How to sing - 6. Lip rolls and lip trills: do's and don't's

[speedylife12]

Hi, thanks for the detailed video! I hope to put it to good use but I can't seem to even be able to do lip rolls, any tips that can help me be able to do them?

[voicewisdom]

@speedylife12 You are probably tightening your jaw or lips. Press your thumbs into the side of your face, just in the cheekbones to stop the muscles gripping the top lip, and see if that helps.

[Outback4Me]

This is such a great video, but it's really hard to do when half of your face is numb from going to the dentist! I pick the best times to start something. LOL!

[valarangel]

hello sir. I have two question regarding liprolls, please.

First: where should the resonance be felt?

Inside one's mouth or mainly in the lips? or even head or nose?

(i feel slight vocal fry in my lips before

liprolls)

Second: Should we aim to slow the flow of air?

I mean, keep a constant flow but a slow one?

Thank you in Advance. 

[valarangel]

@valarangel I forgot. should the tongue be curved upwards in

the shape of an arch while lip-rolling? so that the uvula

doesn't touch the tongue itself ?

[voicewisdom]

@valarangel I wouldn't think of 'positioning' the tongue at all, but more about letting the back and base of it relax. It will then find a position for itself that will keep if from interfering with the resonating space.

[voicewisdom]

@valarangel 1. Loose lips will give a strong vibration there. Because of the strong lip vibration, and the closed lips, you won't FEEL much resonance, even when the vocal cords are also vibrating. But the vocal cord vibration will be happening, and your mouth cavity will be resonating. 2. Maintain constant air flow and pressure always. If the abdominals are being used, and the diaphtragm properly braced, you do not need to think about 'speed' of air flow at all.

[blueskygal9]

Thanks so much for the detailed instruction! I am having difficulty executing them.. just started... wondering if the fact that my teeth that are 1-2 teeth back from the front teeth are missing and this is causing problems with uncontrolled air flow? At some point getting dentures but for now this is what i have to work with! thx!

[StardustPegasis95]

Thanks for the amazing coverage and clear up in this confusion. For a while I've been doing strained lip rolls, this has helped explain it a lot. However I'm still unsure, are you saying we're supposed to exhale a little before going into a lip roll? I feel it a lot easier but i can't hold the lip roll for very long and i still feel a tension in my neck, is there another problem with my technique? I'm breathing using my diaphragm so I don't think it's that. Also my teeth tend to be clenched :(

[voicewisdom]

@StardustPegasis95 Microscopic puff of air before lip vibration. Thumb pressure on muscle underneath cheekbone will train release of top lip to vibrate more freely. Back of jaw must be free, dropped slightly back (back of jaw is open, even when lips are together). Breath from diaphragm work is NOT DEEP ENOUGH. Ribs must be wide, shoulders low. Engage abdominals by pressing lower back against wall (knees slightly bent). Neck improves by holding book against wall behind head at same time.

[StardustPegasis95]

@voicewisdom Thank you so much! I took your advice and i managed to do less strained lip rolls :)

I still feel i need to push a little near the high notes but i think it's because my jaw isn't relaxing when I want it to. I've trying this 'chewing' exercise and I'm wondering if you have any other tips to help relax the back of jaw. Thanks again!

[voicewisdom]

@StardustPegasis95 LIghtly massage back edge of jaw with finger tips. To get jaw position, vertically put tip of index finger behind top teeth, to feel the jaw slip gently back and ever so slightly downwards. You can also loosen jaw by pulling lower teeth gently down to feel the side of the face gently stretch and lengthen. Never jam the jaw forwards as you open. And the jaw never needs to be very open at the front. Remember how ventriloquists make a living!

[StardustPegasis95]

@voicewisdom Oh okay I'll try that out then. i've taken a look at you're other videos, they're equally as helpful, so thank you. I've been trying to keep my neck upright and used your methods to release tension from my neck, but I understand it will take time to develop, am I correct?

[voicewisdom]

@StardustPegasis95 All muscle training takes time. The repetition of CORRECT muscle coordinations many times stimulates the body eventually to build a pathway of cells in the brain that becomes a 'memory' pathway. this is how all skills are learned and automated, whether they are muscular, cognitive or emotional patterns.

