Stop Pushing Your Voice (unlock high notes)

I wish I had figured this out when I started 10 years ago.
But now that I know what NOT PUSHING feels like...I feel like I can finally start really singing.
Now, instead of fighting my instrument, I can work with it.
In this video, I briefly explain how the one-note scale helped me to find the sweet spots and the danger zones of my voice.
Then, it’s just about engraining new muscle memory to stay there.
Let me know if this helps!

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

Probably the most important singing video out there. Something very important is to realize when you are pushing. Many can't tell.

[@michaelhewitt23]

Thanks friend

[@dougcard5241]

Good advice 3 months too late for me. lol

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

From 6:54: The pitch is going up. It's exactly there when amateurs starts pushing. They equivalate going up in pitch with pushing. This gentleman is actually deflating and let the vocals cords vibrate while keeping the rib cages out.

[@musicbyjackstar2]

A singing coach told me that the key to reaching higher notes with your chest voice is to push more air through your vocal chords as you attempt higher and higher notes, to teach me how to do this, after warming up my diaphragm and restricting my inhales to my diaphragm, she had me do various "shhhhh" breathing exercises to get used to what it feels like to push air through my throat so I could incorporate that into singing. What's your take on this? I'm just trying to clarify exactly what you mean by your comment and if my vocal coach either gave me bad advice, or if I've misunderstood what you meant by "pushing". We might be talking about different things. When you say "pushing", do you mean shouting, or channeling more air pressure through your vocal chords?

[@dougcard5241]

I just discovered this in the last month or so. Can't make the pushed notes sound pretty. Ds and Es must be ONLY as loud as the music and emotion call for and no pushing. The A on the Music of the Night is a good test I can't do yet. Vibrato would be nice.

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

@@musicbyjackstar2 By "pushing", I mean trying to use the throat to produce the high note. I don't think it's true that you have to blow more air for high notes. Be aware I don't have studies in siniging and I'm not a vocal coach. Just a guy trying to figure out how to sing. Maybe a professional will contradict me. To use some of my chest voice in high notes, I notice that I have to focus a lot on my keeping my chest forward and the backsides out. I think we can think of open rib cage.

[@soulbrotha4u]

This is a great tip for multiple reasons. Should have thousands of likes.

[@michaelhewitt23]

Thanks brother 🙏

[@adrianacapella8520]

Falling into temptation😂🤣 You damn right! We all want to punch the top note, and I am still trying to program myself to not do it.

[@michaelhewitt23]

as in singing as in life!

[@Nathanaelsun22]

That was so valuable, much appreciation!!

[@michaelhewitt23]

Thanks 🙏 anything in particular? What’re you currently working on?

[@Rowboaty]

Wow, thank you so much, I'm really looking forward to trying this out :)

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

I started this only yesterday, and I've already noticed a difference in the stability of my sounds. And I practiced only 15 minutes! OO is a great vowell to use because it is the vowell that creates the least friction. OH is a good choice too. What I did is to sing song segments using only OO trying to keep the same sound quality throughout. When it feels good, then I try with words.

[@Harlem55]

What this is talking about at the 2:54 mark is what, in the symphony orchestra, is refferred to as a reverse crecendo (so named because of the reversed or backward hairpin marking) the effect is the subtillity of miller saxophones as opposed to being grabbed by sousa brass.

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

Very few amateur singers are ready to do what you're doing because they get quickly bored and look for more videos on singing tips and tricks. Many stop making those exercises and go back to singing whole songs thinking that the more they sing, the more they will improve. Improvement is not done in songs but in practicing methodically 3 or 4 words. My vocal teacher got a little frustrated with my lack of progress. She told me, "Practice long, constant notes. When you're able to make them beautiful and strong, come back to me". I failed in following her advice. then you can look at more advanced techniques. Once you can do that, Your video is putting me back on track. Thanks!

[@dougcard5241]

I sing scales and stretch for 10 to 15 minutes and then sing difficult songs for over an hour every day. No chance I am not improving as fact as any coach would help. I stopped taking lessons a year ago and practice base, baritone, tenor, and alto (Solitaire) and other stuff). The songs should be difficult and out of reach at first. Classical stuff takes many months to get close. This guy is teaching us to cover the high notes or they will sound strained. Taught by Pavarotti a couple decades ago. Seems to be a good advice.

