How to get rid of your vocal break - singing exercises

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How to get rid of your vocal break?
This is one of the most popular topics in voice lessons. When I sit down with a new student, and I’m learning more about their singing goals, it’s like they all have that one thing on their mind. I can imagine why. No one wants to feel limited when it comes to expressing themselves. We all want to feel like our voice is going to be there for us when we need it the most. And it can!
In today’s video, we’re going to be discussing what is a vocal break, why vocal breaks happens, and how to get rid of a vocal break. Take what resonates with you, and leave the rest for now.
Great singing is not just about knowing a lot of information; it’s about embodying an understanding, and building healthy habits. All that I ask is that you have a spirit for exploration. Treat your voice like a new frontier to be explored. That attitude will make all the difference.
So what is the break?
The vocal break is usually characterized as an imbalance of coordination’s as you sing through your vocal range. That’s it. It’s just a point where balance is lost; an adjustment is made; then balance is found again. The crazy thing about singing is that there are lots of things happening on the inside of you at the same time. So, think of the break as having two major components to it.
1. Air flow
2. Musculature
Airflow
This is a big one for people who identify with a type of singing called “belting.” To put it into simple terms, belting means singing loudly.
Let’s say, we’re singing a song. And it’s one of those big power ballads. As the song progresses, the demands for the voice increase, right? It’s getting more and more emotional and dramatic. And we are shoving all this air through our bodies in order to keep up with the demands of the song. We may even know that, that big note is coming up, and get a little nervous about it. So what do we do? Push a ton of air through our vocal cords. This makes them slam together! Not good. Air pressure builds underneath the vocal cords like water in damn. Eventually, the vocal cords can’t take it anymore and have to relieve that pressure. The breaking sound is the result.
How to get rid of vocal breaks caused by airflow
Slow the air down. Let’s try a sound together, which will build consistency in the voice. Close your mouth; allow the tongue to rest on the roof of your mouth from back to front. Just behind your teeth. Put your hand on your stomach, just below your rib cage. Now, we are going to whimper a sound out for a count of 4. You can vary the pitches you perform this sound with. Either way, it will help your chords compress the airflow, and follow through until the end.
Keep the air flowing out in front of you. This allows your vocal cords to take control of your column of air. The airflow stays consistent. The support is steady from below. This keeps the pressure inside your body from building.
Musculature
This refers to the connecting muscles inside your larynx that govern many things, including your tone quality and vocal range. When these muscles are weak, you will experience a loss of breath support, a breathy or squeezy tone quality, or a wobble or honking sound in between coordinations.
The biggest frustration with singers in regards to musculature is that they feel the sound is too singy, or too heady. The whole idea with getting rid of your vocal break is to balance, right? So we have to teach your vocal cords how to coordinate pitches in a really refined way. Too little of a cord connection, results in a heady sound, whereas too much squeezing on your vocal cords resulting in yelling. Your voice should feel connected to speech at all times. You are simply going to discover your speech in a broad variety of pitches.
How to get rid of vocal breaks caused by musculature
Make a “spoiled kid who didn’t get their way” sound. You can even put your hands on your hips and cock your head to the side. (Watch the video above to hear an example.) Feel that quick cord closure there? You probably felt a little contraction from the diaphragm as well. Now try to vary your pitches quickly. This exercise is great, because it will teach the chords how to coordinate quickly, but without squeeze. If you place your fingers on your larynx to register how it feels inside, you will notice that it’s really rather still. And there is a lot of vibration happening on the inside, as well.
Royalty free music for intro and outro from www.audiomicro.com | Copyright: "Sentimental Stories" by Katzy

[@hela3375]

Thank you! Exercises shortcuts: 4:25, 7:33, 8:12, 10:21

[@daynablackwell5885]

So, it turns out that all the annoying sounds that I got into trouble for making as a child are actually singing exercises. ;PP

[@antokaknee]

