PULL, Don't Push SOVT Exercises for Breath Work

[@allisonhuntley1]

I have tried so many voice teachers and techniques over the years, and still have struggled with vocal strain. I had a performance this past week and applied the techniques Judy talked about in the video... I can't believe how effortless it was to sing. All I can say is THANK YOU!!!! This was an answer to prayer!

[@veronicaeugenia2231]

That pulling thing is the best single piece of vocal advice I have ever gotten. So much gratitude to you!!❤

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

I'm so very happy it helps you!! Thanks so much letting me know!

[@catherinebergeron3819]

Feeling the expansion in the lower back and the squeeze in the pelvic floor really helps me feel what anchoring the sound means , and you really helped me understand more how to balance the air . I found it easier to sit with my legs crossed like I’m about to do yoga and meditate to do these exercises. Thank you so much !

[@jaefrmbk2k]

Ty for all you do. it has been helping my healing rehab & my progression 🙏🏾🏆

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

I am truly thrilled to hear that! Please keep in touch!

[@DipsonSitaula]

The reason i cant or wont give up for researching these kinds of technique those "actually" make huge difference in singing and makes a lot of sense rather than those tutorial who just keep blabbering and spit nonsense. This video's been really helpful for me and thanks a lot 🙏🌸

[@mashburnofficial]

I sometimes imagine I’m breathing in air (inhaling) while I’m singing, while I’m actually breathing it out as I sing notes. I never knew why this helped, but maybe it’s because, when I’m imagining inhaling or pulling in air, I am not as focused on PUSHING it out, so my muscles relax more and I’m able to do more with less push and less air.

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

That's a great idea... in fact, another coach I highly respect Jamie Vendera calls it the 'inhalation sensation'. Your instincts are great - this does help focus breath up into very controlled self-compressed power.

[@truekhristian]

Thanks for taking the time to explain the technical aspects of the exercises. This enhances the learning experience. I now know why I would falter while doing these exercises...I was oscillating between 'pushing' and 'pulling'. Now I know what I should be doing.

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

You are so welcome!

[@NilahMonai]

OH MY this helped SO much. exactly what i was looking for. this was the exact visual/verbiage that i needed and actually understood

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

I am thrilled it helped you! Thank you so much for letting me know!

[@academy97]

"Create sound by pulling open your ribcage and throat instead of pushing" This is genius. I have been listening to vocal coaches for years and I have never heard it described like that. I implemented that approach and it helps a lot thank you and be well :)

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

So happy you find this useful! Yes, it really works for better sound with less vocal stress!

[@DeniseWakeman]

You have the best tutorials, Judy!

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Thank you a ton, Denise!

[@hellenmoes8575]

Thank you so much for this clear explanation about breath support! With this pulling-set up I am now much better able to do the raspberry! Thank you for explaining!

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

AAHH... so did you enjoy my outtake? Nice to know a real raspberry doer!!

[@inigobj]

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing your awesome knowledge. Greetings from Spain

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

You are so welcome! Lovely to 'meet' a vocalist in Spain!

[@newrootsnashville9398]

This is fantastic, Judy! So helpful !

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

I am so glad you find it useful!!

[@MikeGrayMusic-hz6vj]

So glad to find you. I’m learning to sing properly for the first time at 40.

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

40 years YOUNG! Glad you're trying these.

[@markthress]

Excellent Exercise! This is genius, Judy!

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Coming from you, high praise! Thank you!

[@frenchantonio1]

THank you so much for these walkthroughs. Still trying to figure out how to "pull" rather than "push"

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

You pull by the word itself. The power of articulation can provide a sort of 'kickback' or recoil effect when you pull instead of push those words. If ever you'd like help with it, book a lesson and I'll help you personalize it. Link in description.

[@theonlycontessa8771]

Yes pulling is so much easier. Thank you❤

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

you are so welcome!

[@AlannaCherote-]

BRILLIANT Thankyou!

