Breath Control Exercise For Singers

[@TheEllenobrien]

Mark Baxter is by far one of THE BEST voice teachers in the business!

[@brachlandmusic]

After searching, watching and quitting so many videos on youtube I found you. A perfect mix between explanation and actually 'action'. Many people tend to bore you with to much talking and side-note / side-stories. I like the way you teach. Thank you.

[@voicelessondotcom]

+ZerO0311 You're welcome!

[@leanneaurisch3096]

I’ve found this video at just the time I need it! Love your videos, Mark…old and new 😊

[@voicelessondotcom]

I'm glad you're using them!

[@delphinekirkland1757]

Refreshing to see that you have so much really helpful instructions free, rather than just trying to lead listeners to buying something. Thanks!

[@khaledqasim]

I simply love how straightforward he is with all his exercises and doesn't talk at all about his self or Braggs. He's a very humble excellent teacher...

[@MariaNesh]

Your videos and tips are very useful! You have a great gift of being a teacher! Thank you!

[@Dmtv_19]

This never gets old! Great lesson and exercise!!

[@voicelessondotcom]

Glad you're using it!

[@deltonhedges9948]

Great...such an innovative approach...really like your interesting and helpful approaches

[@voicelessondotcom]

I hope the videos are helping!

[@theshadaeofficial]

I had my doubts as I’ve tried other techniques from different coaches/teachers and haven’t seen much difference but I tried this and my breathing did improve. I’m back to learn more!

[@desmondsusu]

Wow what an astonishingly amazingly awesome gift you are giving. For most of my life I lamented not playing an instrument. Now I love singing and am looking for tools and practices to master it. Gosh. What an unexpected delight.

[@jessyca9833]

Wooooow! Your example is so striking! Thanks!!

[@KDLUZ]

You are good man!! Thanks For sharing your knowledge with us. Greetings :D :D Joel.

[@ChristyRomeo]

Very best voice trainer ever I know!💐❤️👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏

[@martinegentis6683]

the best exercice I've found for my breath control. Thanks a lot

[@anthonyenon4113]

wow! extremely helpful!. :) thanks!

[@abhishekkuru2903]

great explanation as always ! thank you

[@neilbonavita8623]

I love your videos. So useful and educational at the same time. I also love how you demonstrate and allow yourself to be imperfect while practicing. That really helps me and normalizes the fact that sometimes exercises don't sound great even though they help us. Thank you Mark!

[@voicelessondotcom]

I have no choice but to be imperfect! :)

[@neilbonavita8623]

@@voicelessondotcom yeah but you really make it safe for us/me

[@janiebraxton1407]

Wow!!! this is working. I am maintaining breath. Thank you, Mark.

[@crochetmaven2]

Hey Mark, I have been away from singing over 23 years after being a professional singer for nearly 20. I find your videos invaluable since I have decided to 'find my voice' again. And I'll tell you, it seems like I never sang at all! Something that was natural to me as a toddler that I was winning contests at 8 years of age, and it went on from there. But the 'casting couch' traumatized me away. Your videos are giving me back the basics long forgotten and my breath control is horrible! At age 14 I was casted for a singing part in a regional Musical Theatre. The 'old folks' who auditioned me nicknamed me 'Little Ethel Merman"... that is how powerful my soprano voice was. And I could sustain a note forever. Friends and music teachers used to say I could sing Streisand better than she could. I will keep up doing daily exercises for awhile before attempting to sing the Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell songs I once sang so effortlessly. My question is, will my voice ever come back? I still have perfect pitch, but, I can't seem to find the natural vibrato I've always had. Will it return after getting my voice and breath in shape again? Sorry for being long winded, any insight would be really appreciated. If it's gone forever I'd hate to be spinning my wheels. I do have a very rough video I made last winter of a song I actually won best vocalist out of 300 in 1987 in Miami. I fell off pitch, tempo, etc. And I had practiced a week. I sang it a'capellla. And I haven't sang since then until recently. But haven't actually attempted to 'sing' anything. If possible, may I send this to you in an email and you could give me the truth on whether I'm on a fool's mission here? Thank you Mark, I am loving your videos and the sage advice, especially for this Woodstock 'relic' lol :) Apology for the rambling......