My fight against puberty begins

[@autumncooper2479]

Me: No way I am doing that. Me:*Three Minutes later*: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@Hoo_huu]

Autumn` fbFbfbK,hbrkhfbkufbrskfjhseeksfbikdsfbfboio 😂

[@jyrosummers7190]

the lesson is clear and you use words that we can easily understand . im so very thankful for this coz i cant afford a singing lesson

[@steveweltymusic5666]

4:20 Hmmmmm 7:33 Ah Ha 8:18 Crazy Laugh 10:30 Ahhhhh

[@NoyumiAo]

*Does **7:33* Family outside room: 🤔

[@sirenidy888]

i absolutley love the way you explain your works out, it makes me feel more comfortable and i feel like your right there w me

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

Thank you so much for your kind words. It's my intention to help people become more comfortable within themselves so that they feel free to express! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@wandanowicki2267]

I have been doing online vocal videos for over a year using a variety of different teachers. Have found a LOT of good ones, but you have some excellent different exercizes than any other of the videos. Thanks for that.

[@lifeandtheuniverse42]

Thank you for these videos! I've got an audition tomorrow, my first in 15 years, and I'm freaking out. Your exercises help me relax into my voice. :)

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

Break a leg! You're going to do great!!!

[@ann3tt3tingz46]

same...

[@AXELRAPUNZEL]

what happened on your audition?

[@luckylamb2437]

This video is one of the best I've come across on KZbin for singing instructions. It really helped me with vocal breaks. My kids think I'm crazy, lol, but I can sing like an angel after doing these.

[@akhilwazir1461]

I don't know if you already have a video on this or not.. Can you do a video on "vocal nodes" and what to do if one has that and how to avoid it in the future.

[@maholiratia9896]

I FOUND YOUR LESSONS SO IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY SINGING WITH CHEST AND HEAD VOICE. I CONDUCT THE CHOIR AND I WISH TO TRAIN MY CHORISTERS TO SING WITH STRENGTH.

[@evonnevega1376]

Madeline. I apologize. I have not taken the time to thank you for offering your vocal teaching on KZbin. You have made it possible, by the grace of God, for people like myself, to be able to properly vocalize daily, and to show improvement. Thank you so much. You are a treasure and a blessing. I thank God for you. Wishing you health, love, joy, peace, happiness and blessings always. Love you. God bless you. Stay well.😊❤

[@JessicaGomes-dn1rz]

Thank you so much, this has helped me a lot! I've been doing these exercices for almost a week and my vocal break is almost disappearing! I'm so thankful! Thank you once again :) keep making these vids, they help more than you think. Love you :))

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

You got it!! Lots of love to you too!

[@vanessayork9440]

Vocal veteran Madeline Harvey’s exercises affect your voice in the proper way. I feel my voice (and parts of my throat) progressing in just a short time. Obviously, I need to keep practicing, but where Madeline’s exercises affect the whole vocal area should be highly recognized. Thanks, Madeline!

[@heyitzdiana1289]

This helped me a lot. why didn't I find this sooner , I have my Christmas concert in 2 weeks ..... Ughhhh. This truly helps me.

[@bencmaster]

Thank heavens there are people like you Madeleine, who have time to help the rest of us. Thank you from the UK.

[@cherylthomas2209]

Hey Madeline Harvey I do enjoy your videos you are great vocal coach.I am a 55 year old vocalist and a student of Ken Tamplin and in singing I do professional I am I lead vocalist for a band.Out of all vocal coaches I pull up you are one of my favorites.I love Ken because using his course has got me singing better than ever at 55 .Well your videos really are great and I’ve been watching them and you are my favorite female coach so what I saying is I’m picking and safe vocalist and you are wonderful.Thank You😄

[@bhumikabohra4169]

seriously this is amazing i can sing a bit properly now !

