The VOCAL Growth Blueprint

The definition of vocal rest is "a period of time during which a person refrains from speaking, singing, or making other vocal sounds in order to allow the vocal cords to rest and heal." Understand that I am not suggesting excessive vocal rest (entire days of silence). The specification of "1-2 hours" is to suggest that you aim to give the voice break in the morning after your warm ups. It doesn't have to be the same length of time each day. Just be mindful and regulate your vocal usage. This awareness will be crucial as you continue to add vocal workouts to your weekly routines.

Drinking water RIGHT when you wake is important for everyone, not just singers. Our bodies are usually dehydrated after a long night of sleep, so drinking water in the morning can help to rehydrate and jumpstart the body's systems. For singers, staying hydrated is particularly important, as dehydration can cause vocal cords to dry out and become strained, leading to vocal fatigue and damage DRINK YOUR WATER :)

This is one of the few sets of exercises that can be considered to be a merge between a warm up and a work out. As you progress through this exercise, you will have covered the 5 key coordinations of the voice (chest, head, pharyngeal, compression, and mix) with just enough intensity to consider it a workout. I HIGHLY encourage you to master this set of exercises before attempting the other workouts in this program - as all other workouts have their roots in these coordinations. Let me know if you have any issues with these exercises.

Head voice is defined by its richer and steadier vibrato resonating at a higher range than the normal speaking voice. Though head voice is similar to falsetto in the way they are both used to sing at a higher pitch, it’s important for singers to keep in mind that head voice does not contain the breathy, lighter sound found in falsetto. I like to think about head voice as when you’re singing in your upper range, and you’re hearing the sound high in your head. You will also feel the vibration sensations more in your head as opposed to in your chest.

Chest voice is the low to middle part of your voice, where you speak, and the lowest part of your vocal range. It is usually easy to sing in, but can be more difficult for women. The term "chest voice" comes from the sensations you feel in your chest when you use it. Singing coaches may have different ideas about chest voice, but it is important to have a basic understanding of it. Chest voice has a deeper and more powerful sound, and is most useful when singing lower parts of your range. Many singers desire a "chest" sound throughout their entire vocal range as it carries a certain power that head voice does not have. However, achieving this sound in upper registers can be challenging without proper techniques. Pushing for this sound can put strain on the voice and affect the tone quality. The solution to this is to develop a mixed voice, which combines chest and head voice. To fully unlock the potential of our mixed voice, it is essential to first focus on each coordination separately through targeted exercises. This will ensure growth and help us to find consistency in our vocal technique. The Chest Voice workout includes exercises that target the chest voice specifically, promoting its growth and development in a sustainable manner.

We can begin using a babies "cry" sound, or a "pout", during vocal exercises to help develop a balanced and controlled "mix". The mixed voice is the coordination between the chest and head voices, allowing singers to seamlessly transition between the lower and higher parts of their range. The baby cry sound is a high-pitched, nasal sound that is similar to the sound a baby makes when crying. When done correctly, this sound can help to engage the head voice and develop the muscles used for the mix voice. By practicing the baby cry sound, singers can learn to create a more balanced and controlled sound throughout their range. The technique for producing the baby cry sound involves keeping the back of the throat open while narrowing the vocal cords and raising the soft palate. This creates a high-pitched, nasal sound that resonates in the head voice. Over time, this exercise can help to strengthen and coordinate the muscles used for the mix voice. It's important to note that the baby cry sound should be performed gently and without strain. As with any vocal exercise, it's important to approach the baby cry sound with care and to listen to the body to avoid vocal strain or injury.

MANY Vocal Coaches recommend doing cardio to get the blood flowing. Break a sweat if you can. A *minimum* would be to do 3-5 minutes of jumping jacks. While cardiovascular exercise may not be the most effective way to warm up the voice before singing, there are still major benefits to doing cardio in the morning. In this formula, we are strategically placing cardio 20-30 minutes BEFORE vocalizing through the morning vocal warm up. Here are some of the benefits to consider: Firstly, cardio can improve overall fitness, including cardiovascular health, lung capacity, and stamina. This can indirectly benefit the voice by providing the body with the physical fitness and stamina needed to sustain long performances or rehearsals. In addition, cardiovascular exercise can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which are common factors that can negatively affect the voice. When the body is stressed or anxious, the muscles in the throat and neck can tense up, leading to strain and discomfort while singing. By reducing stress levels, cardio can help to relax these muscles and improve vocal performance. Lastly, cardio can improve circulation and oxygenation throughout the body, which can indirectly benefit the voice by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the vocal cords. This can help to keep the vocal cords hydrated and healthy, and reduce the risk of vocal fatigue or injury.

Work it out, yo. No lie. Belting in the car won't help, but training will.

Ain't no amount of BeeGees or Mariah Carey singalongs growing you like training will!

Check out the page what addresses Sickness and Singing for help on this one!