[@voicelessondotcom]

Hi Jill - there's no question you can rebuild your voice and regain strength and flexibility - but there's also no question we can't be 8 years old again! I know you understand this intellectually but my suspicion is you're trying to recall the behaviors of your youth. The problem is you don't have the instrument of your youth. I don't have the eyesight, hair or skin of my youth and what's inside has aged as well. The vocal folds lose pliability and elasticity (just like eyes, hair and skin) and so our behavior must accommodate those changes in order to create the desired sounds we seek. For instance, vibrato is dependent on a released environment - so it won't show up until you stop driving your breath wondering where that 14 year-old power is. It's in there - but it won't be found acting like a teenager! Keep exercising your voice with a mindset of exploring what works now. It's never a fool's mission to sing!

[@crochetmaven2]

Thanks for replying Mark, like you, time has caught up with me too, as the old saying goes, men 'mature', women 'get old'...lol my memories get in the way sometimes, and my singing was so very long ago. It's the only vantage point I have and only real passion that has burned for a lifetime of missed opportunities. I don't ascribe to the 'Bucket List' thing so many have seem to have done, but, last year I decided as perhaps a last 'hurrah' of sorts that I wanted to do a You Tube video. I have the Music Maker program and have laid down a couple tracks, I've also transposed 'White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" to a more 21st century arrangement with a few tweaks in the hope of doing this one of these days. I figure if Joni can still perform at 70, and Stevie with Fleetwood Mac on this recent tour, maybe I can do a video being closer to Stevies age and still skinny. Still have my Shure cardiod mic and boom and good system here. I will remain a faithful follower and will continue to practice in the hopes of being a fairly strong mezzo-soprano. My days of doing Joplin may have harmed my chords some. It's my breath control that spooks me these days. :) Thanks for your candor and insight Mark :) I'm not giving up hope yet! I am going to use your metronome video at least 3 times a day to try and regain that control. Heck I love all your videos, I've been glued since two AM this morning ( I'm a night owl/vampire/ whatever/do not sleep much.)lol

[@Littlefa3]

I don't know about singing techniques, but this was really fun 😁

[@cmedley9671]

Your such a great teacher 🥰

[@voicelessondotcom]

Thank you - glad to help!

[@cmedley9671]

@@voicelessondotcom I just found your channel a couple of weeks ago. I had some trauma to my voice and so I was just doing a search you know for some exercises to kind of bring it back I’ve learned so much from you you’re just a wealth of knowledge, and I can tell you’re a fantastic singer, but you’re also a very giving singer so I’m going to stay connected and thank you thank you for sharing your gift. Happy New Year’s.

[@voicelessondotcom]

@@cmedley9671 Welcome to my channel - glad you're here! Happy New Year!

[@cmedley9671]

Yay🥰Happy New Years to you too!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SocialButterfly892]

What a great tip! Wow thanks

[@LockedwithlovebyTammy]

I love Your videos! And I will be giving them a try in hope to rebuild strength and stamina.

[@voicelessondotcom]

Strength and stamina require you go for a comfortable feel first (rather then a good sound). We usually get so caught up in sounding good immediately, that we program in all kinds of tensions which greatly reduce longevity.

[@somathungananayakkara1693]

Verynice. Thànks you so much sir

[@voicelessondotcom]

You're welcome! I'm glad you're using the videos!

[@ellayu99]

Great explanations!

[@voicelessondotcom]

I hope it helps!

[@carleenmejzastrumunderthes4130]

I will definitely practice this with the metronome!

[@voicelessondotcom]

That's great!

[@surekhak8160]

Nice and ThankYou Sir.

[@TheBlossomingLife]

Great analogy!

[@margaret2383]

Mark, I'm wondering in what ways a forward head posture may be detrimental to singing.

[@voicelessondotcom]

It may reduce muscular freedom and options with resonance. Try this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apSnoYiQbNmUna8

[@margaret2383]

@@voicelessondotcom Wow! I wasn't sure you'd see my question. Thanks so much; I'll check this out.

[@GaryFab]

Thank you so much!

[@voicelessondotcom]

You're welcome!

[@angalmeida29]

This is a brilliant exercise thx Mark

[@ahuvanisan]

wow! incredible!!!

[@voicelessondotcom]

I'm happy to help!

[@dessertray]

Just what I need! Thank you!

[@ctprods8653]

breath control can also hit high notes right.?

[@MarkKeilman]

i bet you didn't know that Ed Sheeran watches your videos!

[@majorscreamer]

This is was so fun!

