Anthony

I'm back!
 
Many things meant I couldn't really spend much time around these arts but now I plan to get my head back in the game. One of these things is the amount of gigging I've been doing as a solo singer.
I've been singing a lot but I haven't really been "training" my voice. I came back to my progress thread to watch a couple of my videos and it seems I was just on the brink of discovering and maintaining notes at F4 and beyond. I have another gig this Sunday so will be preparing for that but as soon as it's out of the way I will return to my vocal training!
 
In the meantime here's a montage clip of one of my gigs.
 
 

Again, thanks so much for the comments!
 
Here are a couple of videos regarding the resonant tracking and siren tips from earlier.
 
I struggled quite a bit, but I will get better at them. Also, I still feel like I'm getting used to TFPOS. I've barely got my teeth into it all yet!
Video Three & Four
 
 
 
 

Wow what a response from you both. This thread was already well worth it! Thanks to you both for taking the time to respond.
 
Khassera, I will bear that in mind. It's just so hard to fight the natural response to push at higher notes! I will try from now on to remove ALL tension from notes. I will post a video of me trying it soon. And no, I'm not an Aussie! Just from the North of England hence my odd accent.
Robert first of all thanks for the encouragement your words meant a lot.
I thought recording videos was going to be the best way to illustrate my progress and it has already proven useful as you were able to point out my head tilt (something impossible to know from an audio recording).
I do have experience using recording software. Examples of this are in the June jazz and country competition thread, I recorded and mixed everything myself.
I will record a video right now of me practising the following:
- Resonant tracking without tension up to where it is comfortable before dropping an octave to navigate the bridge again.
- Slow 5th sirens focusing mainly on D - A and E - B using vowel modification eh to ae with uh-ishness. I'll use T&R on the way up then W&R and A&R for top down.
This video won't be up today, but soon. Probably tomorrow.
 
In the meantime here is another video of me documenting where I am now in terms of performance..
 
Video Two
*This was recorded yesterday before any input received so far so expect similar mistakes*
Yes, another Alice in Chains track. This is another case of me surprising myself with what I'm allowing myself to try out. Yes there are BIG notes in the chorus but it's worth pointing out that other, lower notes in this song are coming much easier to me and feel good to be able to try. (Namely the line "Won't you come and save me")
CAUTION - This video contains vocal breaks, straining and the occasional yodel!
 
 
 

Here's my progress thread as I work through TFPOS. It's going to be updated with videos at regular intervals.
Here are my long term goals:
 
- Full "chesty" head tones
- Bridging and connecting registers
- Singing without tension
- Giving decent attempts at "vocally athletic" songs (heavy metal, rock)
 
Update One:
 
I have watched most of the lecture videos and read a fair chunk of the book. Two days ago I finally took part in the resonant tracking exercise and a few of the other video exercises. I know it will sound unrealistic but things seem to be "clicking" for me already. I learned to "let go and pull back", the T&R onset is brilliant. But most of all I finally understand what falsetto is, how it isn't different to head voice - merely a mode of it. Manipulation of the head voice can make notes resonate with boomier frequencies.
Buzzing in the car, shower etc. has allowed me to access notes previously impossible without falsetto. I found myself able to sing along with songs on the radio that previously eluded me. I believe now to be singing in the mask, allowing sound to resonate behind the front of my face so I can sing higher notes without pushing M1. I am starting to try to employ twang to higher notes but either choke or sound quacky (but I feel like anything is better than falsetto). My previous comfortable note was D4. The song in the video below has regular F4 and I even attempt Ab4 and Bb4.
I used to truly believe my voice was different to other people's and thought it was unfair because I couldn't train it in the same way as them. Now I believe all it took was finding and using "the mask" to access head tones previously unattainable without pushing.  I feel like resonant tracking is giving me a solid foundation on which to build my range.
My next steps are to carry on with the resonant tracking exercise for now until I feel ready to get more serious with sirens/bridging.
 
 
 

Hi all I'm Anthony from the UK. As a massive music fan I've learned to play a number of instruments, but have always struggled with improving my vocals, more specifically increasing my range. I love most styles of music but the ultimate dream for me would be to be able sing the high octane, high range belty rock/metal stuff! Yes I could transpose these songs to my comfort zone, but it's just nowhere near as impressive (And I wouldn't be pushing myself to my potential).
 