[StardustPegasis95]

@voicewisdom Thank again, I'm noticing such an improvement of relaxing my muscles, I'm going to keep at it :) also will you be doing any more videos? i.e. on improving tone, singing in tune etc. because I find your videos to be most helpful.

[supahfreeak]

oxford accents are awesome! lol sorry that was random but anyways I have a question. I have 4 octaves right now. I really am trying to get to 5. I have done lip rolls on and off for a while. If I do them consistently can this help my range? and if not what can I do to help ? I can sing to g6 comfortably right now. I would love to sing in the 7th octave.

[voicewisdom]

@supahfreeak Hi - I wouldn't set widening your range as a primary goal. It is much more important to establish vocal / muscular behaviour that is healthy and will preserve your voice long term. If you wish to extend your range upwards, there will come a point where you will need to loosen your tongue muscles more (eg doing tongue trills rather than lip trills), release jaw and neck-shoulder muscles, and improve breath support.

[Funkentelechy100]

1:28

[voicewisdom]

@infernalphast9 I know - there are so many people teaching bad techniques on youtube - it's very frustrating.

[egarrulo]

Thank you very much for posting this video. I have had singing private lessons, but my teacher never explained this basic exercise with such detail. I hope I'll be in Oxford some time and be a pupil of yours at least for a lesson. Subscribed to your channel. Have a nice day.

[voicewisdom]

@egarrulo Talking to singing teachers, I have discovered that many do not know the detail. I think it is good for a student to ask teachers detailed questions to find out EXACTLY what the anatomy should be doing, and why, both for physical health and efficiency, and in terms of what sound should be produced as a result. Many teachers cannot answer such questions unfortunately.

[ciornaja]

Amazing video, few tips and it makes huge diference, please, please, please put breathing excersises :D Thank you

[voicewisdom]

@ciornaja Breathing work is hard to put on short YouTube clips; much subtle coordination is needed to breathe well for singing. Different breath techniques favour different kinds of sounds people want to make (in terms of laryngeal setup, position of soft palate and tongue, use of microphone or not etc). It's always presented as 'simple' on internet videos, but it is actually subtle and profound - good breathing is evidence of advanced body awareness and excellent mental and emotional mastery.

[KarineRibbens]

This is Wonderful and 180% TRUE ;) Best video on this subject! Not just a gripped voice but you can think you are loose and free and doing a bubble kind of sound while, in fact, you are compressing the muscles around the vocal cords and larynx!!

More videos Please please...;)

[voicewisdom]

@KarineRibbens The irony is that some YouTube voice 'teachers' (!) think they are demonstrating the free approach when in fact thy are gripping. The 'gripped' approach (starting with b, d or t) works when the singer wants to compress their voice production, and produce compressed sounds (with very little breath support), and let the microphone do the 'heavy lifting' in terms of delivering power. It's not 'vocal' power, but sound engineered power - they just don't recognise the difference. agh!

[KarineRibbens]

This is Wonderful and 180% TRUE ;) Best video on this subject! Not just a gripped voice but you can think you are loose and free and doing a bubble kind of sound while, in fact, you are compressing the muscles around the vocal cords and larynx!!

[4urentertainment2010]

Wow! I have never tried this before; I'm glad I saw the right way to do it as opposed to all of the wrong ways and then the right way. My voice is quite free. Thanks!

I was wondering if and when you would post a video on proper breathing--where to breathe from and how to use that air when you exhale/sing. I have heard so many versions: breathe from the stomach, breathe from the middle where the diaphragm is and suck in the stomach, all that jazz. As you can see I'm quite confused now.

[voicewisdom]

@4urentertainment2010 A breathing video is high on my list of priorities, so I hope to do one soon. In the meantime, a few quick tips: 1) Breathe strongly down a straw - you'll feel muscles in your abdomen and even pelvis supporting the breath. 2) Bend your knees and see if your exhalation is stronger. 3) Rotate or rock your pelvis to deepen the abdominal muscle support. 4) Put a foot at hip height on a wall and sing - see if your breath and sound gets stronger from the abdominal work.

[vrensink]

Thanks for your wonderful videos! I have some choral groups at a high school where I teach, and one of the things I've worked on with  my kids is producing that free lip roll with good air suppport. I have a few students who still cannot vibrate the lips...can you give me some tips for helping them to relax the lips in order to find this vibration, or are there some people who just physically are unable to do the lip roll?