[@voicelessondotcom]

Glad you liked it!

[@dhrubapatgiri3986]

Tnks a lot...sir..sir what is the main differnece between western and indian music...and i also want.to learn those difference from western music...sir plz reply

[@sagdey56]

Hello one more time, Mister Mark! I listen to your advice about "singing on low volume" and im trying to do it with feeling free in my throat area. I have another question - what is best exerscise to develop "understanding of breath-working"? Now im trying to describe it: I FEEL my biceps when i need to move hand (for example). But I don't feel any muscles working when im doing inhale/exhale - it's just like magic. I just think about "inhale/exhale" and it's happens, but i don't know how to develop "consistant exhale" and what muscles i need to use for it. // Little story about my singing problems, if it can help you to tell me best exerscise: I sang most of my life (start to sing 10 years ago, when i was 17) by instinct - i had loud natural voice (and didn't feel any pain even after 3 hours of work), i sang in bands, later i start to perform (bars/restaraunts) alone with my keyboards, i had 7 days in week of working, all went ok for 3 years. And then bad days has come - i decided to learn, how to do melismas and improve my voice, so i start doing exercises (just typed "melisma/runs ex on youtube and start). I did this exirsices in wrong way (esp. lip roll) - my throat was hurt A LOT, but i was pretty stupid boy and though "It's all ok, my muscles learn something new, thats why i feel pain". But pain didn't dissapear. I decreased my jobs - 5 days per week, 4, then 3 (it's only one job i have so i need to sing for surviving (sound weird, i know). So last 4 years im fighting with myself - sometimes i have this old instincts and don't worry about "did i sound right? what with my breath support? what with my posture?" and my performances nice and my throat/neck totally free, but most of time im affraid of singing - im affraid that pain back to my life again (still can't sing vocal runs btw) That's why i went back to basics - breath control and free vocal tone. I just want to know, what i need to do to make my breath working in natural way. Sorry for my English, not my native Language, if you don't understand some of my words, tell me about it, i will try to describe more clearly. Cheers!

[@voicelessondotcom]

You can't feel the muscles in your eyes either - yet you wrote out this question to me without thinking of them once! Why? Magic? No - most of the muscles responsible for singing we can not feel. You are looking for feelings (like your biceps) because you no longer trust your voice. That's too bad. You are doing the right thing by returning to basics. So the best exercise for feeling free when breathing is SLEEP. You breathe perfectly when sleeping and your throat is free or pain. Take a lesson from that and stop telling your body what to do and start asking to be comfortable when singing. It's so simple that it freaks people out!

[@crispinprincessm6403]

THANK YOU MARK

[@voicelessondotcom]

You're welcome!

[@CloudContainer]

EeeeEEeeeEEEEeeEEeEe in the jungle the mighty jungle...

[@ripplesr5655]

Hi sir,lately i have found out ur channel and its a great honor to get to know ur lessons.my breath gets stuck when i exhale and become to airy.a big inhale and while exhaling it always become a long exhale.even it happens subconsciously. i used to push to much with my abdomen to reach those classic heavy metal,hard rock hi pitch notes.it would be really a help sir if you could tell me wt i should do. :(

[@voicelessondotcom]

+Nafiur R Siddiqui You should work more at a low volume with the exercises on this channel to gain a balanced control of your voice.

[@ABDALLAHJAMANI]

Hello Mr. Mark Through which muscles should we control our breath flow(exhale) for singing?

[@voicelessondotcom]

+ABD'ALLAH JAMANI Do you ever wonder why you don't ask "through which muscles should we control our smiles, or our eyes for seeing, or our legs for dancing? If not - you should wonder why you trust some behaviors and not singing. If you focus on the result you want with your voice (what volume, what rhythm, what tone and what pitches) that will automatically inform your breath flow. This exercise is to remind you to ASK for what you want rather then TELL your body what to do.

[@ABDALLAHJAMANI]

+Voice Lesson.com Habibi Mark your answer is more valuable than diamonds. Spiritual, logical, beautiful explanation. :)

[@mailtv910]

Thank you for this video! Do I have to warm up every single time before doing tjhis exercise or can I do them multiple times during the day? I'm paranoid about vocal damage.

