How to BREATHE while singing | proper technique to eliminate tension (MTD help)

[@billmcgowan5711]

I was just diagnosed by my ENT with MTD. And no I am not a singer (lol). I’m anxiously awaiting an appointment with a voice PT specialist at UConn. My voice gets hoarse and squeaky quite often (sounding like Luka Brazzi….Sopranos) I’m a grandpa and former coach and have spent much of my life raising my voice. I am looking forward to getting this situation addressed and hopefully corrected. I tripped across your videos and you sound amazing. Your voice is very soothing and magical and I’m anxious to watch many more of your videos. Plus you are extremely soft on the eyes. Awesome!

[@anthlafe]

How did therapy go for you?

[@cindyscott6320]

Thank you for doing this. After seeing your video on MTD I went to my ENT doctor to get a scope. Everything looked so good that it appeared that everything is normal. It's so strange to see something that looks so healthy, hurt and sound so bad. She did say that it was completely possible to have muscle tension even if it doesn't show through a scope, and I wanted people to know that. You had mentioned that "the gap" between your hyoid bone and your thyroid felt fused to you, and that is exactly how I feel. I am so happy to hear that all these techniques that you have learned have helped to to recover. I don't even feel like my voice is my own right now, and since this started 5 months ago I have lost the desire to sing because it's so uncomfortable. I will follow you.

[@LizBills]

Cindy Scott yes you can have tension without seeing anything... look into your mental health as well... I am currently working on releasing tension physically, emotionally and spiritually.... the book I’m reading is total relaxation by John r Harvey. Of course speech therapy does wonders too :)

[@vitorribeiro2647]

"Singing the way you breathe in" just blew my mind. Sounds so much better and natural! Holy shit! Thanks for the help! Do you have any tips for posture while singing and playing?

[@LizBills]

Vitor Ribeiro right!? Mind blowing!!! I don’t have many tips for posture while playing. Id say to practice standing tall... and also make sure your feet are fully on the floor. check in with your movements and notice any tension that doesn’t need to be there.. if excess tension is in the playing then slow down for awhile to practice playing without the excess tension then speed up. Alexander technique can be great for this! I just haven’t had enough classes yet to effectively apply it to my own practice.

[@vitorribeiro2647]

@@LizBills Awesome! Thank you.

[@EvinNazya]

The way you PACKED sooo many tips in this vid, free of charge. Thank you for your heart!!

[@EMANUEL-tc4ik]

Hey Liz! I am suffering from mtd since January 2019. Since then only throat massage helped me. Now I am talking with only a little pain but I cant sing. Had you got any medicine for mtd?

[@valerie963]

Always enjoy following your videos and has helped me with my own journey. Thank you and you have a lovely voice!

[@jackpepper2501]

Your videos are great. Thank you Liz Bills so much for sharing your lessons your talent and your music. Your voice is amazing.

[@christineweatherford5852]

You have truly been a Godsend to me! Please keep making videos on this subject. I would love to see one on healthy speaking techniques and how to sing loudly but healthy :)

[@jeff420sparky8]

why do female singers like lara fabian live breathe on mic? also how do you calm heavy mouth breathing down for female pop singer dancer after intense concert. like taylor swift in shake it off live 2014 vma? are you breathing heavy after studio and/or live show? what type of pranyama do you do to calm breathing down after intense concert?

[@DopamineOverload]

Liz, you're great. Many questions. So many. Will email you from the email you provided in your one older video. You're one of the best people I've found yet (if not the best) for helping me restore my tenor singing voice after a lot of weird issues. Thank you again, and stay safe and healthy.

[@diabolical07]

Hey, really digging your personality! You mention lifting the soft palate quite a few times but I can't really get this. Can you do a separate video on how to lift the soft palate? I get that it should feel like yawning but I feel like my tongue is tensing up when I do that. Is it possible to show in the video how the back of your throat and tongue should look when you do it correctly?

[@LizBills]

Chris Adams good idea! I will work on this video today and tomorrow and post :) thanks for the suggestion.

[@jeff420sparky8]

is this how you calm heavy mouth breathing after concert and what it feels like being out of breath after concert?

[@courtneychambersmusic]

Love you Liz! Your exercises have been helping me!

[@LizBills]

Courtney Chambers Music so happy they are helping you, love you too!

[@jeff420sparky8]

anxiety breathing can lead to a "pleasurable" feeling

[@jasonshrestha]

so much enlightening info..my singing has worsened since i have had bad posture habits..being on laptop too much..and having anxiety. The info about soft palette opening really helped and so did the insight about how much stress causes us to have shallow breathing. Would love to see more videos on that..dealing with stress and anxiety that might not be in our control.

[@jeff420sparky8]

when you sing live liz i seen you do big belt then big out in shoulder lifting mouth breathing breath right after. did you ever get have to do that before belt in concert cause getting tired?

[@slimcut1404]

This was so helpful. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed the soft palette technique in terms of yawning into it or a smile. That made it so clear!!! And then breathing in, how you breathe out!!! Thank you for the awakening!