[@heythere6983]

This is important to understand, I’m not an opera singer but I went to a couple opera singers who taught to learn how to sing powerfully and safely. Thing is the one I stick with conditioned me to be super nasal and super loud at all times. When I tired writing songs on guitar it didn’t apply well at all, I was used to enormously deep breaths in and loud belts near the higher end of my voice with totally open throat or mouth positioned as I was taught. Thing is I sounded one dimensional and just mostly way too loud. I developed tinnitus and sensitivity to sounds bc of how often I’d practice loudly, especially in my car since I didn’t know where I could practice without being a nuisance to everyone else. That’s the one thing I like about pop singers, they can run up a scale to a high range on a talk show so effortlessly without being so loud and be in a tasteful place. I wish I was taught volume control before I hurt my ears, I lost about a decade of my life because of it since I couldn’t do much since my ears took years to recover. I always disliked when my teacher tried to show me something and they’d barely open their mouth and blast me in the face with the most I considerately loud belt with me two feet away staring right down into their mouths. I think my next teacher will have to show me they have more control. I was always taught louder and more power was needed to reach higher notes and it’s just not true . I also would get fatigued at the end of my hour lessons and really don’t think it was a smart choice to do that to my voice everytime, as a songwriter I don’t need to be on ten at all times. O well now I know, I was just a good student and did as I was told , but I did always get confused as to why I sounded so over the top when other singers sounded comfortable , also singing into a microphone was something I never even considered, or singing into a room with a decent reflective surface/wall so I could hear myself well and not be encouraged to be too loud. My voice reflective back in an intimate way definitely sped up my choice of tone more than being in lessons for a year. I really had no perspective I just thought being loud and belty was the way to learn

[@callmedeno]

Very good video. I recently noticed that my whole life I'd never considered a slow attack, or a slow acceleration into the sound. Basically I thought of notes as either on or off and it caused me to glot up and choke in subtle ways I didn't know It's strange because I was actually aware that's not what you want, but never connected it to my actual singing technique. I noticed I can even do a fast attack with this sort of micro-acceleration into the note (obviously sped up in that case), but just psychologically and hence physiologically just that idea being in my mind causes the notes to be much more manageable. It is kind of like the difference between analog and digital,

[@michaelhewitt23]

Yup. Voice is housed in the body but played in the mind.

[@anangelsdiaries]

That's really cool, going to try that.

[@michaelhewitt23]

Lmk how it goes 👊

[@CANTsee_cartr]

appreciate this

[@michaelhewitt23]

🙏

[@Minunmaani]

Amazing voice!

[@michaelhewitt23]

thank you!

[@JohnFraserFindlay]

this is great..Ive done this kinda training/warm up more or less by accident..but I have to confesss I should have more patience to do it..cuz I get in to "push" mode way too fast!! Thanks!

[@michaelhewitt23]

Push mode always tempting us! Resist!

Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelhewitt23]

Anytime 👊

[@nayaleezy]

that's a great operatic sound with good control in your low range 👍

[@michaelhewitt23]

thanks!

[@SCVocalStudentReacts]

Great advice, clear presentation, and fantastic voice with beautiful tonal quality, skillful control, and incredible vibrato. Thank you for sharing.

[@ailishbethd4033]

Beautiful bass/baritone sound. Very helpful exercise but I am so impatient to just belt it out😅

[@michaelhewitt23]

Thanks 🙏 - and hey just let it rip and figure it out along the way, feels good!

[@UuU1001.]

Marko Jarić!

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

Thank you for this video. It took me a bit of time to try to understand what you are gettting at, but I think I've grasped it now. Is this 'Apoggio'? I suffer from lacking support (not enough held tension - I think you say 'Coming off the voice') whereas you (I think you are suggesting that) are suffering from too much. Absolutely correct Apoggio would be 'spot on' - Enough support to hold the note, but not too much to be pushing. And learn muscle memory so the body knows this and can repeat it. Does this sound right?

