How to Not Strain Your Voice When Singing: SOVT Exercises (with Maximum Benefits)
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- Try these easy SOVT exercises and get rid of vocal tension! Free your voice!
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Welcome to the third video in a series about strained voice, causes and vocal strain exercises. In the previous video, I talked about how to heal strained vocal cords, and in this video, I am going to share 3 vocal exercises for singers about how to avoid vocal strain while singing.
The magic is in four letters: SOVT or semi occluded vocal tract exercises. No worries, if you don’t know what they are, I explain everything you need to know in this video. SOVT exercises are perfect for learning how to sing without straining. If you have vocal cords swelling, if you have strained vocal cords from singing or talking, or if you are here to learn how to not strain your voice while singing, then these exercises are for you!
So, stop wondering how to relax strained vocal cords when singing and try these exercises with me!
Katarina H.
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Hi and thank you for checking out this video. Let me know if you felt any difference after doing these exercises! How different was your singing after? Did you feel less strain, more ease or anything else?
I have been steaming my voice fo re a l9ng time using a lot with hot water. The exercises used t9 relax the lynx I have not looked into at it least in this detail
I liked it but it needs to discipline the body after getting used to having tension on the throat region. More exercises I believe.
Still working constantly and steadily. Will share my experiences later. Thanks
Yes, phrases of my song were easier to sing after doing it with a frixative!
Hi, thank you for all the videos, I have really learnt alot and I'm grateful I came across you, I noticed that since I put to birth , my vocal range dropped drastically, my throat hurts when I talk or sing, I hear a zee sound in my throat, but since I started the exercises, I have noticed some great change, I will be glad if you can touch on this area.. Thank you for all you do.
The straw phonation and fricative exercises are amazing. It has improved my singing tremendously after just a few times of practicing. Thank you so so much! I have been watching hundreds of CZcams about singing better in the past years, you are one of the best n a life changing vocal teacher to me! God bless!
Thank you for your very kind words. I am glad you found these exercises beneficial for your voice. There is so much hidden potential in every voice! Keep explore it and sharing it with people around you!
This is by far one of the most helpful videos I've seen on this subject. Thank you so much!
Hi Javier, I am glad you found the video useful.
I am feeling more and more intimate with my vocal chords and throat since learning from you 😊 I hold such appreciation ... Thank you Katarina.... I'm so glad we met . This was so inspiring - Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth, we inspire each other. Thank you for your lovely comment!
You have such a vast knowledge on this subject matter, pretty awesome!!
Thank you! That is very kind of you!
So interesting! I hum to myself before speaking just to get myself in a good mood sometimes. Now I will know how to do it properly.
Yes, humming before speaking has many benefits. Not just warming your voice but humming also calms you down! I am glad you liked the video.
Wow! I loved learning about "Fricatives" -- I never knew about these.
Thank you Ian! You use fricatives every day, you just don't know they are called fricatives. And you can use them as a warm up exercise before recording a video.
OH MY GOODNESS THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH!
OMG! I am glad it helped. Can you share how it helped?
Brilliant video Katarina, I’ve never hummed so well in my life... thank you, the very best tips from you as always...!!! ❤️
Ah, Laura! I am really happy that these exercises are working for you!!!
Thank you so so so so so much!!! In tears because this has opened up my voice again, I've been stressed and anxious and it's affected my voice so much. This has healed it. Thank you infinitely thank you xxxx
I am so happy to hear that! I really appreciate your comment! Thank YOU!
Same is with me.i can't speak easily and clearly from 2 years bcoz of muscle spasm in my face and throat. Ur comment gave me a hope. M also in tears.plz tell me in detail which exercises help you and how much time it take to heal.
Plz don't ignore . I m sittings hopeless.
wow i really love your videos, benefits just keep surfacing as soon as i put them into practice. God bless you
Hi Joshua, sometimes the benefits are immediate, sometimes the benefits will come after some time. The key is to trust the process and keep on trying. I really appreciate your kind comment!
Thanks for teaching the different techniques. I have some upcoming public speaking engagements and I will be able to use these since I will be using my voice much more often than I have been - without worry of strain. Thank you for helping me prepare for this next step in my life!
No problem, Karin! All the best with the speech. If you have any questions, let me know.
Ayyy Diis Mio!!!
These are awesome excercises! I feel enormously better! I did feel a difference after doing them!👏👏👏thanks!
Glad to hear that! What was different about your voice after the exercise?
Thanks for sharing Katarina
No problem.