After many, MANY months of trawling websites and YouTube instructional videos (including Robert's) I made the decision to follow the Four Pillars program. I have just purchased my own copy of TFPOS and am currently awaiting delivery. I am so excited and looking forward to finally demystifying the beast that is the singing voice!
 
I also really like that there is an active community of Robert's students and look forward to becoming an active member!

Here it is...
 
Sorry it took so long!
 
Video Six
 
Basically the point I'm trying to make at the start of this video is that, as my confidence in my voice has grown recently I have been going out and performing. This means that most of my current vocal practice takes the form of rehearsal.
 
 
 

I'm back!
 
Many things meant I couldn't really spend much time around these arts but now I plan to get my head back in the game. One of these things is the amount of gigging I've been doing as a solo singer.
I've been singing a lot but I haven't really been "training" my voice. I came back to my progress thread to watch a couple of my videos and it seems I was just on the brink of discovering and maintaining notes at F4 and beyond. I have another gig this Sunday so will be preparing for that but as soon as it's out of the way I will return to my vocal training!
 
In the meantime here's a montage clip of one of my gigs.
 
 

Hi all!
 
I'm back in my thread to post a big update.
 
Basically I went to a UK metal festival back in August and loved every minute. However, when I got home I felt very rough (too much partying to excess I fear! ) so my singing training was on hiatus for a while.
 
Then I got offered my first gig as my newly launched solo acoustic act! Needless to say, I spent most of my time gathering a set together and rehearsing them to death. So really, even though I haven't necessarily "trained" over the last few weeks I've certainly spent a LOT of my time singing full songs, memorising lyrics, trying songs out in different keys, working on diction/lyrical interpretation and attending open mic night performances.
The gig went really well and I have been invited back to play again.
 
I'm starting to get a real buzz out of performing in front of people and feel like I'm learning something new each time I go out to play.
 
In terms of vocal progress, some of the songs I performed included notes previously way out my comfortable range, namely a lot of F4s and even an F#4 reached with confidence. (Previous range was a struggled D4).
 
 

Hi all!
 
I'm back in my thread to post a big update.
 
Basically I went to a UK metal festival back in August and loved every minute. However, when I got home I felt very rough (too much partying to excess I fear! ) so my singing training was on hiatus for a while.
 
Then I got offered my first gig as my newly launched solo acoustic act! Needless to say, I spent most of my time gathering a set together and rehearsing them to death. So really, even though I haven't necessarily "trained" over the last few weeks I've certainly spent a LOT of my time singing full songs, memorising lyrics, trying songs out in different keys, working on diction/lyrical interpretation and attending open mic night performances.
The gig went really well and I have been invited back to play again.
 
I'm starting to get a real buzz out of performing in front of people and feel like I'm learning something new each time I go out to play.
 
In terms of vocal progress, some of the songs I performed included notes previously way out my comfortable range, namely a lot of F4s and even an F#4 reached with confidence. (Previous range was a struggled D4).
 
 

Hi all!
 
I'm back in my thread to post a big update.
 
Basically I went to a UK metal festival back in August and loved every minute. However, when I got home I felt very rough (too much partying to excess I fear! ) so my singing training was on hiatus for a while.
 
Then I got offered my first gig as my newly launched solo acoustic act! Needless to say, I spent most of my time gathering a set together and rehearsing them to death. So really, even though I haven't necessarily "trained" over the last few weeks I've certainly spent a LOT of my time singing full songs, memorising lyrics, trying songs out in different keys, working on diction/lyrical interpretation and attending open mic night performances.
The gig went really well and I have been invited back to play again.
 
I'm starting to get a real buzz out of performing in front of people and feel like I'm learning something new each time I go out to play.
 
In terms of vocal progress, some of the songs I performed included notes previously way out my comfortable range, namely a lot of F4s and even an F#4 reached with confidence. (Previous range was a struggled D4).
 
 

Hi all!
 
I'm back in my thread to post a big update.
 
Basically I went to a UK metal festival back in August and loved every minute. However, when I got home I felt very rough (too much partying to excess I fear! ) so my singing training was on hiatus for a while.
 
Then I got offered my first gig as my newly launched solo acoustic act! Needless to say, I spent most of my time gathering a set together and rehearsing them to death. So really, even though I haven't necessarily "trained" over the last few weeks I've certainly spent a LOT of my time singing full songs, memorising lyrics, trying songs out in different keys, working on diction/lyrical interpretation and attending open mic night performances.
The gig went really well and I have been invited back to play again.
 
