Seth Riggs - speech level singing chapter exercise 1

[susancantell]

In every exercise, are our larynxs suppose to be relaxed as well? Or is it just during singing, because when I do this with the "uhhhh" sound, my larynx gets pushed down.

[susancantell]

@susancantell forcefully pushed down that is, not down as in relaxed

[dooger94]

I hear a lot of people sounding opera-ish on these excersises, after learning SLS can you sing pop also?

[bonestorm99]

@dooger94 The fact that an opera singer is here is circumstantial; these exercises are for training your voice to be stronger, not to teach you a certain style of singing, so these will help you in any kind of singing you want.

[ItsTheCataracs]

I can't do it...

[23themagicnumber]

Falsetto is a higher form of a mans voice. Higher head voice.

[dud621]

has this worked for anyone? i mean, just by watching the youtube videos

[chitranhsu3]

hello sir i am biggner and i am from india my throat is paining what can i do sir can i stop to take a high note sir please help sir

[ilovemusic1112l]

@chitranhsu3 Have you been screaming? Because that can damage your voice.

[MyphriendSam]

It tickles my nose too much!!!

[rockimism]

Thank you a MILLION times!! You are too kind!!!

[Music2entertain]

well..i am 14 year old boy and my voice is changing so does that mean my head and chest voice cant connect?? cause i really want to do this hah

[nicolemauricio]

I have a gig tonight. I woke up this morning and my voice was almost completely gone. I did these exercises and by the 10th one, my voice was completely back!

Sweet!

[AleyLio]

I sing gospel music, with melismas riff and runs ... i wanna learn this vocal sistem ...

[ace69er]

This is all good! I did 2 years with an SLS teacher. Works VERY welll.

The bubbling relaxes your vocal chords. THAT the key to SLS, loose chords, NOT tight 1s~!

[737flyhigh]

o shut up and sing

[serebrovich]

They are exercises from the Bokk and Cds. "Singing with the Stars" by Seth Riggs. You may find it on line.

[biglibst]

Does anybody know what series these videos are taken from? and if so, is it still available?

[madifudhi]

i have had real bad laryngitis and since recovering my range has decreased, i can't sing a clear falsetto. i tried some of Seth's excercises but my voice just breaks at a certain note...does this just fix itself over time? is this SLS system designed to increase chest voice range over time? anyone know of any good discussion forums for SLS to discuss results and training routines etc...

[stevevandien]

You should consult an otolaryngologist who specializes in treating singers. Where do you live? In the United States or elsewhere? If you're in the States, I can recommend at least a couple such specialists --

[theworldofguitars]

i would suggest a vocal coach but a highly trained one your vocal chords are a muscle and like anything if you dont work out your muscle will depleat practicing with a piano helps singing on the 8 scale humming the notes then getting higher but definetely seek a coach

[madifudhi]

Thanks guys, my voice is much better now, think I just needed time to recover!

[TheMrcasey91]

@madifudhi there are plenty of vocal excersises out there for rehabilitation, do the bubbling with a mix of a calm and regular yawning position and then do a scale in falsetto, do mi sol, and then down a half step, do mi sol, and the lower and lower and so on. make sure to remain in falsetto even while going down, for as long as possible, no pressure, but closure

[RocktheStageNYC]

NEVER say "it never will". That's self defeatism.

I'm a baritone and I have a slightly over 4 octave range. A1 to C6 - all in full head voice. None of through SLS - but classical style techniques.

In Bel Canto styling, men don't sing into the B4 C5 range. That to me, is limiting.

I wouldn't let 400 year old teaching put me in a "vocal range box" and neither should you.

[RocktheStageNYC]

First and foremost Bel Canto is NOT a technique or method. Its a style of singing. Bel Canto is taught after a student masters standard classical technique.

Bel Canto is training for the already studied voice to learn how to "sing beautifully".

Anyone who says they teach Bel Canto to beginners is a liar and a cheat.

[RocktheStageNYC]

The ultimate thing is to find a teacher who is right for what you want to do with your voice. Degree or no degree. The right teacher makes all the difference. Someone with real world experience plus knowledge is the key. Lots of people have degrees, it doesn't mean crap.

Would you rather hire a freshly graduated med student or an experienced surgeon to perform your operation?