Great tips! Super interesting to learn all this!💖
Hi Jessalyn, I am glad you found this video interesting!
Great video. Really interesting Katarina. Thank you for the tips!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment!
Love these videos.Just subscribed ❤️❤️
Welcome Veronica!. If you have any questions, let me know.
Such great advice!!
Thank you!
Hello Katharina, thank you for posting this series of videos. As most other viewers here, my throat hurts. I thought for the longest of time that I can treat this with ginger, lemon and honey, cough pills and ibuprofen. That's how I was treating all my previous throat problem. I have also tried resting my voice for 2-3 days. I now realise that my vocal chords cause this pain. It all started after singing in a choir with a loud band two months ago. I felt pain right after the concert, but neglected this and tried to talk my way through the pain ever since.
I have started doing the SOVT exercises that you recommend yesterday. I understand the principle behind them. You have explained this very well. I have the feeling that I am doing something wrong, as my vocal chords hurt now after 3-4 sessions. When I am using the straw I feel that the vibrations/resonance accumulate in my throat and not in the mask/nose area as you suggest. This, as you imagine causes pain. As I do not have access to a speech therapist in my city, I was wondering if you could give all of us a couple of pointers on how to project the sound in the straw so that we avoid hurting the vocal chords even more. Are there particular vowels or constants that we can use? Humming feels a bit better than the straw for me at the moment.
Is it to be expected that the vocal chords hurt at the beginning of these exercises and only after a week or so after they get used to the exercises there is improvement with the pain manangement?
Thank you so much for your help,
God bless you!
Sebastian
Hi Sebastian! I am very sorry to hear that you have persistent voice problems. Thank you for sharing all the details and I would love to give you more pointers on how to do this exercise better. But I need to say this first: throat pain can have many causes and they are all treated differently. You need to have your voice checked first by a voice specialist to make a proper diagnosis. You will not know what your vocal folds look like or what is really going on in your throat unless you have your voice checked. These exercises should not hurt at all. SOVT exercises are the most gentle vocal exercises you can do. I don't want to scare you but it is important that you see a doctor. Once the doctor says that you can do vocal exercises, then I can give you some pointers. But you need a green light from your doctor first.
Excellent Katarina your information..thsnks
Glad it was helpful!
Best vocal channel there is. I have a new Conscious Singing channel and I’m gonna be recommending your channel to everyone. You are the best!
Wow! That is very kind of you. Thank you.
I just visited your new channel! Go Indee, go!
Thanks for sharing this with us .
No problem Bruce! Have you tried any of these exercises before? Are some of them new to you?
this is gonna help me when i'm singing in my shower! thank you
I love singing in the shower too!
Thanks for this video! I wish I could upvote it 10 times :) Cheers!
Wow! That is such a nice comment. Thank you, Don!
Thank you so much! 😘😍
You are very welcome. I hope you found the video useful.
Thanks for sharing information to help with not straining your voice.
No problem!
Thankyou katarina it's really helping me out❤️❤️💙💙💙!!!!
I'm so glad to hear that!
Thank you so much for the awesome lesson. There is so much to good singing, it's so difficult...I have even problem with normal speaking without strain. Best to you.
Thank you for your lovely comment. I am sorry that you have trouble with your speaking voice. Have you been working with a voice professional to find ways to eliminate tension from your speech? Once you find how to do it efficiently, then speaking and singing will feel easy. So, don't give up. I wish you all the best.
@@healthyvoicetips Katarina, I have played guitar for quite sometime and tried singing but never took professional voice lessons, but I feel I need to. It seems that my voice have it's own mind and sometimes(rarely) it's good but most of the time it's bad for singing as it feels strained and hoarse. But I noticed that standing up is much better(easier)...I like your videos, and trying the techniques, keep it up.
thank you! excellent videos
Thank you very much for your kind message, JaCee. Which exercises did you like the best?
Thank you, again...
Absolutely no problem. Let me know if you have questions. And have you tried these exercises? If yes, let me know how it went.
Thankyou for this❤❤❤
No problem! Have you tried the exercises? How did it feel?
great tips as always
Thank you! That means a lot to me!
I am sooooo doing this!
Let me know how you like these exercises!
Wow so many helpful tips in this video! Sharing with my singing friends because they’ll love something like this! p.s. loving your background and editing tricks Katarina! 😘
Thank you Lindsay for your kind words! And yes, please share it with your singing friends.
I m able to instantly sing after humming and doing that fricative thing.. thank youu
I am very glad to hear that you found the exercises beneficial.
