicelessondotcom yeah it's just on my vocal chords. I shall hydrate and rehab! Thanks so much for your response! :)
this video and a few of your other "health" vids (and your website FAQ) literally saved me a trip to the ENT. I was worried about my voice getting a bit scratchy etc and I was starting to have trouble hitting my normal higher notes, but I started humming a lot and doing other semi occluded stuff and my voice is doing quite well now. I think I was simply pushing into vocal cord swelling a tiny bit. Thanks Mark
Glad you're back on track John!
I started singing like 3 months ago, and lately It's hard for me to talk like I used to, I hear my voice airy and sometimes I wake up a little dysphonic. I'm really worried , but I won't stop doing this exercise with my goal in mind. Thank you so much
I think I've finally grasped this exercise. The point is to make your diaphragm slowly push the air through your vocal chords; if you use too much muscles from around your throat, the sounds gets rough and you run out of air quickly.
Exactly right! And for more control - think of your diaphragm's movement as a controlled release rather than pushing the air. You are a balloon leaking air!
@@stan6056 Damn straight! Been doing this for 40 years - it's my life! :)
Thank you SO much for posting this! I damaged my voice about a month ago, and made very slow progress in recovering it, despite almost complete vocal rest. I started doing this exercise a few days ago, and combined it with steam inhalation (basically I made myself a hot cup of tea with voice healing herbs in it and inhaled the steam on every inhale, then with every exhale I did the humming), and I did this for about 10 minutes, or until my tea was cold, twice a day. I made incredible progress the last few days! This morning my voice sounded so good I almost cried. Thank you thank you thank you!
I'm so glad you nursed your voice back into good health!
It’s safe to say I’m stuck binge watching your tutorials. I literally have only been singing for just under a year, but have always loved the idea of it. Starting out I never really did my research on vocal training/tuning until, well honestly, now! The amount of structure and emphasis I have added to my vocals just these past few weeks from watching your tutorials and many others have been remarkable! I truly appreciate your work and can’t wait to see how much more I improve!! :)
Welcome to my channel! Glad to help you gain the voice you've always wanted - rather than the one you thought you had to live with.
Voice Lesson.com haha of course, the pleasure is all mine!
This is amazing! When I first started this I could only do it with a lot of fry through my break (F, G, A above middle C) - and a few lower notes too - now only after a few days I’m getting some clarity on those notes. Sometimes completely clear for 10 seconds! Still away to go to build some strength through those notes but feeling hopeful. Thanks so much 🙏
That's great - shows you what sticking with it can lead to!
1:16 Start
3:43 "You wanna move on to 15 seconds"
4:20 "Let's try a pitch here"
To skip the spoken sections and go straight to the hums
credit -@Luca-tw9fk
Maybe 3yrs ago Mark recommended this for vocal PT, not singing lessons, cause my voice was in bad shape. I'm a female though had to take the lower octave. Man he was spot on with the wobbly in and out of air, so I changed down to the lower register being a female, I swear in about 2weeks there was such a change..I then reverted back to not being discipline and now, 2023 I also have COPD and 3 hums I have to go down to the lower range. Still can hold the breath the 15 mins yay..please do these, they work!! Oh, well if you do them! So, I'm back to doing this and knowing I'll get results, perhaps not as quickly as I did, some yrs ago.
Thanks for posting the encouragement, Mary!
Thanks! Giggin tonight with an illness and this a great way of judging what octaves I got that I can achieve safely without screwing me up.
I wish I didn't have to play ill in general but a friend just got married and I committed way too long ago.
Lemon, water, and teas for this guy, and off to rehab my throat this winter... woo...
I had a pretty good range then, About a month ago while talking on the phone my throat got really dry and felt like it was burning and on fire. I can't even get close to the range i used to have without my voice cracking now. Forget about high notes, no sound will come. I have falsetto but, i won't accept that. Its been a month and is getting slightly better thanks to your exercises.
Your vocal exercises are the best on TH-cam, thank you so much! I do most of them before I perform. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart! xxx
You're welcome!
Brilliant Mark! I knew i had some damage and this technique revealed both the breaking and the fact that i can only sustain to about 13 or 14. thanks very much!
I think I made it to 15 seconds….
The clock was at 5 secs and next thing I know I woke up to the end of a Rogan podcast.
Worked so good I got tenittis in both ears and my furniture levitates when I hum now
Jokes aside, Amazing warm up, when I match your tone my vision , my room,and my body resonates.
