Matakka

Couldn't help...   love the song and love the idea! And I can't stop singing )) sorry for the short version, but I had to do it in a higher key and the minus track I found turned out to be a short one...  

Thanks, KillerKu, that helped me distinguish different sounds better.   I guess I will get even more understanding with practice.

I would recommend listening to native speakers (on radio or any kind of recording) when you go to sleep. Turn on low volume and listen till you fall asleep, then practice reading aloud next day. If you practice it regularly, it kind of tunes your brain automatically on speaking the way you want. At least from my experience. 

I'm not sure if I understand correctly the idea of forward placement. Is that the same as singing in the face? (sorry, i don't know if that would be the right way to say in English). Because when my teacher listened to me at the first lesson, she said I was singing it all in my face which is not a very good way because it sounds flat. So we started working on my chest voice and now I'm trying to hit high notes with it. Lol, this is a bit confusing Sorry, couldn't listen to your file here, the link brought me to 'file not there' page...

Hi KillerKu,   Thanks a lot for this lesson, I enjoyed reading and listening! It's such a cool thing to feel how the voice sound goes from something intuitive and very unstable to a skill which can be technically understood and trained. Although at this stage I'm having more questions than answers. About vocal folds closure - I guess it can only be trained by whispering and singing in full sound and comparing the sounds? Because it is not something you can actually feel and control like you do opening and closing your mouth for example. I like your exercise to reduce breathiness, we're doing quite the same thing with my coach. Like she described the feeling you should get - it's like pricking with a pin into your diaphragm by these short sounds 'ah' or 'oh'. Then gradually extending. What I don't quite understand yet is, when you're going breathy do you lose support or should it still be there? When you're singing high notes, is it better to go breathier or fuller? Sorry if I'm asking silly questions here, I will also look through the singing technique forum

I've been always wondering how people sing to sound breathy because I actually love how it sounds and can't do it myself I think it goes well with your timbre making the song soft and tender. 

Thanks, KillerKu! It does feel a little strained when going high notes. For now, it's quite occasional that I hit the high notes with relaxed throat. It's like I understand the correct feeling but still don't get how to turn it on intentionally.  I was advised by my teacher that softer songs will sound better after I train a good support which can be achieved by singing louder. That's why it feels like for now we're just shouting  

Hi everyone,   just sharing another singing try. After a short time of taking singing lessons I feel like my old «mechanism» of singing has been somewhat broken and the new one is still far-far-far from at least being there anytime I need. Just wondering if I’m going in the right direction, did I gain more support of my voice? or am I just shouting?    

    Thank you for another great advice, I have not tried this way yet, but I will judging from your description of support (which is quite specific) I have not fully reached this feeling yet.   I hope I will get a clear understanding of support with more exercises.   And I'm not closing the door, I'm just looking in another direction now and singing is just a hobby ) but anything is possible.

KillerKu,   thanks a lot for your kind supportive comment! I was advised to pick a softer song, because trying to sing Stay in chest voice resulted into an awful strain in my throat… Or was it by psychological reasons, I’m not sure. I hope I’m getting the right technique, but for now it feels like I’m kind of squeezing the sound out of diaphragm which is really weird to me and takes a lot of muscle effort. Thanks for an interesting new concept, I’ll surely try it as soon as I get confident with the basics.   ronws, thank you, that's really inspiring to read. My ambition doesn't go this far though 

Hi everyone,   Here's another try of singing, after taking a few lessons at music school. Trying to feel my chest voice here, so my diction is far from perfect because of that The good thing is that I sang it without any tension in my throat. And I think I kind of moved that tension into my abs (diaphragm?) and concentrated on that. Is that actually the right feeling to catch? And I wonder if I sound better or is it just an easier song..     Thank you.

I love your style and voices harmony. The only small thing which keeps me from thinking it's perfect is some kind of echo of a small (or empty?) room, but this is just technical and not a big problem. (I'm suffering from technical problems myself,maybe that's why I paid attention). And I would love to see you a little more relaxed and smiling (especially the girl). It's a very good job anyway, from my not-yet-a-singer's point of view.

I consider being shameless an advantage rather than a problem. Sometimes I wish I could be shameless in good way. Being shy puts lots of unnecessary restrictions on your life.    The idea of searching karaoke tracks on iTunes  just didn't come to my mind, so thank you for another great idea! (although i didn't find there the one I have been searching for on youtube either, maybe  just no one did it - Your embrace by Shakira)   And thanks for great explanation! I will certainly explore and try to play with settings in audacity when I record something new. 

Hey, KillerKu, Ron   wow, thank you, it’s really cool to read these opinions, especially of  professionals. And yes, you caught me, english is not my native language (took me a while to figure out what reverb is )   I’ll think of buying a mic (or getting it on my birthday) when i get some decent progress in my practice. I’m glad to tell you that looks like these 2 comments have become the last drop in the ocean of my hesitation and fears and i’m having a first lesson at music school on monday   So anxious!   I’m really glad i’m on this forum, because there are so nice people with warm attitude and willing to give professional advice!     For the moment, I can’t help being nervous. The way i sing at home (while nobody is listening), can hardly be possible if i sing in front of someone. This is a really tough psychological thing, i hope my vocal teacher can help me get rid of it. It would be useful for life, not just for singing.         Hey, i don’t want to be auto-tuned, never respected that   because that’s cheating       Well, I don’t monitor. I’m actually a complete dilettante in anything concerning music, including the technical side. I just turn on karaoke or instrumental on youtube, turn on the recording and sing. And I don’t use headphones. Sorry for the stupid question, but how do I record the music if i use the headphones and all the sound goes in there? )) And what should i really monitor? Maybe i should read some theory or other topics here, before asking this, sorry          lol, i've also thought that preservatives can be used as anti-aging remedy, must be true 

  Now I'm really nervous posting this, because the audacity version of my voice doesn't sound good to me   Anyway, here it goes:     I hear i'm out of tune in some places, but the good thing i guess it would mostly be the chest voice (except the highest notes). Anyway, it should be a more objective picture (sound) of my voice, so thank you for great advice, KillerKu!