[@andreamartsolf356]

Thank you. I’m a worship leader, and this helps a lot. Thanks again

[@chrichico]

THESE VIDEOS ARE GREAT. GLAD I FOUND YOU. I PURCHASED THE LESSONS VIA YOUR WEBSITE AND I CANNOT WAIT TO USE THEM. THANKS SO MUCH FOR CREATING THESE KZbin VOCAL LESSONS - THE WAY YOU TEACH IS SO CLEAR AND PRECISE.

[@UnaGranCantidadDePanes]

I just realised I used to only sing in the break. After the video on richer tones I got out of it, but now my voice breaks alot. My voice has gotten out of only singing in the break but now its very nasally, unsteady, shaky and flat. I know I'm late but I'd love to hear any suggestions or tips anyone has. I love these videos they help me alot. Ive wanted to be able to sing since I was 5 and really started trying to learn 2 years ago. This is the most helpful channel I've ever found and I'm so happy I found it. Thanks for reading my long comment I have you all have an amazing day

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

Love the way you explainied this, particularly the musculature and varying the workouts part.

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

VIDEOHEREBOB Thank you so much! I appreciate your feedback. If there are any vocal topics that you'd like to see me cover, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

[@Ricardojoglar]

Thank you for class and sense of humour!

[@birdsofbritain4033]

Thanks Madeleine. Yours lessons are really a joy to do -- love from London UK

[@gracewaltzersinger]

You are like a scientist! haha. Thank you.

[@jmouse68]

This is really helpful! As someone who tends to sing fairly demanding rock ala Rob Halford, Ray Alder, etc., these exercises are very good! I noticed a difference, very soon after practicing them, in my ability to nail a particular note[between head/falsetto] without breaking, which has always been a sort of personal marker. Drive time is well spent doing these exercises! Thanks so much,Rob

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

+jmouse68 That's awesome! I'm really glad you enjoyed this video! I will be enthusiastically anticipating hearing you belt out those notes! Happy Singing!

[@blackswan4486]

You are very pleasant to listen to and I need videos on this topic. My break is a bad one but I'm confident it will go away!

[@superfreakmusic7681]

Thanks for publishing these-unlike so many lessons and teachers out there, you actually know what youre talking about! Sadly, I have wasted money on lessons where I was simply told to 'reach' for the higher notes, without being given any technique whatsoever.

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

+Superfreak Music Whoa! That's really crazy to hear! (And thanks for the kind words.) welcome to my musical family! I hope you will find all the tips that you are looking for to help you develop your voice. I can't wait to hear you sing!

[@maryanntoboz4602]

Thank you for these videos! I'm not doing something right; I'm still going into head voice on the last exercises. I'm learning alot; you have a great teaching style.

[@lalisagrande]

Exercises: 3:20 7:09 10:20

[@carolynharder6304]

Great, very helpful lesson, Thankyou so much for providing them. So thankful to have found your sight.

[@sydneyrhythmmaster5717]

10:08 Felt like Mads can see and hear me ! - You don't have to be loud comment - Love Mads - Great teacher

[@lifedrawing7062]

I love your videos. Clear, concise and your passion for the subject shows. The exercises you demonstrate in your videos really work. I tried the how to improve your head voice one and the one for extending your lower range and I've noticed improvements already after two weeks). so thank you and please keep doing what you're doing.

[@tickoman273]

THANK YOU, kind lady! For ~2weeks I'm trying to get rid of it somehow and now I just did the.. glide? glisando? (low-to-high uninterrupted sound). Well, no cracking! I'll have to rewatch to hear again what the excercises actually do, but whatever it is, it works :D

[@drmgmh1979]

You have a very good technique. You make it easy for me. Thank you so much.

[@blackswan4486]

I have an audition for the Music man in May and lots of the songs are on my break, I can't wait to try this every day

[@ndavidoff1]

Your clips are great, Madeleine - for me, all your tips work, every single one! And exercising with you on videos are such fun, does not feel like working out, except the results are much better than from doing boring drills Thank you so much!

