STOP Breathing This Way! (its making you sound flat)

Summary

This video script delves into the art of vocal dynamics and breath control in singing. It critiques the overuse of compression in modern music production, which masks the natural ebb and flow of a singer's breath. The transcript contrasts performances by AD and Ariana Grande, highlighting the importance of dynamic breath support for expressive singing. It also introduces a simple exercise to help singers understand and practice the right breathing techniques for better vocal control and tone.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The importance of proper breathing in singing is often masked by heavy production and compression in modern music, which can mislead students about the dynamics of a singer's voice.
• 👂 Listening to live and less produced performances can reveal more about a singer's vocal dynamics and breathing techniques, providing a better learning opportunity.
• 📈 The perception of a singer's breath control can be skewed by the consistency of their voice in heavily produced music, which does not reflect the actual dynamic breathing required.
• 🌟 Both AD and Ariana Grande are excellent at using their breath support, but live performances, especially of AD, can be more instructive for learning about breath control.
• 🎶 Dynamics in singing involve varying breath pressure and not maintaining a constant level of breath support throughout a song.
• 💪 Engaging the abs in the same way throughout a song can lead to fatigue; instead, the engagement should be dynamic and responsive.
• 🎵 Breathing support and vocal placement are interconnected, and understanding both is crucial for effective singing.
• 👃👄 Inhaling air can be done through the nose, mouth, or both, but the focus should be on the exhale and providing resistance with the lips.
• 💨 Exhaling with dynamic resistance helps to understand how to control airflow for singing, with the engagement of the breath muscles intensifying as airflow increases.
• 🎼 Practicing with sibilant sounds like 's' or 'f' can help train the breath control needed for singing, by providing back pressure and dynamic airflow.
• 🎤 Singers like Michael Jackson demonstrate an understanding of breath control even at a young age, using dynamics to convey emotion and power in their singing.
• 🔗 Joining a free course can provide further guidance on understanding and practicing breath support and vocal dynamics.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the production of the singer's performance mentioned in the script?

The main issue is that the production uses heavy compression and mixing, which obscures the natural dynamics of the singer's voice, including the variations in volume, airflow, and breathing support.

How does the script suggest we should listen to a singer's performance to understand their breathing technique?

The script suggests listening to a performance from about 10 years earlier or a live performance that is not heavily produced or mixed, to hear more dynamics and understand how the singer uses their breath.

What is the difference between the breathing technique used by the singer in the older performance versus the newer one?

In the older performance, the singer exhibits more vocal dynamics, being loud, intense, vibrant, and agile, as well as soft and calming in certain sections. This contrasts with the newer performance, which sounds more consistent and less dynamic due to heavy production.

Why is it important for singers to understand and practice dynamic breathing?

Dynamic breathing is important because it allows singers to vary their breath pressure and support in response to the music, creating a more expressive and engaging performance.

What is the relationship between breathing support and vocal placement in singing?

Breathing support and vocal placement are closely related; understanding and practicing dynamic breathing helps in achieving proper vocal placement and vice versa.

What does the script suggest as a method to train proper breathing for singing?

The script suggests an exercise where one breathes in naturally, holds the breath without locking it, and then exhales with dynamic resistance through the lips, focusing on the engagement of the downward poop muscle level.

How does the script describe the engagement of the downward poop muscle during the breathing exercise?

The script describes the engagement as a dynamic process where the intensity of the engagement increases with the intensity of the airflow, simulating the interaction between breath pressure and vocal sound.

What is the purpose of the exercise involving the 's' and 'f' sounds in the script?

The purpose of the exercise is to help singers understand how to create dynamic back pressure with their vocal tract while maintaining a consistent airflow, which is crucial for achieving a great vocal tone.

How does the script differentiate between tension and intensity in the context of singing?

The script differentiates by stating that intensity refers to the dynamic engagement of the muscles during singing, while tension implies a static and potentially harmful muscular strain.

What is the significance of the script's mention of Michael Jackson's performance at age 14?

The mention of Michael Jackson's performance is to illustrate that even at a young age, he understood the concept of dynamic breathing and how to use his breath to create vocal dynamics, which is a testament to the importance of this technique.