[@voicelessondotcom]

It depends why your paranoid about damage. if you have a habit of overdriving your voice and have hoarseness issues - then you should begin with a gentle warmup to remind you where balance is. But - if you've been reading and watching too much fear-based info about the voice on the internet and you are never hoarse - then do this exercise anytime without worry.

[@mailtv910]

@@voicelessondotcom Thanks for the quick response. I've had some vocal issues in the past that seem to have faded by now. Still worried that they might return, so I'll be careful. Have a nice day and thank you for these videos. They've really helped me in the last years and months.

[@bluehatmusique]

02:30

[@kipponi]

Great exercise. I have now range D2-A4, before it stopped middle-c(C4). As a former weight lifter I know I do wrong when I sing like bench press way of singing ha ha.Too much of whole body force. Not power push of singing. How that feels when you pass your chest register to head. I feel that I have only mixed register? I was classified as Baritone by opera singer who gives lessons in Finland. Too many questions here but is the range ok for Baritone? What should I do to find head register?

[@voicelessondotcom]

Keep working on reducing the amount of muscle you engage for range. As you do you will find head register and reach A5 (top baritone range). The answers to all your questions can be found in the videos on this channel.

[@kipponi]

Voice Lesson.com Yeah okay I will. I know that one octave is missing and I try to find it whatever it takes. Now I do owls voices but it is falsetto voice I think not pure head voice. Sometimes my throat(voice box) feels tingle I have to cough. Then I know something goes wrong ha ha.

[@voicelessondotcom]

The owl voice is a good way to explore. Don't worry about the difference between falsetto and head register at the moment - those are just different qualities - and trying to force one over the other is what's causing your tingles and coughs.

[@Jehksx3]

hey this is great, i have a question, I'm a contralto female singer, and many times before I accepted my "different" vocals, i taught myself as a flat singer because i couldn't reach the high notes, Can you make a video about female contraltos or female deep voices? I find very hard to find good material about the subject like how to not force my voice or how to accept and take the most of the different tone. Thanks very much. *sorry for the bad english i'm brazilian

[@voicelessondotcom]

Jéssika Garcia Every video is for every voice. There is no special information for contraltos - especially if you're singing popular music. Just sing in the range where you're comfortable for now and watch my other videos to learn how to stop forcing and develop your skills.

[@ImpulsoCreativo9322]

@voicelesson.com I notice that when I do a hiss breath exercise, I can last a lot longer than sustaining an ah. . . . what is that all about?? It's so frustrating and I need help! THanks

[@voicelessondotcom]

That's because your tongue is regulating your air flow when you hiss - and it's strong and coordinated. What's not strong and coordinated is your diaphragm - which is responsible for regulating the airflow when sustaining an AH. So keep asking for it! That's how skills are developed.

[@ImpulsoCreativo9322]

Thanks so much! And doing this exercise will help?

[@voicelessondotcom]

Yes!

[@Angel-uz6er]

How do you know if the breath is the same all throughout? I sing the notes ok but I'm not sure if I'm having a steady breathing.

[@voicelessondotcom]

You know by your comfort and the sound. If you feel no strain and the sound of your voice is steady - your breath is proportionate through each note.

[@Angel-uz6er]

@@voicelessondotcom I see thank you so much for this!

[@TheMjaner]

Hello MArk thanks for your video do we need to do this everyday?

[@voicelessondotcom]

+Mj Abanil Only if you want to gain great skills!

[@sarabelqis]

haha gonna have to add this to my playlist

[@esseheugenio8607]

This is a very helpful tips mark! You are great! Just wondering if i could use other vowel or sound aside from "ee"?

[@voicelessondotcom]

Absolutely. Any vowel.

[@TinaMiller123]

I know were supposed to sing E. However I use lip trills instead. Sometimes my lips trills will stop and start. I wonder if that has to do with breath control to. Just like tongue trills. Sometimes I can do it, other times, stops and starts. I try to do a lip trill all the way through, then my lips get stuck. lol. Like my tongue, gets stuck..Although after 40 minutes of doing tongue and lip trills, to Brett Manning Cd's, maybe my voice is tried. I do not know. I just wonder if I can't do a lip trill, and my lips get stuck, if that has to do with air, or something! It sounds like a stopping motor! ha! Been doing this for 3 months now and still have problems. With tongue and lip trills. I can sing the E, but would it be ok to do lips trills, along with this exercise?