This is for me!
Glad to hear that you found it helpful.
Amazing!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you for saving my voice from any future vocal chord injuries...
Hi Troyo! What a lovely comment. I hope you were not planning on having vocal injuries.
You're wonderful. Thank you so much for all these wonderful videos :)
Oh and Merry Christmas
Thank you too!
This helps!
Excellent!
New subscriber long time singer really enjoyed the video cant wait to start practicing thanx
Hi An_bod_ Y, how is your practice going?
@@healthyvoicetips After the first practice i heard an immense difference thanx for the lesson and thanx even more for asking ❤
Thank you so much for your numerous advices.
I am following all the way from Nairobi Kenya,
I love singing but I can no longer hit high notes,
I get so tired and I can't sustain my breathe too,
So I have stopped singing actively,
More to that I am a kg teacher.so I guess you understand my stress,
I am hoping to recover my voice with all I learn from you.
Hi Franciscar from Nairobi! I am sorry to here that you stopped singing. How is your voice doing? What exercises have you tried? Have you seen a specialist in your country to help you?
you came like an Angel 😇 in my frustrated singing life...Thank you thank you thank you so much ma’am....you are the best
Why are you frustrated, Siddhant?
Thank you for replying katarina....Actually...When I sing or talk...My throat starts burning from inside...My voice doesnt get hoarse ..But throat burns alot...I checked with ENT doctor...He says my voice box is heathy...And everything is fine...But still it burns even when I speak..
Have you seen a laryngologist? (Laryngologist is a voice specialist, an ENT with specialization to help people with voice problems). I recommend a stroboscopy, so not just looking down at your throat with a scope but looking down at the movement of your vocal folds during speaking and singing with a stroboscope. If you are still having problems, look for another doctor who can give you some answers to your problems. I wish you all the best.
thanks a lot Katarina....btw you look beautiful in this video
Wow! That is very kind of you to write!
My speech therapist also suggested me Sovt exercises nd straw exercises for hoarse voice..m doing it with your way❤️thanks mam
Hi Sethi! Speech therapists all over the world like SOVT exercises because they are gentle and they work!
Hi dear lady. You pronanse words very good. I learn to sing and English speaking skill ? However thank u for all. Hi again from Iran.
Thank you for your vey kind words!
yes felt some changes..
Thanking you
You are very welcome. I am glad you felt the difference. The more you do the exercises, the more in tune you will be with your voice and you will feel the change. Do you remember what changes did you feel?
@@healthyvoicetips I felt little bit less strain, and flet ease to pronounce, can sustain breath more time bt cracking sound did nt improve (which is due to chronic laryngitis)... pls suggest some remedies..... Thanking you
such an interesting set of techniqes :-)
Yes, they are interesting. They don't sound like much, but they work!
I felt a change amazing! Fricatives :)
Hi Karla! I agree. Fricatives are amazing.
Loved this thank you! Can you do a video on singers with chronic tmj, any tips would be appreciated
I just made a video on this topic you can check it out: czcams.com/video/nXO93onyro8/video.html
Very educative just wish you would do more examples. How to sing with this techniques thanks
Check out my other videos for more demonstrations.
Hi Katarina, I am so happy to see your video and will do these exercises loyally. I lost my voice over a year ago due to a bad cold and strained my voice out of strong emotions once during that time. My singing/humming voice has never recovered since then. I saw an otolaryngologist and was shown the upper part of my vocal cords meet like water-damaged paper edges. Whenever I try to sing or hum at certain range, my voice sounds like a broken drum. My doctor said voice therapy is helpful but it will recover with enough rest. I wonder these exercises will eventually help? Looking forward for your response. --June
Hi June, SOVT exercises are a standard technique in voice rehabilitation of many voice problems. So, try them and see how they help. I would encourage you to take some voice therapy sessions though. It's been over a year and I don't think vocal rest is the solution. Based on current research, absolute voice rest is indicated only in serious vocal trauma and after vocal surgery. Relative voice rest may be a good vocal hygiene technique. But in many other cases, voice therapy is often a more appropriate treatment choice. When did you have laryngoscopy done? Maybe you are also due for a check up to see the structure of your vocal folds again?
Very good vodeo
Thanks
Thank you so much, the lesson is awesome. I noticed as I was practicing first excersice that when I move the soft palate up adam's apple moves simultaneously downwards. Is something normal? Is adams apple an idicator for the moving of soft palate?
Thank you very much.