How can singers apply the concepts discussed in the script to their own practice?

Singers can apply these concepts by practicing the breathing exercises provided, focusing on dynamic breath support, and applying these techniques to simple lines from their favorite songs to develop a better understanding of their own vocal dynamics.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 The Impact of Production on Vocal Dynamics

This paragraph discusses the influence of music production on the perception of a singer's breathing technique. It points out that heavy compression and mixing can mask the natural dynamics of a voice, leading to a misconception about consistent breath pressure. The speaker encourages students to listen to less-produced performances to better understand the actual use of breath and dynamics in singing. The paragraph also compares the breathing techniques of two singers, emphasizing the importance of dynamic, responsive breathing rather than static support.

05:02

🌀 Dynamic Breathing and Vocal Support

The second paragraph delves into the concept of dynamic breathing and how it contrasts with static, muscular engagement. It uses Michael Jackson's performance as an example to illustrate the natural ebb and flow of breath support in singing. The speaker introduces an exercise to help singers train their breath support dynamically, emphasizing the importance of engaging the diaphragm and using air efficiently. The exercise involves breathing in naturally, holding the breath, and then exhaling with resistance, focusing on a downward sensation without tensing the muscles.

10:07

🎶 Applying Dynamic Breathing to Vocal Performance

In this paragraph, the speaker continues the discussion on dynamic breathing by applying it to vocal exercises and performance. The focus is on how to use breath pressure to create vocal dynamics and how to balance intensity with control. The paragraph provides a practical exercise using the 'F' sound to demonstrate how to adjust breath pressure and vocal tract resistance to achieve different vocal qualities. It also encourages singers to practice this concept with simple lines from songs and to join a free course for further exploration of vocal support and technique.

Keywords

💡Breathing

Breathing is a fundamental aspect of singing that involves the control of air intake and exhalation to support vocal production. In the video, it is emphasized as a key component for achieving vocal dynamics and is discussed in the context of proper technique, such as not maintaining a constant breath pressure but rather dynamically adjusting it to match the intensity of the song.

💡Dynamics

Dynamics in singing refer to the variation in volume and intensity of the voice. The script highlights the importance of dynamics for expressing the emotional depth of a song. It contrasts highly produced music, where dynamics might be flattened due to compression and mixing, with live performances where natural dynamics are more evident.

💡Compression

Compression is a production technique used to control the dynamic range of an audio signal, making the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder. The script mentions that overuse of compression can lead to a loss of the natural vocal dynamics, which is important for singers to learn from when studying the breathing and support techniques of professional singers.

💡Support

Vocal support is the concept of using the body, particularly the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, to control and project the voice. The script discusses the importance of dynamic support, which means adjusting the level of muscular engagement in response to the demands of the song, rather than maintaining a static level of support.

💡Exhaled Breath

Exhaled breath is the act of releasing air from the lungs to produce sound. The video emphasizes the importance of using exhaled breath efficiently, with examples given of how professional singers manage their breath to create vocal dynamics and maintain control over their voice.

💡Vocal Dynamics

Vocal dynamics pertain to the changes in loudness and intensity of the singing voice. The script uses the term to discuss how singers like Ariana Grande and AD use their breath to create a range of vocal expressions, which is a critical skill for conveying the emotion and narrative of a song.

💡Head Voice

Head voice is a lighter, more resonant vocal register often used for higher notes. The script briefly touches on the transition between head voice and other vocal registers, indicating that maintaining proper breath support is crucial even during these transitions.

💡Placement

Placement in singing refers to the sensation of where the voice resonates within the body or head. The video mentions dynamic placement, suggesting that as singers adjust their breath support, the resonant placement of their voice should also change dynamically to match the musical context.

💡Back Pressure

Back pressure is the resistance created in the vocal tract when controlling the flow of air during exhalation. The script explains that managing back pressure is essential for achieving the right balance between breath support and vocal intensity.

💡Engagement

Engagement, in the context of singing, refers to the active use of muscles to support the voice. The video discusses the idea of dynamic engagement, where the intensity of muscle use varies in response to the song's demands, rather than being a constant, tense application of force.