[@michaelhewitt23]

Sounds right to me! And you’re very welcome. Hit up Matthew White (@funky_barnacles on IG)

[@cainliang8302]

I'm very late, but this would be classed as "Messa Di Voce" (which is one of, if not the greatest vocal exercises alongside "Ng sirens" and vocal strawing). "Apoggio" is solely working on your breathing and body alignment, and the majority of apoggio exercises don't require your folds to vibrate at all. (it's not a "vocal" exercise but is actually THE most important exercise for singing in my opinion as it works solely on breath). NY Vocal Studio has an amazing video on Appoggio here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXXVmZ6qbbB8d5Y

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

@@cainliang8302Thank you - And yes, vocal sirens with good cord compression to soften the passagio and straw (SOVT) exercises are amongst the best exercises you can do.

[@rafaelthatonedude-5605]

Ive just started singing as a baritone a year ago for college. Its nice to try these exercises and experiment. Do you recommend straw exercises as well?

[@michaelhewitt23]

They certainly have their place

[@jackjax7921]

Teach us how to grow MASSIVE traps. Lol

[@michaelhewitt23]

😂 THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! was doing exclusively double kettlebell work and weighted pull-ups at this time, never trained traps directly

[@matteomangialetti9789]

Why aren’t there any frontal resonances? And how do you let the voice out and make it clear?

[@michaelhewitt23]

Idk man I was just ripping

[@thomasmartin369]

Great stuff, do you teach?

[@michaelhewitt23]

In a manner of speaking! - DM me on the IG, love to see how I can help

[@thesearemyhobbies]

You have to make a follow-up video a little bit more structured, going through the entire exercise and doing more demonstrations, please!!!

[@michaelhewitt23]

You got it!

[@thesearemyhobbies]

@@michaelhewitt23 I am looking forward to it!

[@teach-learn4078]

Yeah, so long and rambling. Leads into the cliche, "singers have no sense of time" (joking!)😊

[@phobianxietya2185]

😭i dont understand i cant even make my voice vibrate like this:( i dont know how u do it :(

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

You need someone who accompanies you in the process.

[@mugumearnold6523]

I would prefer if you taught us how to sing c5 without pushing

[@michaelhewitt23]

Talk to Jack Swanson or Matt White

[@Arythmnmaker1]

You don't push - you squeeze

[@SamuelM.-iz1un]

This won't work for me. Im a tenore.

[@michaelhewitt23]

Hit up Jack LiVigni

[@nextleveljourney6612]

That Vibrato seems manufactured?? because it’s same depth despite volume or pitch…. Most people’s vibrato becomes shallower as they go higher and or softer volumes singing…. So when he has exact same Fluctuations when singing piano (soft) as he has when singing forte (loud) - it seems like a Habit formed instead of an organic vibrato? Genuinely ASKING 👍🏼

[@michaelhewitt23]

Talking a lot of shit for someone with zero content posted. Try getting in the arena champ

[@Belendjwa]

@@michaelhewitt23love your response 🤣🤣🤣😘

[@michaelhewitt23]

gotta keep it 100 with em @@Belendjwa

[@nextleveljourney6612]

Top notes around 11:05 entire half step flat - so when he says the pitches were “..right in tune” I screamed at my screen: Nooooo 👎 it wasn’t Sir! Test: sing those runs with an intentional Flat 9 - and then compare them to yourself singing to the 9 aiming for it to be a slightly few cents sharp 9- you’ll hear the difference

[@michaelhewitt23]

You referring to the flat one I corrected and then re-sang?

[@VHSManuel]

This is pooorly explained

[@michaelhewitt23]

Agreed. Straight yapping for fun and love of the game during Rona season 1

[@caseyernstmusic5748]

(Get punched in the face for so reason because you can’t hear) That’s why you can’t hit high notes…..

[@michaelhewitt23]

😂

[@dedios03]

On a side note...dude just grow that beard already it's crying out and you'd look better

[@peterspering3709]

Nah, he doesn't need it. He's insanely handsome anyway.

[@mariomazzi7894]

Too much vibrato

[@michaelhewitt23]

👍