[@jeff420sparky8]

what about open mouth breathing out in on mic? seen you do it and move mouth away to catch breath

[@starshinemaintenance5717]

I have ptsd and i get hoarseness especially around negative energy or stressful days

[@jackpepper2501]

Great work Liz. Expert lessons on how to relieve tension. Awesome stuff!

[@jeff420sparky8]

you must be like this after concert if you know about it

[@davered]

Another great Video Liz! All of these little nuggets of information help! You're the only one putting out good information on MTD!

[@LizBills]

Dave Red aww thanks so much! So happy to help

[@starshinemaintenance5717]

I have ptsd and zteugkr with my voice tension during anxiety thrn u focus on it ugh hopefully I can learn to control it. Wirh these techniques. Thank you

[@LizBills]

I also have problems with anxiety depression etc... sending love to you! what helps me is to consistently work on my mental health and work on being happy and relaxed (not easy!) but its worth the work and I have less issues with my body and my voice :) :) :)

[@hotshotluckyman12345]

Liz are you doing lessons online, I'm like loosing my voice. I have seen an ent and speech pathologist but have not really helped me at all.

[@LizBills]

email me - [e-mail]

[@OjonugwaMansu]

Good to know speaking of singing I’m an aspiring singer

[@LizBills]

Nugwa Mansu that’s amazing! I hope this video helps you on your singing journey :)

[@emmetbrown8259]

Hello! I use a translator, sorry for my English. I hope you understand. I have been trying to sing for 8 years. But there is no progress. I studied with many teachers, but without success. After many years of analysis, I came to the conclusion that the problem is in my physiology. All my friends who don't sing. when shouting, they can shout high. But that's not possible for me. My neck is very tight. I spent a lot of time in front of the mirror. I realized that first of all, I was constantly straining a muscle under my tongue. If I hold this muscle with my fingers, the muscle presses my fingers down. This is a common problem among vocalists. But there is another more serious, main problem. The sternohyoid muscle. It is constantly straining, and it hurts. I can't talk for more than 5 minutes without pain. The pain is not severe, but it is there. I started doing sternohyoid stretches. And it hurts. Help please. Is it MTD?

[@marwannasser4175]

I like your style so much I really wish you get relief from your stress

[@LizBills]

thank you

[@abdelhraniecharafi710]

Thank you 🙏🏼😘😊

[@LizBills]

🥰

[@RODZACABOCATUBAY]

Mam how do i know if i had an MTD?my problem is when i sing in a high notes i have so many tension in my neck the viens was pop out thats why my voice always tired,,,do you have some advice in my problem?

[@LizBills]

I would go to ENT to get diagnosed. Sounds like perhaps it’s tension? But can’t be sure unless you are scoped first. ♥️

[@christineweatherford5852]

Could you also share what you eat in a day/ your eating style? I noticed on Instagram you mention you are a healthy foodie :). Would love to see what you eat!

[@christineweatherford5852]

Can you make a video demonstrating how to use the idea of the air coming out right in front of your face and how to apply that to healthy speaking so we can try and do this practice all day?

[@justinfleet2943]

The center of the nervous system is in the middle of your forehead. Shirodhara tells the nervous system to release its tension and relax.

[@michelledelling7648]

You are a beautiful soul with a great gift of communication. I am grateful for your passion to help.

[@dontvisitmypage564]

Thanks so much, u r a savior. There almost no videos on MTD. Glad to know that I’m not alone and that MTD can be won. ❤️❤️❤️ just keep going🖤🖤 You are so motivating and you’re techniques are very effective.

[@Jvlzq]

You are so kind, engaging and beautiful! Thanks for doing these videos. Ps. I love your personality and style !

[@LizBills]

aww thank you

[@akashsharmaa16]

Can we continue learning singing while we are dealing with MTD ? OR SHOUld we first coorect the MTD ans then start learning singing

[@LizBills]

I would ask your vocal coach or speech therapist. I never stopped singing with MTD. I did take it easy and listen to my body but with MTD the tension will only lift with vocal retraining

[@akashsharmaa16]

@@LizBills i actually dont know if i have MTD or not because its not common in our country but i have all the symptoms of it and thus i am doing everything an MTD sufferer does to treat it by watching ur videos . Thanks for it and the reply too tc ...

[@LizBills]

@@akashsharmaa16 that sounds amazing! Keep listening to your body, educating yourself on MTD and how to relax the body mind and spirt! Xo you can do this!! You can heal!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@Jvlzq]

This is amazing!!! Thank you Liz!!! ❤️

[@thaisavoz]

That was really great! I think I have MTD, and made sense since I have depression and anxiety. Thanks for this video. I will follow you on Instagram. :)

[@LizBills]

Thaisa Artista happy to help xoxo

[@shaarz8706]

well that was brilliant I'm 50 and been doing warm ups wrong for years always have sore throat trying your techniques has my throat to stop hurting so should I do the vocal exercises 30 mins a day and is morning better or afternoon as you here so may tales about which time of day is better thank you I live in melb Australia.

[@Idiotbbnicpig]

can we jst take a minute to appreciate how cute she is. fantastic exercises as well. thanks so much Liz, ur straw method enalbed me to talk again.

[@LizBills]

Nick Chu haha aww thanks! So happy to have helped xoxo

[@anthlafe]

How long did it take you?