💡Free Course

The script mentions a free course offered to viewers, which serves as a continuation of the concepts discussed in the video. This course is intended to help singers further explore and develop their understanding of breath support and vocal dynamics.

Highlights

The importance of proper breathing in singing performance is emphasized, with the singer hiding proper breathing techniques.

The impact of production on the perception of a singer's dynamics and breathing, often skewing the listener's understanding.

A comparison between a highly produced performance and a more raw, live performance to illustrate the differences in vocal dynamics.

The significance of vocal dynamics in learning about breathing, with a live performance of ADo providing a clearer example.

The difference in breath pressure and support between live and produced performances of Ariana Grande.

The dynamic and responsive nature of breathing and exhaling in singing, as opposed to a static approach.

The connection between breathing support, placement, and the overall concept of support in singing.

An invitation to join a free course for further exploration of support and interaction with the voice.

The concept of downward-focused support and its role in dynamic breathing during singing.

The exercise involving breathing and providing resistance with the lips to understand dynamic exhalation.

The use of sibilant sounds to practice dynamic airflow and back pressure in singing.

The importance of maintaining a balance between breath pressure and vocal intensity in singing.

A demonstration of how to apply dynamic breathing to a phrase from a song, illustrating the arc of airflow.

The role of dynamic interaction between breath pressure and vocal sound in creating great singing.

The encouragement to revisit highly produced performances with a new understanding of vocal dynamics and breathing.

A final note on developing great vocal tone once the concepts of airflow and breath support are mastered.

Transcripts

here's a wonderful performance from an incredible  singer that hides proper breathing from those who  

are seeking it dream in the palm of my hands  about you [Music] you now the problem here for  

students of the voice really isn't in the  performance and I'll highlight some things  

in this performance that can help us quite a bit  it's in how it's presented it's in the production  

we hear a voice that is so plastered from  compression and from the way it's mixed  

right here that we don't hear the Dynamics of her  voice happening our perception of how Dynamics and  

volume and the associated airf flow breathing  and support that goes with it is completely  

skewed we're afraid to go big or get small or  really anything in between because we hear a  

consistency out of our favorite singers that  really isn't there listen to this performance  

about 10 years earlier and make note of  how much more Dynamics you hear in the  

same Melody it's also a live performance  and it's not produced or highly [Music]

mixed you you

she's loud and intense and vibrant and  agile but she's also very Lish and calming  

in certain sections this performance sounds  way more Dynamic but it's not it's more raw  

and it helps us listen to her voice in  a way more efficient way for us learning  

about our breathing now you really can't  miss the vocal Dynamics in this sample

does AD use her breathing better than  Ariana Grande no they're both fantastic  

at it however listening to Ado especially  live is much more helpful when dialing in  

how we are supposed to use our exhaled breath  and how we're to support our voice in light  

of what we just heard from Shadow let's  go back to the first Ariana performance  

that I showed you and let's break down  what's happening from a Dynamics [Music]

perspective right there this is not about  you boy there is not a constant level of  

breath pressure about you boy no  that sounds dumb listen to this

[Music] my here how she leans into you I'm  lowering it and putting it in my own voice  

but but listen about about you boy about you  boy about you boy not about you boy well should  

I maintain the same breath pressure all the time  should my abs be engaged all the time in the same  

way over a whole song man my abs will get really  tired of that no they shouldn't be and what we're  

going to continue to observe in these listening  samples and then practice with my simple exercise  

is that breathing exhaling getting rid of your  air engaging your air is done dynamically and  

responsively not statically now breathing support  and placement all go completely hand in hand in  

hand we're going to be focusing on the breathing  component here but you must make sure you have the  

global concept of support and an understanding of  dynamic placement so that the breathing component  

really sticks so right after you watch this video  click the link below in my pinned comment or video  

description and join my free course it serves  as a perfect continuation of what I'm talking  

about [Music] here about you boy there is more  downward poop muscle level engagement over you  

then boy the climax of that engagement is on you  and when you're listening and just enjoying the  

song You don't notice that because everything  is so packed in she's not exaggerating the  

technique enough for you to notice Beyond  what's happening in the production back to