[@taylorallen8879]

Very helpful, it will take me time to get my muscle memory to get it!! thank you.

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

And of course that's the very reason for doing these exercises! If you'll take about a week to very mindfully try to pull these exercises as I'm showing you, I think you'll be amazed at how it gets into your habits, and your performance technique.

[@anashu9783]

My biggest challenge in singing is often not having long enough breath support. I try to take deeper breath for phrases that need long support, But still not enough. I have found it not possible for me to complete some phrases with one breath while others could without problem. I feel I must have some fundamental issues in breathing support. I do not find it helpful enough when I am told “take deeper breath at beginning of the phrase." or "breath to expand the belly using diaphragm". I tried, but still couldn't support the phrase. I guess I might have got into a corner of this breathing support problem which is very frustrating. I am going to try your exercises displayed in this video through which I hope I can improve with my breathing support challenge. Thank you for taking time to do this video!

[@BurningBushPedagogy]

I could hold a note for 60 seconds, if I can reach 2 minutes, I go for guineas. The mainstream approach to music is generally flawed. That is why singing is really what you have, they can't really teach to people better if they didn't kind of had if. But yes it can taught if it wasn't flawed. Rear my comments in the main comment here and see some of the things I shared. But sure I can hold 40secs to a minute. It's a pity you having this struggle

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Generally, if you don't have enough breath to sing the phrases you want, try doing two things: take a better quality breath (it should feel like you're breathing into your hip girdle) and then use less of it. You would benefit greatly from a 1/2 hour vocal lesson with me. If you want to do this, find my lesson booking link on this page: judyrodman.com/vocal-lessons/

[@susandempster4200]

This will take a lot of trial & practice. I do straw & "puffer fish" SOTVE primarily. Don't understand how you strengthen support muscles without resisting pressure as you release air from the lower abdomen. Do I have the wrong idea of what SOVTEs are meant to do? Very interesting!

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Thanks for the comment... actually, yes, you DO strengthen support AND control (resistance) with SOVTEs. But even SOVTE's can be pushed, which will limit your control because your ribcage will move inwards, allowing the diaphragm too much slack. Pulling these exercises will create a much more balanced, compressed engine for your voice. Hope that makes sense!

[@Hildred6]

This is great, thanks

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

YOu are so welcome!

[@ANTONYTHEDRAWINGMAN]

Greetings again from the uk….you are brilliant and this exercise has made so so much difference to my higher range and the ease of singing. But the only problem is that I can not do a clean low to high lip bubble. Without it cutting out as I pull in….any ideas what I may be doing wrong.

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Yes... it's just anatomical differences that make different SOVTE's easier or harder for individuals. Try a different one... the tongue trill. Is that one easier? Also, try the small straw and the balloon. Don't feel bad... obviously I can't do all of them either! :)

[@wandaortizthayne3759]

Interesting. I can do all Of those exercises but I don’t really get the how of pulling. By the way, that last one that you said you can’t do, if you stretch your tongue for a little bit and then you relax, it will happen. You have to relax that lower lip

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Thanks for that tip, Wanda! I'll work on it.

[@RiskieBiscui]

Thank you so much! :)

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

You are very welcome; glad it helps!

[@FranciscaRigaud]

This answers the questions I had asked you before, thanks. Still struggling to know whether I am really breathing deep enough. Breathing into the chest is so much easier....

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Great that you got some answers; please remember that it's breathing a low... not necessarily a big... breath that's important. To feel it, just try opening your arms straight out from your sides, and notice the breath naturally coming in low.

[@FranciscaRigaud]

@@JudyRodmanvoice Many and many thanks, will try that later!

[@ANTONYTHEDRAWINGMAN]

Hi there….great videos.thank you. With this pulling method are you basically saying that as you do your sovt sound that your actively pulling your ribs etc open letting the sound go into the throat rather than forcing the sound from your throat…..if this is incorrect what should you be doing with your support. Thank you for your time.