Excellent observations. These two movements often go together for many people but it is not an indicator because with practice, you can isolate these movements from each other. You can lower your larynx independently of the soft palate and vice versa.
Great tips. I wonder if these can be applied before a lengthy speaking engagement or live talk?
Absolutely! You can do similar exercises with a speech. So, instead of singing, you say a part of your speech, then you do the sovt exercises and then, say the same part of your speech and feel the difference. It absolutely works. The resonance, power and ease of talking should be different.
Fricatives is what I didnt know I needed
Fricatives are just one example of SOVT exercises. But if you like them, that's good!
@@healthyvoicetips 🙂☺💐
I have mtd . I can perform almost every sovt excercise . I find difficulty while doing straw excercise. My throat gets tight which we want to avoid in the first place.
Katarina this is a great video... Can you use these for people who have to speak alot?
Absolutely! These are exercises used in speech therapy and they are now becoming more popular among singers. So, the answer is YES!
WoW Katarina, thank you so much for your clear explanantion! I have had a lot of vocal strain during my whole life and by ajusting my posture and doing these excercises on the songs I want to sing, I hope I will get rid of the unconscious strain on my voice and will finally be able to sing without worries. Do you also have tips to speak with a less airy voice? Thank you so much for your time. I can see you are a real specialist on the topic, because I have been searching for solutions everywhere, but they were never enough for full recovery of my airy voice. I am going to do your excercises every day from now on, as I go to the finals of a songfestival on the 8th of June . Thank you K and have a good day! loev, Ingrid
by the way, I sang a part of my song on the V , and it made instantly a difference. , can I also turn up the 'volume' while doing the fricative? Because in the song I have to belt the part I am practicing with the fricative. Thank you!
Hi Ingrid, I am glad you could feel and hear the difference when you tried the fricative. It's sort of like a magic but the vocal folds react differently when there is some back pressure applied to them. Yes, you can "turn up the volume" on the fricative without any worry (the back pressure will make sure that the pressure above and below vocal folds will be equalized). However, you will see that fricatives will never be as loud as when you sing with an open mouth. So focus more on the sensation on how your vocal tract is tuned. Your vocal folds will get used to this type of vocal fold closure and some of it will carryover into your singing (the more you do it, the more it will translate into your singing). For a better vocal cord closure, check out my video on straw phonation: czcams.com/video/wab-i0kYMjs/video.html It is a video for singers but the same exercise and principle is often used in speech therapy. I hope this is helpful!
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you so much, you are very generous!!!!! I watched all your videos, and using the straw in the car and while cooking, just to close my folds, and its more easy after some days. I will follow all your advice on the fricatives and can't wait to be able to belt in a healthy way..........
Can u pls make a video for phonetory gap of vocal cord after vocal cord polyp surgery
I am sorry but I don't think I have enough knowledge to make a video about this topic.
Hello Katarina. Thank you for your wonderful videos. I wonder if you could please tell me what length of straw would be best suited for operatic vocalizing? I am 57 years old and still singing professionally. I also am a full time voice teacher. In the last few years I notice my body is changing and my voice becomes fatigues more quickly when singing. There was a time I could sing for 2 to 3 hours uninterrupted in full voice. Now after 30 minutes, I am very fatigue and I lose my lower register. I am not ready to retire yet!!! I have always used straws, off and on, but feel I may need to pay more attention to the type of straw exercises I need to do and also the length of straw. Thank you.
Hi Susan,
I am very sorry to hear that you are dealing with a vocal issue.
Have you been assessed by a laryngologist? That’s the first step I highly recommend in solving vocal problems.
That is very interesting!
Hi! Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate your support.
Hi Katarina, i like your Videos very much. Yesterday i tried one where you close the mouth with a hand while making a u. It worked very well. Now i tried fricatives and sang my Song on v. Although sirens on v were good, this didnt work well. My throat is strained and it nearly hurts a littel approx 2 Fingers under the larynx , where the neck starts, Right in the middle. What can i do? This is very often while speaking or singing and i just Cant work out If its the tongue or something else. Maybe you can help? Also humming has always been stressful.
Please demonstrate how to sing on a fricative
Thank you for your suggestion!
Hi, the specialist told me I have mild vocal strain. I’d love to try your exercises. How many times per day n how many minutes? And how long does it take to recover from mild strain. It’s worse when trying ‘oo’ & ‘ee’ sounds on higher notes like so la ti do. Thank you!