Ado sh hi Sher hi sh sh

right there especially cuz she's not  going in and out of her head voice on that

third sh am I holding a constant static position  with my downward Focus support absolutely not  

yes there is a consistent engagement but it's  more a mindfulness component and not a muscular  

component listen to how Michael Jackson  even at age 14 understands this concept  

you feel you're not wanted anywhere if you  ever look behind you feel you're not wanted

[Music] anywhere you might say well  isn't he just getting louder as he's  

getting higher no listen to the notes  carefully you feel you're not wanted

anywhere listen to the difference between anywhere  

and if anywhere if anywhere if this is  not higher notes more support this is  

not getting louder Just so you can hit  higher notes you feel you're not wanted

anywhere if you ever look behind  you feel you're not wanted

anywhere if then you ever look behind if  you ever look behind then there's this  

full belted Dynamic going but the notes are  fairly close especially after he ramps up on  

that line there's so much Dynamics and this has  everything to do with how he is using his breath  

you can tell a fantastic singer by how notes  in similar ranges and we hear this from all  

three of these singers notes in similar ranges  can take on so many different characteristics  

yes placement is a part of it yes register is  a part of it but it begins with how your using  

your breath let me show you the exercise that's  going to help train how proper breathing should  

feel so that you can start to approach this  level of amazingness first we're not going  

to sing at all we're simply going to breathe  should I take in air through my nose should I  

take in air through my mouth what about both my  mouth and nose how should I take in don't think  

about it just breathe just take air in then I  want you to hold your breath but not lock your

breath not like you're holding it back  but like you're just full with your

lungs then we're going to Exhale and we're  going to provide resistance with our lips  

and we're going to do it dynamically we're  going to go more intensely on our lips and  

then we're going to be more relaxed  on our lips but we're going to feel  

F that exhale with our poop muscles having  a downward focused sensation no we're not  

going to be tensing here we're not going  to be engaging these muscles we're going  

to be engaging as low as possible like  you're pushing something out your rear

end you end up holding back air providing  resistance or back pressure with your  

Li lips as you provide more air coming  up as a result of the downward support

again what do you notice about the  intensity down here as the air flow  

gets more intense the engagement gets more  intense yes why should it be any different  

when you're singing It's not let's replace  the blowing f with an S sound a sibilant

sound the more back pressure we have the louder  and more intense things seem and in certain  

parts of our body things are more intense but  they're not tense the other observation I want  

to make is that even when we are expelling  air in the calm sections of this exercise  

there is still air coming out there is still a  consistency even in the midst of the inconsistency

again let's go to a different form  of resistance let's go to an F

now let's do the same thing with a [Music] note I  am intentionally providing more Breath by focusing  

down by pushing harder down dynamically and then  I'm also intentionally ever so slightly holding  

back a portion of that intensity that comes from  below if I wasn't it would sound like [Music]

this there's a moderation that's happening  in my vocal tract that's similar but more  

complex than the s or the F or the F and  it's important that we understand that  

because Great Sound is a product of both  dyamic support and the reaction we have  

to that Dynamic support that Dynamic airflow  in terms of the back pressure that our vocal  

tract is providing now let's do a phrase with  this same mindset about you boy no no no no

no that's how we want to Arc this in terms  of how the the breath pressure should

feel about you about you boy about you boy about  you boy about you boy about you boy about you boy  

I am fully experiencing The Arc of my airflow  balancing over that line and it is creating  

this Dynamic interaction with how my voice sounds  there's all sorts of things happening and that's  

what you hear crazy happening in Ado there's  other things going on too that you hear quite a  

bit in the older performance from Ariana Grande  and now that you know what to listen for you'll  

hear in the highly produced newer live version of  daydreaming I encourage you to go back and listen  

to that whole performance and see if you can find  what I'm talking about in her voice it'll give  

you a whole new appreciation for her approach try  this exercise try it over over simple lines from  

your favorite songs and if you'd like more help  exploring support and interaction with your voice  

make sure you click that link below in the pinned  comment or video description and join my free  

course and here's a video about developing great  vocal tone once you have this airflow stuff down