[kenyzaky]

=]]

[RocktheStageNYC]

never past C5 with head voice? you're doing something wrong or have the wrong teachers. I can sing in chest voice to A4-A#4 and I'm a baritone myself. Head voice for me STARTS at B4. The problem I have with Bel Canto is its stress on the use of falsetto past F#4.

Connected head voice will actually give you a higher range than falsetto ever will. Connected or "zipped" head voice has almost unlimited range because it can eventually access flagiolet/whistle tone.

[eustazio]

how is belcanto linked to falsetto???

[RocktheStageNYC]

Men have breaks & cracks between registers I assure you. I hear them all the time in my male students.

SLS doesn't really deal much with falsetto tones at all. It teaches keeping the connection of chest voice as you bridge into head voice. Falsetto head voice is actually wrong in SLS. Falsetto is only applied later for style purposes.

With SLS the palate is lowered to allow resonation. A lowered palate actually helps keep the larynx from rising physically.

[mucharolller]

well when you rise soft palate, larynx lowers automatically in my experience. can u use bel canto and sls methods together??

[RocktheStageNYC]

one can raise the soft palate without lowering the larynx. you can have a raised larynx and a raised soft palate.

Bel Canto is a style of singing - it is NOT a method of technique. SLS is a method so you can use SLS and Bel Canto together.

[Mikeyloughlin]

you should always start out with, tongue and lip trills, they ensure that you are not activating your outer muscles, you'll know if that happens if you stop being able to trill. 1.5 octave scale and octave arpeggios are always good scales for them. Focus on the trill rather than the pitch, its not that important to get the pitch on these exercises

[DrgnGal]

Which SLS Exercise should I start with?

[TimeLordGuitar]

Yep- bel canto works much better if you are doing heavy rob halford-style vocals...not the piercing "painkiller," voice but the clean and powerful early "sad wings of destiny" type of material. the halford/ralf scheepers stuff needs to be projected incredibly loud in a clear head voice to sound right. it can be done without over-projecting,but it doesn't sound 100% right unless it is LOUD.

[TorturedXeno]

Actually, from what I've seen in some of Brett Manning's videos (he's a famous SLS teacher who learned from Seth Riggs and eventually went his own way), Speech Level Singing absolutely DOES believe in vocal support. What they DON'T like is how teachers always tell beginning/inexperienced students to "use more support". To somebody who doesn't know what else to do, it means "push harder". And pushing more air through the vocal cords is painful. I know that myself, being totally untrained.

[RocktheStageNYC]

in arranging my comment I forgot to take out "does not" teach connected head voice - it most certainly does. What it DOES not stress is a lot of breathing or diaphragm exercises because SLS is not into belting or loud decibel singing like you need in Rock, Hard Rock or Metal.

I use support in my beginners but I mean more "grip" on the vocal cords. Don't lose your hold of the note - otherwise you break. If you say "breath support" a lot of beginners think "push more air" which isn't what you do

[TorturedXeno]

Yes, I suppose you're right. And of course I'm not presuming to question your knowledge, as I am not a student of voice nor a skilled teacher like you seem to be (I looked at your profile). However, although I haven't yet gotten into Singing Success and achieved results (I'm a slacker), I certainly don't doubt the validity of the method (seeing how many successful singers there are on Brett and Seth's client rosters). But even Singing Success says the best training is a varied one.

[RocktheStageNYC]

SLS teaches a process called "breath compression" which is a much better description of air flow than "Breath support".

More support gives beginners a sense of "push", when its actually a sense of "pressing" the air against the cords.

[TorturedXeno]

Brett Manning believes in support for more advanced singers, once they have their throat muscles corrected (so that way, more air doesn't strain and hurt the vocal cords). They teach support, alright, just not right away when you first step into SLS.

[sheldon1000]

ok question... how many times do you do these excersises? also how many exercises should you do a day..

in other words how many exercises and how many times of each should you do a day??

thanks for your time

[RocktheStageNYC]

in the beginning I would say accumulate enough exercises so you can practice 30min a day without repeating any exercises. This will include a few breathing, light head voice and falsetto exercises. This will gradually build your vocal strength, coordination and breathing. After 3-4 weeks I'd move to 60min a day - 4-5 days a week.

Rule of thumb: if you experience any discomfort when vocalizing, stop, wait 30-60min and start again. If you still hurt, stop for the day. NEVER overdue it.