Did the specialist suggest working withe a voice therapist? Everyone is different and there is no one exercise that would be a great fit for everyone. Also, there are no set rules on how long or how many times a day. As I said everyone is different. But in general, a few minutes several times a day. I suggest that you try some of the SOVT exercises and see how they are helpful. Also, check out my latest video on how to know which exercises are best.
what does it mean if you feel sooooo much vibration of lips during the VVVVV sound that it's intolerable? Thank you for all your info.
It means that you are moving maybe too much air through the lips or it may mean that you are not used to this sensation and therefore it feels unpleasant
Hi Karina, I like to sing for fun but have always had issues.with sore throat and connecting my voice....it always sounds muffled and groggy even when humming if that makes sense and also gets tired and sore after singing. Can you give me any tips to help with this?
Singing is a learned skill. There is always something that can be changed, adjusted, improved so that singing feels easy. I suggest that you take some singing lessons and follow instructions of the teacher.
Hi!! I tried singing a difficult part through a "V" fricative, and although I didn't feel any tension and resonance was cool!! the air trying to come out of the mouth came out uneven and shaky, is that because I use to much air or too little? how do I manage that better. Thank you!! this video is amazingly useful, coming out of Muscle Tension Dysphonia here :D
Hi Claudia, congratulations on coming out of MTD! That is a big accomplishment. Uneven sound means too much air pressure. Start with very little air, almost imperceivable, and slowly add more and more air and find the level that works for you. Also, consider that the beginning and end of the sound may be more shaky than the middle.
Claudia how long did it take you to recover from mtd. I am too suffering from it
Can we practise these excerise when we're sick ? Like for healing the voice?
Yes, they are good for sick voices too.
Can we use these exercises normal vocal damages, damage caused by yelling...
And how many times can we do this in a day??
Please respond dear
Yes, SOVT exercises are one of the gentlest exercises you can do. You can use them for a healthy voice and you can use them for a compromised voice. However, I would highly recommend that you speak to an ENT and have your voice checked (just in case) and then have voice therapy if recommended by the doctor.
What is the soft palate?
Soft palate is the roof of your mouth at the back. It's the part of the mouth that can separate the mouth from the nose. When you look inside your mouth it's the "punching bag" plus other tissue around it.
Hi, Katarina, I get a problem with doing SOVT, whenever I'm doing this, I got cough severely, why did that happen? thank you!!
It can be several reasons. Check out this resource about troubleshooting straw exercises: www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/straws
please explain... how do I hum, with teeth closed, lips gently touching and jaw open?
Hi Ricki, good question. In the video, I described two extremes of vocal tract shape while humming. First, close your teeth and lips. Hum and notice how it feels (that position #1). THEN, keep your lips closed but the jaw is open (meaning the teeth are not touching) - that is position #2. Hum and notice how it feels. The optimal position will be somewhere between these two extremes. Notice which position is most resonant, feels best and produces best sound. I hope this explanation helps.
I had right vocal cord polyp surgery 1 month ago, when I do these exercises I feel pain from my right ear to downing to the right vocal cord, and it hurts and feel like burning, Doctor said vocal cord are normal you have something else, plz help me what to do?
Are you receiving voice therapy? I definitely recommend that because a voice therapist can hear you and give advice how to voice differently.
@@healthyvoicetips I got it only once and after that the pandemic hit my Country so I practiced at home, its been 2 months of my surgery and now I'm feeling very well also the pain I've mentioned has gone n my voice is back upto 90%.
Mam, I am untrained singer [boy][17 years] , just sung up high note of male [ A4] and sung female high note in female voice [C5] for a month and at the sudden I can hear my voice air rushing or a scratchy sound in communicating voice . Just took a break of 3 weeks but in 3 weeks I suffered from constant throat clearing and the scratchy voice. ? Mam, what to do Mam ? Did I damage my vocal cord ?
I wouldn't know. Speak to a doctor who specializes in voice treatment to find out.
Well I was just trying to figure out how can I say words of one of my songs with the ones that you chose this is the song style who I am that my lord of all the earth would care to know my name. Now I don't understand why I don't understand how to do this
If you have questions, please ask. I am here to help.
Where should I put the tongue? Is it resting the whole time?
Yes, your tongue does not need to work at all.
Ma'am I am speech & language pathologist and I want to learn more about voice therapy , can u help me?
How can I help you?
I cant even move my soft palate
Focus on the things you can do first.
Re: Humming ...I had to put my teeth in first LoL ...I wonder if there are any vocal coaches for people who have full upper and lower dentures. They take up far more room in your mouth than one's natural teeth because the material that makes up the gum is overlaying your real gums .... XoXo