I'm starting to get a real buzz out of performing in front of people and feel like I'm learning something new each time I go out to play.
 
In terms of vocal progress, some of the songs I performed included notes previously way out my comfortable range, namely a lot of F4s and even an F#4 reached with confidence. (Previous range was a struggled D4).
 
 

OK, I've been feeling really positive about my singing recently and am going out regularly to perform at open mic nights. My eventual aim is to gig as a solo musician supporting local unsigned acts. After a few more open mics to increase my repertoire, confidence and performance and I think I'm in with a chance of getting out there as a singer!
I even now have a Facebook page (in very early stages) with a few live videos already added!
https://www.facebook.com/anthonyjamesacoustic
 
This doesn't mean I've forgotten all about my vocal training.
In terms of vocal progress I'm feeling very good. When I first got the program I was trying songs previously way out of my range. Even though I was still straining and not sounding very good, I felt I had the ability to at least try some higher notes and noticed they were achievable if I adapted some TFPOS technique to my previous "wrong way" of doing things. I was really excited to push myself and tried a lot of songs I previously couldn't begin to sing.
It's safe to say I've calmed that down now and am more focused on singing the right way with as little tension as possible. This has taken the form of changing key of songs to accommodate my current range and randomly singercising during the day. I also sing a LOT in the car to music that is way out of my range and have applied the top-down mentality to those high belt notes. Things are waking up in my head resonances, twangs, vibrations. I'm just hoping that it gets stronger with use. I feel like doing sirens with this new feeling will be increasing my range in the proper manner without flipping to falsetto.
As always thanks for all the input and tips you give me it helps a LOT!
Video Eight
 

:-) My confidence in my voice has improved greatly throughout my time at TMVW.
 
 
 
Video Eleven
 
Very brief video of me sirening right over my bridge. Even though these are meant to be resistance training onsets I hope I'm OK practising them as lightly as I am. It all falls apart as soon as I add any kind of mass.
I didn't forget those head shakes to keep me relaxed and not so "head titly"!
 

I woke up this morning feeling very positive. I'm singing the chorus to "My Hero" by Foo Fighters with no breaks in my voice. The vocal range of the chorus is D#4 - G#4. I can manage it if I sing it really small. I find I really have to relax and let my voice change gears to the head register. It's a very vulnerable thing to do and very counter intuitive as my mind is trying to tell me "Hey! you have to really push for those high notes!" but if I switch that off and let my voice relax I can manage it. Again, it's all very quiet at the moment but there is definitely vocal fold contact throughout the whole thing.
I'm still intending on mastering Smoke on the Water though as I stated in my last video update!
 
Yesterday I did a little bit of contract and release (not too much as Robert advises) and some dampen and release and attack and release.
My primary aim right now is to work on resistance training in my head voice. I'm going to apply the above onsets to ascending and descending sirens.
 

Thanks everyone!
 
Update and video tomorrow!

Thanks everyone!
 
Update and video tomorrow!

Just popping my head in to show I've not lost interest in this, it's just the decorating of our new home has taken up most of my free time recently!
 
I have been keeping up with the earlier stages of the program (establishing resonant track and sirens) but most of my practice has come from rehearsing songs. I have been performing acoustic covers lately at open mic nights so I have temporarily replace training with singing for a while.
 
Today I'm back on track with the program and am just having a break now before I dive into the bridging and connecting exercises! 

Thank for checking in, I will upload a proper progress video later today!

Very nice.
 
Although I can't help being reminded of the song Peace by Extreme every time I hear this song. (Perhaps  the fact that Nuno Bettencourt is in both bands has something to do with it!)
 
 

