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Hey Singers!
It's Justin Stoney the founder of New York Vocal Coaching
joining you for another episode of Quick Singing Tips.
It's a gray, rainy, November afternoon.
Perfect day to take a walk along the Hudson River.
The Hudson is an incredible river!
It starts its 315 mile journey upstate New York,
then down through the Hudson Valley,
and then all the way to the big city.
That's a lot of flow for that H2O.
You know?
And so, that leads us to our question for the day
from Pamela H. in Savannah, Georgia.
Pamela writes, "Dear Justin, I've heard flow phonation
is the best way to sing.
How do I use it?"
Excellent question, Pamela!
Now, flow phonation sounds like yet another fancy vocal term.
And it is!
But you're right, Pamela.
Flow phonation truly is one of the best ways to sing.
So today we're gonna let ourselves get swept away
with vocal pedagogy.
Starting with the question, what is flow phonation?
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Flow phonation is a term used to describe the
ideal relationship between the vocal folds and the breath.
And yes we want them to have a beautiful relationship!
Not an aggressive one, not an unhealthy one,
and not a passive one.
A truly harmonious kinship.
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Flow phonation creates this.
It's that perfect balance between how much
your vocal folds come together
and how much breath you use.
Anytime we achieve flow phonation, Pamela,
our voice feels like it's rollin'
rollin'
rollin' on the river.
But how do we figure out flow phonation?
Let's start with cord closure.
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If we use a lot of vocal fold closure
the result is sometimes a pressed, squeezed, or pinched sound.
♪
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
If we use very little vocal fold closure
then we either get a breathy sound
or a lighter vocal register.
♪
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
Now there's nothing wrong with either of those qualities.
But they aren't our balance.
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
There we go!
But vocal cord closure is just one half of the relationship.
The other half is breath.
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If we use too much breath then we'll either
be singing too loudly or the air will come leaking out.
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
Or...
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
Now if we don't use enough air our singing might be
weak, under energized, or shaky.
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
Now once again, these qualities might sometimes
find their way into our singing but they aren't our balance.
♪ As I went down to the river to pray ♪
Aha!
So how do you know if you're doing flow phonation?
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If you're getting flow phonation right
the voice should start to feel very efficient.
Almost like swimming or paddling downstream.
Here are five signs that you're finding flow phonation.
One, volume.
Your voice isn't too loud or too soft.
Two, breath stamina.
You aren't running out of breath all the time.
Three, strain.
Your voice doesn't feel pinched or squeezed.
Four, clarity.
Your voice is solid and not breathy as its default setting.
And five, legato.
You feel like you can move from note to note
in a smooth way.
Okay, so now that we're in the know about the flow
it's time to try it with a flow phonation vocal exercise.
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Now the idea here is that we're going to start off
with a breath that flows as smoothly as the Hudson.
And we're gonna do that with the fricative consonant F.
Ffffffff.
This is going to get your breath support going
and ensure that you're not over-blowing your vocal folds.
But instead they have a really nice stream to sail on.
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Then we're gonna come in with the voice.
Ideally it will be solid and efficient
but still lead by the breath.
Sounds like this...
♪ FFFlow ♪
Let's give it a try!
Guys will be down here,
♪ Flow ♪
And ladies up here,
♪ Flow ♪
And here we go!
♪ FFFlow ♪
That's it!
♪
That's it, start with that nice F.
♪
That's right.
♪ FFFlow ♪
Good for you.
♪
That's right, keep it nice and flowing!
♪
Excellent.
♪ FFFlow ♪
Good for you.
♪
Start with a good F!
♪ FFFlow ♪
Yes.
♪
Excellent stuff!
♪
And a few more flowing ones...
♪ FFFlow ♪
And last one...
♪ FFFlow ♪
♪
Awesome job!
Well, I hope that helped you improve
your flow phonation today.
Here's some more ways to make sure your singing
just keeps rollin' along.
We are pleased to announce the upcoming release
of Justin Stoney's new book Sing Like Never Before.
For more information visit, SingLikeNeverBefore.com.
For voice lessons or Skype lessons with the NYVC staff
visit us at NewYorkVocalCoaching.com.
If you'd like a vocal course that you can do at home check out the
Voice Lessons To The World Vocal Course.
This twelve part program takes you on a singing journey
from beginner to master level vocal exercises.
You can find it at VoiceLessonsToTheWorld.com.
Or, if you'd like free vocal tips sent to you each day
sign up at DailyVocalTips.com.
And now, here's Justin with this week's vocal benediction.
One of the secrets to life and to singing
is to remember not to take but to be taken instead.
What does that mean?
It means that we often feel like we have to
strive, struggle, or strain
or else we won't be enough.
But what if we learned to trust?
Trust our breath, trust God,
trust the flow of things.
To be taken.
If we can do this we might see a few miracles.
Or at least...
a miracle on the Hudson.
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