[marklung]

hey um, I've tried this for ages. On and off for about a month, but I'm having no progress in finding my head voice. Are you supposed to take your mind off about "going for the high note' in this exercise? Or could you describe the different feel you got when you found your mixed voice?

[DrgnGal]

I have no idea what he is doing. My lips are not coming together at all. Any video of someone doing it?

[RocktheStageNYC]

right here: watch?v=tg5-F-QSW34

[DrgnGal]

I figured it out. I play Rock Band and usually end up with the mic. I can't sing. I can carry a note, I'm not tone deaf but, I don't have a voice. Can you give me a vocal workout I can do that will keep my bandmates from cringing?

[lukauskis]

who has the end?

[m8cct]

I can't connect the tone at all...any tips?

[Kilicka123]

if your male its very hard. males have a much larger break/crack in their voice. keep trying.

[sisithomson1995]

Press In.

[m8cct]

thanks! but I got it already...took me about a month, lol!

[scallywagXD]

How do i know if im doing this right?

[KhaosSoulFury]

dude! this helped a lot! i couldnt sing without moving my voice box and it was ruining the tone, but helped me out! woot woot!

[keithgarry]

never mind singing to songs you enjoy, use these extremely over generic voice excercises.

they make you feel embarrassed.

hope you like failing in front of your family.

[LnL13]

You can hear Jesse McCartney use this method in "The Diary of Jesse McCartney". It's here on YouTube if you wanna see the method in action.

[rurulezz]

i cannot do the bubble sound for very long..

[caely123]

i know right!

i cant do it at all

[bareteeth]

make sure your mouth and lips aren't dry...I found that was a slight problem for me at first. Drink some water, moisten your lips, and give it another shot.

[caely123]

Thanks bareteeth!

ur advice really helped :)

[musicianjeff]

For all of here! The meaning of SPEAKING IS THE SAME AS SINGING means, that your vocal cords and your laryngeal are so much relaxed, like you normally speak! Because so many people who are singing the high notes are trying too hard! If you do this for about 20 years, then you haven't got a voice anymore because they're injured! u have to take a therapy then! Like Elton John: he did many operations!

[neglectedurchin]

@musicianjeff omg, that's what's happening to christina. i want her old voice back. =/

[cand1994]

wait so, if u start to disconnect, can't u just START with a disconnected sound ??

[magicfreak123]

If you start to disconnect, you simply are not following the exercises correctly.....

[poirepoire22]

loll!!! so funny i look so dumb trying to imitate him lol!!

[w1luv]

Hey, I have a question. Do speech level singing exercises help improve your vocal range?

[91BROWNIE91]

yep

[NTBeat]

How much can I expect?

[91BROWNIE91]

As much as you are disiplined enough to reach for. As long as you let go of any tension, your voice can make sounds as high as physically possible. (Mariah Carey range and much higher)..the key is for the higher notes use less air as you ascend higher.

[NTBeat]

I listened to some of the exercises in which they sing songs and it sounded like classical singing. Could I sing rock, pop, or jazz with this program?

[91BROWNIE91]

Yes. This technique was made to make your voice work correctly technically. It's up to you what you want to do as far as style.

[Akinwale1]

Bro, his techniques might be able to help you reach the range, but what speech level singing actually is the definition of "SPEAKING IS THE SAME AS SINGING" once you understand that and can make the smooth transition from speaking to singing with controlled technique, then you've mastered "speech level singing" hit up Ak, self taught speech level singer/ vocalist/ rapper/ lyricist/ poet/ songwriter/ supercalifragicalisticespiali lol!

[Drewski1316]

MJs voice is like the male equivalent to Mariah Carey. He can sing high or low as he likes. But that guy really loved to sing high.

[theonlyraynemichael]

@Drewski1316 thats my favorite too!

[meekman2008]

If you practice consciously you will get more than you expect. Singing and speech is not the same at all.When you sing you have to learn to hold a note melodically , transitions is a major key and adjustment to muscles in the back of the tongue and learning how to keep the throat open.

[aldopinou]

could someone write what he was saying exactly ?In particolare during in the last 40 seconds (I'm italian ).thank you

[patrice666]

(part 3)...put it this way, imagine a football player shooting the ball with the tip of his foot for years (he will never improve lol) then he finds out da he should have used the edge of his foot...if he knew before or if he did naturally then all this years of practice would have been much more efficient...well it is the same thing with singing..find the right posture...the SLS technic doesnt teach you how to sing but it gives you the RIGHT vocal posture which is fundamental for GREAT singing!