[@asnizaabushah4821]

Thank you so much

[@Rosannasfriend]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

+Rosannasfriend I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@blainespurling1646]

Tank u so much never knew there is different btwn cracks and breaks,my voice was really damaged dis has changed my life,my breaks has disappeared.

[@a.e.7242]

Could you do a video on how different vowels affect vocal breaks and how to fix it?

[@KamiLauda]

I love everything about you! I've learnt a lot. You, literally, rock!

[@ZowieJay]

how do you keep that larynx down without yelling? I can't go higher without straining it

[@chelseadaley9770]

I love your confidence

[@killa46464]

Thank you ~ I'm loving you're videos ~ they are fabulously helpful !! They are exactly what I'm needing & wanting to learn !! 🙏😃🎶♥️👏🌸

[@cedzimagination]

This works like Magic...! Thank you so much.. I'm glad I found your channel.

[@erikasison7803]

Hi Madeleine Harvey, when I'm singing sometimes my throat gets itchy which makes me stop from singing and started clearing my throat. What do you think is the problem? Please reply. :)

[@carolynharder6304]

Thankyou so much your lessons are very helpful.

[@p.chiuppi629]

Amazing and veeeeeeeeeeery useful ! Thanks Madeleine !

[@aella5344]

8:12 scared me and then her reaction after killed me 😂

[@angeliriszire9687]

Hi Madeleine! This video is so great! I want to ask you about the excercise you explain for the musculature in minute 7:43. I'm a bit scared 'cause I've heard these are glottal attacks and that I should avoid them. Which is the benefit or reason of this excercise? Thank you SO SO MUCH!

[@rocachick860]

You are so awesome for this!

[@anthonyhenrysmith]

really wonderful lessons so well explained!

[@knightsaha]

Mam,can you upload a lesson regarding how to gain control over voice ?? I suffer from muscle tension and lose control all the time. Thank you for these awesome vocal lessons.

[@kitchenboy69]

Great exercise!

[@DoriePride]

I am so stoked to have lucked up on your videos! You are truly a GOD SEND for me! I have learned so much in such a short time watching you explain so many of my troubled spots! I became an instant subscriber! Question~ When I am working on vocal break exercises I find that my voice starts out very strong and even as I go along the sound begins to wobble or just shut off! What do I need to focus on? I am grateful for your immediate reply!

[@Itsmatt702]

Wow this was actually very helpful!

[@manharsingh1059]

Thanks a lot fir this tutorial 🙏🙏🙏

[@stormreviews6204]

loved the video!! it has helped me so much, but I was hoping you would give more detail in your explanations such as to sing in your head voice or chest voice in these exercises. I've been trying to do it in both ranges but I have no idea how to do these exercises. can you give me a little more commentary? that would be helpful.

[@stormreviews6204]

or if anyone would help... that would be great.

[@Boddissatva]

Fascinating info. Thank you

[@steveweltymusic5666]

This is really helpful thank you!

[@princesslynn5817]

Thanks your lessons are interesting and helpful

[@LaGataSolar]

Thank you so much for your videos you're amazing

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

You're very welcome! I'm glad these videos help!

[@HeavenlyTrainRide]

Awesome, thank you!!

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

You got it Robert!! So glad this helped!

[@DavidGoldZodiac]

Great video. Hope my singing gets better. Think I will visit your site soon!

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

I'm so glad you liked it! I look forward to hearing you sing!

[@DavidGoldZodiac]

Madeleine Harvey oh cool...i'm practicing scales right now...with my guitar

[@anna3424]

You are my master 🙏

[@unkkullsanneh8448]

Thank you for the video

[@mitchmalik8963]

You are awesome!

[@jeanettemartin313]

this.helped me a lot and you are so pretty

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

Thanks Jeanette! (Blushing) I'm so glad this video helped you!

