Music Nerds Assemble!

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='missionseeker' timestamp='1336057226' post='2426510']
AnneLine, you are correct.

FuturePriest, just using common sense you can reason that he's way out of line saying you can sing for 24 hours without feeling strain. Is there anything someone can do for 24 hours without feeling strain? That would be like saying someone can run for 24 hours without getting tired. I wouldn't trust this guy at all. And if read you reviews, the ones by voice teachers all are one stars and say that it's bad/old/outdated information. If you would like to research vocal techniques for both singing and speaking, I would recommend this site: [url="http://www.ncvs.org/"]http://www.ncvs.org/[/url] While some of Love's theories may correct, you have to remember that his theories were most like developed a few decades ago, before we had the technology to fully understand the science behind the vocal apparatuses. That is why they are even called vocal chords, because people didn't realize that they are not, in fact, chords, but folds. Which clap together at high speeds to form words and songs. The clapping together constantly for 24 hours would cause (what is basically the equivalent of) bruising on the folds.

I just would proceed with caution when anyone promotes the idea of 24 hour use in vocal technique.
[/quote]

Sure. I just figured since he miraculously saved Vince Neil's singing career that he knew what he was doing. Apparently being a warlock doesn't mean you know anything about strained voices.

By the way, why is it that I have to do the warm-up you gave me as opposed to singing an easy song for me like U2's New Year's Day? Isn't it the same concept? I'm not opposed to doing the warm-up, I'm just curious is all.

[AnneLine]

I'm sure one of the more fully trained musicians can give you a better answer, but I think it is kind of like running an automobile engine for a little while without putting it into gear and driving it. Remember the analogies to the reps in the gym? Even if you had been doing a certain amount of weight in the past, if you ahven't done any work for a while, yu are back starting with the earliest weight becuase your muscles aren't used to the stretching yet. The up and down stuff lets the vocal chords warm up and also gives you a reliable guage of when you are ready to try to go just a little (a note or two...) higher or lower every few weeks. You can tell for sure when you are starting to feel any strain at all... and then you go back down (or up) because you are GENTLY stretching your limits.

If you are doing the gentle pushing right, you'll start to notice the changes when you sing the songs... but the key really is to go slowly and not skip any steps. That must remind you of a discussion on a different topic.... which makes sense, because.... there's a lot of connection between music and mathematics! Go figure! (Ha ha!)

[MissyP89]

Hmmm. To use an analogy, singing an easy song before doing a proper, gentle warmup would be like going for a light jog without stretching first. Sure, you'd work your voice with U2, but doing scales is a safer method that will actually get you better results.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1336089588' post='2426710']
Hmmm. To use an analogy, singing an easy song before doing a proper, gentle warmup would be like going for a light jog without stretching first. Sure, you'd work your voice with U2, but doing scales is a safer method that will actually get you better results.
[/quote]

I see. Now, I have one last question. Earlier it was mentioned that milk and cold drinks cause more mucus. Is this a bad thing for the throat if you sing with a lot of mucus buildup? A few weeks ago I was battling a very stuffy nose for a few days and ever since I've had a little bit of mucus in the back of my throat. Does this mean I shouldn't sing or am I safe?

[Maximilianus]

Your [url="http://www.thepriests.com/"]vocation[/url]?

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1336096175' post='2426772']
Your [url="http://www.thepriests.com/"]vocation[/url]?
[/quote]

I love The Priests. I have two of their albums. However, many of their songs go quite low. Some I think I could manage, but for the most part I won't be able to sing their songs well until I expand my vocal range, which could last months or possibly years.

[MissyP89]

As far as I know, singing with mucus in your throat won't damage your voice, per se. But you won't sound as good. Remember what Mission said about the movements of your vocal folds? Well, if they're coated in gunk, those movements are naturally going to be inhibited. You might find it hard to produce a clear, solid tone. Or you might find that your range is shorter than normal.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1336102248' post='2426840']
As far as I know, singing with mucus in your throat won't damage your voice, per se. But you won't sound as good. Remember what Mission said about the movements of your vocal folds? Well, if they're coated in gunk, those movements are naturally going to be inhibited. You might find it hard to produce a clear, solid tone. Or you might find that your range is shorter than normal.
[/quote]

Ha. I can only go a little over an octave. The last thing I need is for my vocal range to be shorter.

But thanks, all of this information has really helped.

[Maximilianus]

If you sing with mucus will make you sound like this

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKm5xQyD2vE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKm5xQyD2vE[/url]

[MissyP89]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1336102424' post='2426845']
Ha. I can only go a little over an octave. The last thing I need is for my vocal range to be shorter.

But thanks, all of this information has really helped.
[/quote]

Just remember that your voice is an instrument and it can be trained with time and patience. You'll get better ... it'll just take hard work and experience, that's all.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1336105858' post='2426880']
Just remember that your voice is an instrument and it can be trained with time and patience. You'll get better ... it'll just take hard work and experience, that's all.
[/quote]

Just you watch, one of these days I'll be singing as low as Michael Buble. However, those days won't be immediate, it seems, as my sister wants me to practice Born This Way and sing it for her when she gets back from college in a week. I think I'll settle for U2, quite honestly.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1336096005' post='2426771']
I see. Now, I have one last question. Earlier it was mentioned that milk and cold drinks cause more mucus. Is this a bad thing for the throat if you sing with a lot of mucus buildup? A few weeks ago I was battling a very stuffy nose for a few days and ever since I've had a little bit of mucus in the back of my throat. Does this mean I shouldn't sing or am I safe?
[/quote]
As Missy said, it's not "bad" for your voice, but have you ever tried talking with a bunch of crud in your throat? it just doesn't work. For just singing around the house, it probably doesn't matter, but (for instance) when I had to chant a bunch of garbage at the Easter vigil, I was careful not to do anything like this beforehand, otherwise it would have been detrimental to my performance.

[missionseeker]

Here's the thing, I'm a classically trained singer. It's called bel canto and it is A LOT different than training to sing random pop music. It's different than even broadway singing (in fact, we can that "can belto") So I'm not sure I can help if all you want to to do is sing with or without you.

Like Missy said, the mucus won't damage it, BUT the folds will try to compensate, which means working harder and more strain. I would say that if you are still feeling icky scales would be fine, but I wouldn't try to sing at 100% yet. If you would really like to heal your throat, drink hot tea with lemons and honey (or even just hot water with lemons and honey) it's the best thing you can do.


As for why warming up with scales and certain exercises is important, it's because any random song is going to have lots of leaps and jumps, which causes your vocal chord to move quickly from one position to another. It would be like constantly jerking your arms while driving a car: eventually, you'll get there, but you may have caused damage on the way.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1335826501' post='2425402']
I learned that the human voice is made to sing or speak twenty four hours a day and not feel strained. If you do feel strained, you're doing something wrong. I feel strained when singing higher notes. What could I possibly be doing wrong?
[/quote]

Hope in heaven always and you can hit that high note, I had a dream about this once where i was with a couple of friends and was in the kind of hawaii hut studio and there was a recording booth in it and i wen't in there and there was only one number left to sing and it was number 8, so i pressed the button next to the number 8 and sung my heart out and my friends panicked and tried to stop me because the windows in the studio blew open and they tried to stop me but the curator (whom was of the darker skinned variety of human with a well kept short grey beard) and he ushered with his hand for them to not stop me... I interpreted this dream in accordance with some holy scripture by saint paul where he says "we must keep our minds on heaven." or hearts or eyes,sorry i can't remember the passage exactly but hopefully you get the point,unless for me it was a personal revelation,but anyway the gospel verse is usefull because all scripture is usefull.