[patrice666]

(part 2) NEVER force a note, this is really bad technic 2 belt notes to reach them, instead try 2 experiment wit diferent resonnance n placement until you find the right one....speech level singing should be of a great help with da...it was for me! For years I thought da singing was too hard, I was practicing day in day out on songs with little or no result..why...wrong vocal posture...

[patrice666]

(first part) I'm a singer, wen I 1st startd singing I wasnt apparently gifted, my voice was HORRIBLE (I aint being humble, this is just the truth!). Vocal exercises r very important but they hav 2 b done properly...I used 2 do exercises everyday wit no result...d key is 2 find d right vocal posture n find the right resonnance so da u can sing freely, if u ever feel lik u'r strainin wen u sing it is most probably cause sum isn't done right...

[gcinfamous]

can someone not know how to sing at all get very good learning SLS for a long time?

[LordShandor]

Singing is about proper technique. It is something anyone can learn. Just like anyone can learn to play tennis. Some are going to be naturally better than others but anybody can become good.

There are a ton of horrible singers that make a lot of money. Being able to sing in key is the most important thing.

[bevmf]

i find it funny ...i cant even start... arrrghhh

[RealityPrincess14]

hi, i was wondering if someone that cannot sing very well.. will this improve the singing voice?

[bullsays]

YES

[AndreyYurets]

on my opinion it is the not first exercise

[LordShandor]

Yes it is, its a warm up exercise.

[BaltutisGuitar]

Is is very first exercise?

[gigo123456]

Hi!This exercises are so great but i cant connect chest and head voice.Every time when i want to connect it i am falling in to falseto and i dont no what to do!Pls i need help!

[aquatoria]

Keep practicng your scales you should notice a difference in a couple of weeks.Good Luck!

[raigekimaru]

do you have a teacher? a teacher familiar with speech level singing can help guide you properly in your vocal developement. If not, I'd recommend getting one and starting from the very beginning, doing only the exercises the teacher tells you to and moving up very slowly.

[DelusionalZ]

@gigo123456 Generally it means you're applying too much force from the diaphragm, you'll need to soften the airflow.

Yes, I am completely aware the comment was posted two years ago! :O

[babasutra]

@gigo123456

what is a falsetto please?

[Ocelot911]

@gigo123456 the only difference between falseto and head voice is chord closure, i think everyones goal is to blur the line where we break up so our range is one big line rather than chest,falseto. etc.

[jthao006]

how do you slide from one note to another easily

[LordShandor]

You need to practice this watch?v=E3JFlwmvG2Q

And especially this watch?v=E2BHpEjSAL0

Listen to the humming scale at 1:26

[RaidenTheAlmighty]

Why cant i roll my lips and make a noise at the same time?

[RocktheStageNYC]

too much tension in the lips - you're trying too hard.

[BaltutisGuitar]

what are these other exercises to get connected sound?

[KelleyMarie41]

I've been doing this program for about a week but I'm a little confused about how to proceed. For example, once I get through, say, exercises 1 - 10, do I continue doing 1 thru 10 everyday as I work my way up to 11, or (after I'm comfortable with 1 thru 10) do I run through the first few exercises just to warm my voice up than skip to 11 (or whichever exercise I'm ready for)?

[RocktheStageNYC]

keep doing exercises 1-10 every day until you've mastered them. Then add the other exercises as you go along. These exercises build upon the one before it so its important to do them in order. Most exercises only take 1-2min to do so when you you add exercise 30 to your routine you've got a full hour of training to do - which is perfect.

[JazzyMan1990]

Hi, I dont know if you know, but which program are all these exercises from? Is it singing for the stars, singers advantage or somthing else?

[lcgeek]

strange question. Should a person be able to roll their lips like this exercise if they have their nose pinched closed? I was trying to see how much air was coming out my nose vs mouth on this exercise and could not roll lips if I pinched my nose closed.

[luckystargirl123]

i could do it but i dont know if that's normal or what

[BaltutisGuitar]

Do you have that mix voice?

[BaltutisGuitar]

I love SLS

[HT0WNfemaleSLABryder]

yeah me to