[@voicelessondotcom]

Tina Miller It's okay to do this with trills - and yes - when a trill stops it has a lot to do with inconsistent airflow. But after 40 minutes, anybody's lips or tongue would be pooping out!

[@TinaMiller123]

Ok, thanks! Will do. And why yes.. My lips and tongue are tired after 40 minutes. lol. With the exercises I do with Bret's Cd's. Are lips tills, down to chest, mix, and head, back to chest. Though their are other exercises, like for vibrato, and sustaining, bending the lip trill, and vowel sounds. It's for Speech level singing. I also practice to your videos as well!

[@mustakim2144]

Wow thank you!

[@voicelessondotcom]

Glad to help!

[@AnkAntio]

so when u sing more notes at a faster tempo we tend to use more breath, but i find it that i tend to use more breath the more higher the notes go regardless of tempo

[@AnkAntio]

the higher the volume the more air i tend to use as a bad habit

[@voicelessondotcom]

@@AnkAntio Right! They're all bad habits! The goal is to practice until faster, higher and/or louder does NOT make you lose more air.

[@AnkAntio]

@@voicelessondotcom Thank you for your very insightful free knowledge you have shared with me. I will keep those in mind as I practice. (Helps for me to Visualize what to work on) Personal Visualization O: Tempo & Number of Notes X: Volume, Pitch

[@megberry3257]

This is great. Thank you! (is this #101?)

[@voicelessondotcom]

Meg Berry Try #107! Where ya been?

[@megberry3257]

Uhm, how much time do you have??? ;-) Clearly, I have some catching up to do.

[@SSJ4Oman]

Any benefits from doing this exercise with different vowel sounds? or does it matter

[@voicelessondotcom]

Yes - good to do. It's just easier with EE.

[@SSJ4Oman]

Voice Lesson.com Thank you! I appreciate the prompt response, one more question. Is it better to focus one one or two exercises per day and cycle through them throughout the week or to do a multitude each day?

[@voicelessondotcom]

Ossie F Yes - your instincts are right on. One or two with focus is better than many without.

[@LeadersOfAFreeMind]

@voicelesson.com This is my weakness. Do you have any tips or exercises to build up to this? It's not like I don't have the amount of breathe. I was an athlete first and I can swim the length of a pool underwater and hold my breathe for a minute (not comfortably but I can do it) so it's totally the poor control that's preventing me from doing this exercise and holding me back from my entire singing experience.

[@voicelessondotcom]

I don't understand. The video IS an exercise to work on your poor breath control. It's OK to struggle with this exercise - that's how you'll develop better coordination.

[@LeadersOfAFreeMind]

Thank you. My only concern was how poorly I was doing at this exercise. I think I'm losing too much air on the front end or something bc I can't make it through the first scale of quarter notes with air for the rest. It feels like an "advanced" exercise to me. I was just hoping there was something as a stepping stone towards this I could hammer on and master to make this easier or help me do this in one breath like you. But if you tell me it's ok to struggle sir I'm gonna do this until I CAN do this. Your low hum and healing exercises have already helped me tremendously. Thank you for everything you are and do! 🙌🏼

[@voicelessondotcom]

It's fine to struggle with any exercise as long as you keep the intended result in focus. If you're dumping so much air at the onset - try starting with this : kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIeqmqGAp716pNk

[@hcat3110]

Thank you!

[@elhabibcheggour4854]

hello Mr Mark does that mean you can sing and breath in the same time ?

[@voicelessondotcom]

+Elhabib Cheggour Yes - you can - it's called "intoning" but this exercise isn't about that.

[@TheDarinAmes]

+Voice Lesson.com Hey, Mark. Do you have a video that addresses intoning?

[@voicelessondotcom]

Not yet!

[@Rosannasfriend]

alright, trying this right now!

[@yarasmr]

What to do if running out of breath please?! :O

[@voicelessondotcom]

+yarasmr Practice! Reduce your volume and focus on making a clear tone. You would also benefit from the hum exercise I posted on this channel.

[@FrostyUSA]

If your ee vowel was taller, your tone would improve :)

[@sherreebmusic]

Omg! Tough to hold out that long. Lol

[@voicelessondotcom]

Stay with it!

[@byronvisiado09]

2:38

[@anandusmadhu]

01:32 02:30

[@t.1230]

2:27

[@tehhan8242]

2:37

[@3KKKaze]

2:00

[@daaaamnn]

2:37

[@3KKKaze]

1:40