[@jamesjosephmaquiran7847]

+Madeleine Harvey thanks for this i forgot to sing without vocal breaks due to i sing alot of earthy and emotional song and mainly i sing sia ;rihanna ;foxes ;demi lovatto and emo and pop punk that i forgot how to sing without adding the vocal cracks stylistic effect . don't worry i have no nodes I'm classical trained but i just forgot its been long time since i song a aria and need to brush up and remember things your approach by the way is modern compare to my bel canto upbringing .

[@jakerobertson5198]

For a rough estimate... how long will this take me to completely get rid of of?

[@charcoalalien4362]

tysm i love your videos

[@anna3424]

For the end You could show all exercise again or add an minut annotation where this exercise is, becose your films are long and it is hard to find the exercise in second time without watching whole film. It would be nice :)

[@JessicaGomes-dn1rz]

Is it bad for me if I train my voice everyday?? Instead of that, should I train it monday, wednesday, friday and sunday? and then tuesday.... if you know what I mean hahaha

[@JessicaGomes-dn1rz]

Btw, I do my breath exercices for 30 minutes and my voice exercicies (also warmups) for like an hour and somethin'

[@adrianfox7535]

This certainly is not bad for your voice. I know this is a late reply but you should know the more practice the better. As long as you are training correctly and not over doing it then you'll be fine. :)

[@noell.2828]

Jéssica Gomes Legendas You can practise everyday, or maybe six days a week, and rest one day. But it's too tiring for the vocal chords to sing one hour. You should do 15 of practise and 5 of rest, or train 15 minutes on the morning, other 15 minutes on the afternoon... Remember, it's better to practise during short periods of time along the day than practise only once a lot of time without rest. And don't forget to drink water when you're resting.

[@mohammedelsayed3374]

Jéssica Gomes well i guess you're having a small knowledge anyway , that's great to train your voice every day but with exercises that warm up the voice then try to make some changes on the songs you sing that should correct alot but exercises is not everything actually having a great knowledge mostly corrects alot of things

[@JessicaGomes-dn1rz]

thank u a lot, guys!!

[@konnorplaysgames4910]

My voice has been improving but I have a raspy voice but halfway through a song my throat starts to hurt I'm trying to sing country songs since country music is my favourite type of music is there an exercise that will stop my throat from hurting

[@dhavalsatishvyas9160]

Thank you

[@siamtadashi7342]

thank you for the video

Excelente!!! Thank you!!!😘🌸🌸

[@nyla-amarasmit8117]

i did not get what you mean at the end exercise its just a tone from high to low? what is er speaking ? plus if you dont sing along you go to quick through the notes on the piano and then when you sing along again its slower so if its to fast for you how must we do it? please consider do things slower.. and express more. i did not get this video. im sorry i was so hoping to get results for my vocal break but...

[@laila1752]

thank you, now i'm famous in my neighborhood

[@anileshtr]

Love U So Much

[@AnnaleishaMae]

Excellent video!

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

+Annaleisha Mae thank you! I'm glad you like it!! Happy singing!

[@ritikasingh601]

Thank you so much for these awesome vocal exercises....... Loved it........but I have a question......... About how many moths or how many time is needed to improve our voice if we are doing it regularly........... because I can play instrument very well but my music teacher always had a complain of singing from me.....😞😢😭

[@psiga]

^‿^ Gosh this is impressive stuff. Thanks much, Madeleine!

[@birgithade5022]

Hi and thanks!! One question: What do you exactly mean by saying: Close all the mouth space? I can close the space to the throat with my tongue ( I place the tongue against my palate) AND close my mouth (lips) Is it what you meant my saying: close all you mouth space)) Thanks for your answer ;-)

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

HI Birgit! Thanks for your question....yes. You'll want to gently rest your tongue against the hard pallet and close your lips completely. Keep your throat neutral...Wanting to emphasize any open vowels like OH is going to open your mouth a bit. So keep all that space closed as you play with this exercise. This will isolate your laryngeal muscles so that they get a little bit more of a workout. Working with this exercise in a bouncing pattern (high note low note bounce) will release tension from the upper part of the mix. I hope this helps!