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Yes, that's right... and the way you pull your ribcage open for breath control is to move your head slightly back which will straighten out your upper spine. This also helps open the throat channel to create more resonance. You apply breath support from the pelvic floor instead of from the bottom of the ribcage (where the diaphragm is attached). In other words, squeeze your butt so you don't squeeze your throat! Hope this, with the video demonstration, is helpful.

[@ANTONYTHEDRAWINGMAN]

@@JudyRodmanvoice thank you Judy...love you.

[@ryangraham7012]

I love how vocal coaches can never make up their minds don’t lift your eye brows lift your eyebrows smile don’t smile ….

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

I know, right? Frustrating to read different opinions - who can you trust? A couple of thoughts: First, trust what works to help you do what you want to do with your voice. Secondly, my approach that works for me and those who work with me is to give the voice access to movement, including all parts of the face. I design vocal exercises like these to move parts of the body and face on purpose - and yes, over-moving to make everything flexible so when you are in performance your voice has access to whatever it needs to sing the notes and deliver the message with impact. I hope this helps!

[@ivyleigh1197]

I don't understand the pulling quote do you mean let it out in a controlled manner

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Yes!

[@Bmystyle]

I can hear the difference when you're "pulling" vs pushing. However, it's really unclear in this video how I'm supposed to manage doing it for myself.

[@thisisnotmyname4700]

Watching comments for this. I think instead of pushing from a low place...pulling from what seems to me somewhere around the back of the neck. Not sure if that is accurate.

[@thisisnotmyname4700]

Or maybe pull from pelvic floor?

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

@@thisisnotmyname4700 love that you are trying this out... check my reply to Bmystyle

[@JudyRodmanvoice]

Visualize two different voice path shapes. Picture the 'push path' as being 'L' shaped: powers from your mid-torso, goes through your throat and out your mouth. This path tightens your throat and ribcage. Picture the pull path as a question mark or hook shape: powers from the pelvic floor, goes through a point above and behind you, and then is 'pulled' by your articulation through your mask area This path opens your throat channel and ribcage. When you pull, you literally sing or speak your voice OPEN.

[@thisisnotmyname4700]

@@JudyRodmanvoice This is fantastic!! Thank you so much!!

[@epicepicart1161]

Judy xxxx

[@BurningBushPedagogy]

Please can you SPEAK ENGLISH, pls speak everyday.language not these scientific unnecessary terminologies. Trust me, it makes no difference. You can't use complicated language to explain a complicated subject. They wanna sound knowledgeable and all, but it's not how you sound, but the students gets it the easiest possible ways. Their are many incredible dont even know what a vocal fold and larynx do, but they sing. Think about that. Big terms have been used to lie to us about man, life and world we live, and all mainstream education is that out lies. The day you discover this, you too will hate when people speak or teach using big terms. Then also, I doubt this will make someone a better singer, singing is not done pulling air, but pushing, however we hate the word PUSHING. You can't play a wind instrument by sucking or pulling air, because you hate the idea of pushing. people think anything weird must be effective. In medical work it works when people are introduced to uncommon things. But the fundamental working of singing is pushing air from inside out. Maybe am ignorant of a mysterious secret, still you can't fly better by practicing swimming. Unless this was not clearly explained. Mainstream knows nothing about the Art of Singing. Do you know their 7 distinct vocal registers. Falsetto, head voice, chest voice, flageolet, whistle, But there is 2 more that ate actual designed for singing pitches a breeze, but no mainstream knows these, nor will know. Let me just sto0 there, but it's annoying when a whole is either hiding the real deal or they were clueless. Did you know that all sicknesses diseases etc not even physical but they been treating with mainly material medicines or material procedures for the sake of they want to be in control or maybe they are clueless too. But quantum is going the right direction and they will tell you, yes the physical is metaphysical in its true sense, And treatments should by now been purely quantum based. Anyways start a new approach of teaching as if to children. That's all I can say. Cheers everyone