Thank you
Sometimes Joe Rogan levitates in my living room. Now I know why!
@@voicelessondotcom me too!!!!!
But i usually blame the weed I smoked with Dave Chappell months prior. FR tho 😂
thanks for this man, it has been really helpful for repearing my vocal chords
I watched this when I first started choir and it helped SO much!!! School just started again so this helped me get back.
That's great!
+Voice Lesson.com can I get a nasal endoscopy and apply something to my vocal cords for a magical fix? I was learning to sing I practice every day. But now I cant even talk without feeling vocal strain and can't produce much noise. it's also irratating when I talk which brings my confidence down. idk what to do.. any suggestions?
+Echy 97. I had this for about a year or so btw
My suggestion is to go to a doctor and get a real diagnosis. There's no magic fix - but learning better behaviors works magic over time.
Thanks a million had a serious vocal damage last year, could not sing... Starting all over again
Has it been working for you? Because I'm so worried that my vocal cords are damaged beyond repair and that I won't ever sound the same or improve
Subscribed
What I like about Mark's little tips is that there is very little B.S. he doesn't do a lot of unnecessary talking, he just gets right into helping you.
Welcome to the channel!
This exercise is amazing. I do it almost every day. Thank you, Mark!
Glad to help!
Since I started do d humming n HUNG technic i am seeing improvements thanks u are a life saver
My max is about 8 seconds. Crazy. I can't wait to keep practicing and get it to 20 seconds.
Go head with your bad self Daniel, I'll see you there!
Where are you now with this
Yeah, how bout now? 👀
On better days, 20 seconds is almost effortless.
Best of luck bro may almighty bless you
Recovering from covid and this video is a lifesaver!
Glad to help out. Welcome back!
its a habit of mine to add vibrato onto the end of every phase. this exercise is really helping me gain control of that. thank you :)
This was a fantatastic exercise! My voice feels so much smoother after that.
Even better when done 3 times a day!
You are the best! I cant imagine how much I improved after this exersice thank you so much!💓👏
You're welcome - glad to help!
Thanks Mark, I have appointed you as my vocal coach, I have not a bad smoothened out voice my problem is going 15 secons and I should complain since I just ate and been smoking for 45 years nearly, no laughing matter! I need to strengthen my breating techniques, when I record I run out breath and need to remove it in melodyne, I would like to find good breathing techniques, my worst habit is breathing through my mouth, but I cannot see how I can draw in enough air through my nose to belt out rock vocals, thanks again
Vocal exercises can't solve your health issues! There's a reason rock singers are lean and in tip top aerobic shape - that's because the music they sing requires physical stamina. Address your health issues (for many benefits) and your singing will improve dramatically.
This is amazing. Once I got to the fourth note I couldn't even produce sound. I recently realized I have post nasal drip and clear my throat 1048x a day. Since breaking the habit I feel like I'm drowning, but I'm determined to have a healthy voice. Can't wait to start this ❤️
Explore using a neti pot!
Diluted apple cider vinegar, raw garlic, and honey.
Experiment with different versions of these.
I take in the evening and have noticed a profound difference to the (need to swallow). Vagus exercises Also are extremely helpful.
Slippery elm, mallow tinctures/tabs.. etc are all good
@Mwilke SAME 😭
Maybe I need to really ditch dairy
Today my humming did not break up! Did not expect it. Yeeeeea!
Practice makes progress!
Thank you Mark! I find these vocal warmups very helpful, informative, and fun. I can tell that YOU are being YOU and that in itself is inspiring :)
After having to take a full year of vocal rest and 3 years of barely singing a proper C# note. I am finally able to sing that note powerfully and even sing in a Bb wow. THANK YOU MAX, been using your exercises a year now. Finally, my voice is starting to feel amazing again. 4 years after vocal damage.
That's great news!
Oh my!!! I am so so happy to read this. It has been about 13 years since I injured my voice (in music school ironically) and I am just now looking for how to seriously recover it. I am excited that there may be hope yet.
@@HopeAbigailDayanhow did you injure it?
@@DHILLA-yz4rx Overuse under alot of stress, poor sleep and nutrition, an undiagnosed thyroid condition, singing for hours daily even when I was sick (ignoring the pain), and using force.
@@HopeAbigailDayan hope your thyroid condition is or gets better, thanks for sharing all that im a new singer.