[voicewisdom]

@vrensink Thanks for feedback! 1) Some ideas in previous answer below - tuck thumbs under cheekbones 2) Do gentle rotating massage on the side of face on the masseter (biting muscle). 3) Ensure lower jaw (mandible) is not pushed down or forward, but hanging free/loose, slipping slightly 'back' - you get the effect if you begin to curl your bottom lip over your bottom teeth. 4) Pull neck up at the back - relaxes mandible and therefore the lips a little. PS get choir members to subscribe here! :)

[foreverud666]

WHEN WE USE OUR FINGERS ON THE CHEEKS TO DO LIP ROLLS WHAT SHOULD THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LIPS AND THE FINGERS BE? AND PLZ TELL ME ABOUT THE EXACT TONGUE POSITION DURING LIP ROLLS

[voicewisdom]

Pushing on the skin of your cheeks is inefficient. The top lip needs to be released for vibration by pressing on the rizorius muscle. To do this, drop your jaw loosely open; point your thumbs upwards, palms facing away from you; towards the front of the face, tuck thumbs vertically up underneath the cheekbones; keep thumbs there and do the lip roll, which should now be easier (with enough breath flow). If you accidentally 'grip' your lips, you'll feel your thumbs getting pushed out.

[foreverud666]

@voicewisdom thanks a lot really helped

my cheeks. use to hurt and swell up i knew something was wrong but this works thanks again :)

[Jacc0s]

Hey, I was wondering when you are going to make the next video. Cause I still seem to have problems with it in my top notes. It feels too squeezed. I can however hit female high c's even higher towards my whistle voice but not powerfully and definitely not in a lip roll. I have to open my mouth wide to reach it. It really feels like my whistle voice. But it's kinda hard on the throat. It's just not easy and free. Excuse me for my bad English.

[voicewisdom]

@Jacc0s Got a bad cold at the moment, and then lots of students to see to make up for the break in my schedule because of the throat infection. So hope to make more videos late Dec, early Jan.

[voicewisdom]

@Jacc0s Many singers, especially when using a mic, produce high notes thru tightening neck, tongue & jaw. The thin sound doesn't sound too thin because the sound equipment makes it sound much fuller and stronger than it really is - singing like this is never free or easy. Lip rolls work as far as the middle upper range - then you need to use tongue rolls instead (same principles of looseness.) High notes need very advanced freedom in neck, tongue, jaw & facial muscles, and superb low breathing.

[androcci]

how do i know when im doing lip rolls my chords are thining out or zipping up and gaining a new note, is the sound of between falsetto and chord vibration?

[voicewisdom]

@androcci - Not sure I understand your question. The cords lengthen and thin as you rise in pitch, and thin especially when the cricoid tilts for the higher notes. You will know if the cords thin, because you will go higher. If the voice quality stays reasonably consistent between lower and higher ranges, then tilt has happened, and the cords have thinned. If you hear falsetto, the tilt has not happened - instead, just a part of the length of the cords is vibrating.

[1nspirator]

Liprolls are supposed to help you go through your full range with freedom not till like 1/3 of your range like you showed

[voicewisdom]

@1nspirator - I agree. The principle being taught in this video is how to launch and sustain the lip roll without lip, tongue, jaw or neck tension. By establishing freedom in lower and middle range of the voice first, the muscles are trained to be better prepared for the higher ranges. Manuel Garcia, the great singing teacher of the 19th century, advised people not to practise their top 5 notes - the secret lies in perfecting the middle range first.

[brunchman]

I am SO glad i watched this

[voicewisdom]

Spread the word! :)

[RocktheStageNYC]

Very well said and demonstrated. I too have seen too many coaches teach this the wrong way with way too much tension. It should be very loose and dopey feeling. N tension in the neck. Tension in the neck means tension on the cords and that's counter to what the liprolls are designed for. Nicely done.

[voicewisdom]

Thanks. Lip rolls seem to be a favourite of teachers, especially on the web. It's frustrating that so few people understand how to do these things properly. You can have a little bit of knowledge, without proper anatomical information, and do more harm than good.