[@etornam_kelvin]

hello. I ❤ ur vids. I am a guy with a very feminine voice and i am an alto singer. i have this problem with my voice when i wake up. It sounds so coarse and strainy. which is totally different from my normal voice. How can i get rid of this problem because sometimes i have to go sing in the morning to a congregation. How can i end this?

[@killa46464]

You may like to google the sound of our native bird ~ the kookaburra ~ I think you'd love its laugh !

[@valdowning2210]

I have a question. Is it bad for your voice if you constantly belt out while singing?

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

It certainly can be. But it also affects the emotionally delivery of the performance. Songs are stories and consist of a roller coaster of emotions like waves. They ebb and flow. If you belt through the whole song, it's the emotional equivalent of yelling at someone. And can cause your audience to lose interest in your story. They want to be engaged. They want to go on this journey with you. So try to vary your dynamics and save those big belting moments for the most emotional parts of the song. I really hope this helps. Lots of love to you Valerie! Happy Singing!

[@valdowning2210]

+Madeleine Harvey omg that helped so much! Thank You!

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

You got it friend!

[@mohammedkhater7534]

I love it

[@twoejits8508]

She looks like Winnona Rider(sorry if I spelt that wrong)

[@wesson120894]

illogical 14 lol she does

[@lakshyatandon6207]

Hi, my name is Lakshya Tandon. I really need to know what's the problem with my voice. I'm a 13 year old boy👦 . But my voice is little much deeper at least that's what I think. So it would be very kind of you, if you can hear my voice and tell me what's the problem. Please do reply, I'm in need of help. please help me.

[@lakshyatandon6207]

please reply

[@s_s1250]

Thank you so much for Sharing such wonderful vocal techniques i had a question... Though i have developed my mixed voice i still am not able to go SMOOTHLY from Falsetto to Mixed voice For instance..Whenever i practise a descending scale in Falsetto i always Break and Go into My chest voice around C5 could u please help me OH BY THE WAY..YOU HAVE GOT A NEW SUBSCRIBER

[@sahanaiyengar5132]

It happens when i hit an A5.. basically i ccan hit higher notes ..it's just thatwhen i start hitting A5, B5 up till C my voice literally splits and you hear the right note but its distorted and then you hear a much higher whistle note

[@defvosd4107]

when balancing air flow why might I experience tickling in my throat Madeleine?

[@christinem2982]

soooooooooooooooo helpful (noticed how I sighed that out?). thank you Madeleine :-)

[@MadeleineHarveyVoice]

YES! sooooooooooo noticed that!! Great job!

[@nirhymeswithhi4849]

Yeah, the sighing exercise has been very helpful for me. G4 (my vocal break) is the trickiest note in my range. Being able to slide through it with practice has been great! It is harder with open vowels (ahh) than close ones (oo), but it's a good starting point.

[@Oliver9402]

Keep up to good work you are getting there!

[@Tyler-ko8dp]

Can someone help? I'm trying to do the first exercise correctly but I don't know how much breath I'm supposed to use? Reason i'm asking is because when i'm really breathy I don't hear the break much, but when I make a conscious effort to make the cords meet, the break comes so harsh and I keep doing it but nothing is improving!

[@wig5711]

I have this problem where I sing flat in my lower chest register but I could sing OK with my higher chest notes (which are in the third to fourth octave cause i'm a guy) and up to falsetto BUT I sing extremely flat when I sing in the second or third octaves, do you know what this could be? Or does it just mean I can't sing in the lower register?

[@sophiahutchinson8441]

Hi there, I’ve purchased some of your lessons. I just wanted to ask a question about the mah slides. In the exercises your slides sound quite nasal. Is that how I should sound when doing the exercise?