Ant let me chime in. What i was doing and made ALOT of progress was this.
10-20 min of resonant tracking - T&T and T&R
10 min~ of doing sirens with various onsets - but i always go for either light mass or belting stuff...so i either do D&R and A&R,,,,, or P&R and Q&R (Q&R is both high and low mass depends how you use it)...the reason why i separate my high mass and low mass each time i practice is because it sometimes puts me off balance to do both, i get confused and start doing stuff incorectly.
10min-30min~ of fun exercises like groove, blues, staley, and anthem of reverie, also minor scale is also preety good cuz its a bit unconventional but gives a great insight how to apply scales to singing, cuz most of the time metal/rock songs are in minor keys (mostly E G and A) so some of these notes sit there in a manne it would in song melody.
By now you should be decently warmed up, and now you should sing. Singing is so important. I would say 70% of the ingrained knowledge and progress you get from singing USING THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD TECHNIQUE YOU DID EXERCISING.
If you do this as much as you can you will be golden in no time.
P.S. i know all these posts here can be daunting, when Robert writes you an essay you dont know what to make of it.
My advice is, to try as much things as possible and find out what works good for you then DEVELOPE your own routine after a while. But always experiment, you never know what good can come out of "tips" here and there.
Also my routine is really straightforward and should be usefull to you also.
BTW SINGING IS NOT COMPLICATED..people are..it took me 7-8 months to find out what to expect and what everything means.
My mantra is this. GOOD TECHNIQUE INGRAINED IN MUSCLE MEMORY + GOOD RESPIRATORY BALANCE AND SUPPORT are CORE to good singing.
Esspecially good breath support. If you let your throat do everything for you you will get tired in 10~ min, and thats not how you will be able to do any show, esspecially with higher register stuff. What good is singing high when you cant sing more than 5 seconds without lossing breath and collapsing.
2 goals im working for
-applying good mechanical and respiratory techniques (all in 4 pillaars) (takes about 3-5 months of good training to get a hang of it)
-strenghtening the musculature to be able to carry those high notes without blowing them open (also included in pillars)(takes 6-12months)
AFTER that you are still not done, by a long shot. you just actually started, now ahead of you is a LIFELONG proccess of refining and preserving the vocal health.
NOT TO MENTION ART and SINGING that you also have to train and make "anthony sound like anthony".
Hope i helped. Cheerios!!

Khassera, Im not being stubborn, ... Im just saying... I have tried "vowel emphasis" as described by Guy... and the result was... weak coordination of narrowed vowels which ended up being a detriment to my singing... you cannot avoid narrowed vowels and diphthongs 100%... for starters, as far as the art is concerned, you wouldn't want to anyways... but it can lead to weak musculature...

Video four you're flipping into falsetto before accessing headvoice.
Onset with vocal fry to fix this.

Anthony,
1st video:
1). Don't buzz notes, buzz a phrase... try not to poke at notes... more legato.
2). Don't retreat from the passaggio so quickly. Just because its awkward , that is not a cue to retreat back to the chest voice. You need to begin working that musculature into the head voice; compression.
3). Try sobbing the larynx when you "buzz".
... but overall... well done. Very good that you are not pushing... if you push on the resonant tracking your done... so, keep up that good work.
Thanks again for your help Khassera...

Thanks Khassera, I will fix that immediately. I was trying track and release as demonstrated in the Four Pillars 5ths sirens. I have just quietly sat and tried fry onsets quietly to myself at work. Hopefully they will work for me in a louder setting.
 
I feel like as soon as I can sing in head register I will have opened the door to hundreds of songs I previously couldn't sing! Expect a video tomorrow.

Here's my progress thread as I work through TFPOS. It's going to be updated with videos at regular intervals.
Here are my long term goals:
 
- Full "chesty" head tones
- Bridging and connecting registers
- Singing without tension
- Giving decent attempts at "vocally athletic" songs (heavy metal, rock)
 
Update One:
 
I have watched most of the lecture videos and read a fair chunk of the book. Two days ago I finally took part in the resonant tracking exercise and a few of the other video exercises. I know it will sound unrealistic but things seem to be "clicking" for me already. I learned to "let go and pull back", the T&R onset is brilliant. But most of all I finally understand what falsetto is, how it isn't different to head voice - merely a mode of it. Manipulation of the head voice can make notes resonate with boomier frequencies.
Buzzing in the car, shower etc. has allowed me to access notes previously impossible without falsetto. I found myself able to sing along with songs on the radio that previously eluded me. I believe now to be singing in the mask, allowing sound to resonate behind the front of my face so I can sing higher notes without pushing M1. I am starting to try to employ twang to higher notes but either choke or sound quacky (but I feel like anything is better than falsetto). My previous comfortable note was D4. The song in the video below has regular F4 and I even attempt Ab4 and Bb4.
I used to truly believe my voice was different to other people's and thought it was unfair because I couldn't train it in the same way as them. Now I believe all it took was finding and using "the mask" to access head tones previously unattainable without pushing.  I feel like resonant tracking is giving me a solid foundation on which to build my range.
My next steps are to carry on with the resonant tracking exercise for now until I feel ready to get more serious with sirens/bridging.