The best way to start your vocal day! Contact for private lessons: mbaxter@voicelessondotcom Daily Vocal Tips on my socials: / voicelesson / baxteronsinging / mark.baxter.3762 / mark-baxter-7b093a48
Love the mix of humour, education and technical exercises you give with every video, Mark. I used to find vocal exercises so boring but you make them fun and I understand now what the point of each exercise is. Your humility is also very endearing. Love your work!🤩
Just when I was ready to clear my throat, I saw your note about wanting to clear your throat. Haaa!!! Thanks for being transparent with the vocal exercises and not making things seem glamorous when it may not be all the time.
Mark, I mentioned this in a reply but I wanted to say it here too ❤I do this warmup everyday. I have Mark’s book and talk about wisdom! I love how I can feel the passion he has for teaching through the pages. I once heard him say that singing is like giving yourself a hug. I can testify to that. Singing has brought me so much healing both physically and mentally. I’m a fully disabled vet from service some fifteen years ago. Being bedridden plus having PTSD left me in a really dark place. I eventually was out in a music therapy program a couple of years ago. Ever since then I have been singing and playing guitar everyday. It has saved my life.. I didn’t know how far hugging myself in this way could go. Thank you so much for all of the lessons you have taught me. You’ve been a huge part of this healing journey I’m on… helping me to believe in myself and keep going. You’ve also made me a better singer-which my family thanks you for. ;) You’re simply the best. ❤
I love this, because it shows even professional singers, or those who've been practicing a long time don't simply jump out of bed singing like a Disney prince or princess. It takes constant work; practice and patience. I often felt like I'd be making progress, then have a day where my voice makes a weird sound and feel discouraged. Hearing someone I know is great work through a struggle is very inspiring and reminds me to be patient with my instrument. Thank you for this amazing video, all those before it, and the ones still to come!
I can't thank you enough, Mark. A year ago I discovered your videos and you save my voiced and life. After abdominal surgery and COPD I gave up on singing due to reduced oxygen saturation. I love singing and kept things going at a minimum level thanks to open mic nights. I looked for a good vocal warm up, my vocal coach had died, but nothing online was right for me because I don't have the stamina I once had. I love your soft and gentle approach, that was what I needed. I went from doing very little to joining a band, I had never done that before. My vocal stamina is much better and the quality of my voice is better than I thought it ever would be after years living with damaged lungs. I have to work on the transition from chest to middle voice but that's just practice and concentrating on quality over quantity. Now, if I am working with an inexperienced singer you are my go-to guy, I refer them to your videos as well as doing vocal exercises specifically for their vocal range. They move on after a couple of months but keep working with your videos. One lady has now joined two bands after just 8 months from no vocal confidence at all. I went to hear her perform a few weeks ago and they invited me onto the stage to do a Tina Turner song, I thought I was doing the backup but I was asked to sing lead, she said it was her dream to sing with me and I'm so glad we could both do that. So please believe me when I say, you are the Master and I am so grateful to have your videos to keep me going.
What a great post! I'm so glad to have contributed to the continuation of your passion! Comfort first - then control. That's the way to your best voice!
Ezme, I'm so happy for you! I share a similar story but regarding urgent open heart surgery to remove a tumor in my left atrium. I've had extensive singing experience over the years including touring, tv, theater etc but we all go through things and it never entered my head during the agony of months of recovery, physical, psychological, emotional, that I would be working in my own professional covers band and performing even better than I feel I ever had, nine years later. I persevered and patience was my constant companion to trust that all will fall into place, even through the trials of being tempted to give up. So here's to you and your beautiful voice and career!
@@byonnoyb Thank you so much for your heart warming story and encouragement. What a great testimony and isn't it so fantastic to be doing what you love even after all these years. It is truth, people, you have to put the work in to get the results, it doesn't come from nothing. I'm only able to sing today because I worked on the foundations years ago. But too many singers have been written off because coaches don't know how to do remedial work. A quick update:- My lovely Daughter got married last week, my Band played a 90 minute set which included Sweet Child of Mine with me on lead vocals, it got a big cheer so I'm happy with that. Mark is a great teacher, speaks truth from experience and I trust his warm ups and 'off days' tips. Keep singing and having fun. Mark, keep doing what you do so well, we really appreciate your energy and effort.
Heck ya brotha. Long night of partyin, drinkin last night and ate a whole pizza b4 bed. I'm dry, congested and rigid. Perfect timing! This also answered a bunch of questions I've had. For me, one of the biggest oddities is when my choir instructor would tell us before our performances not to eat anything. That we'd get junk in our throat! Well I got junk in my throat thats why I eat!! I had to take her aside and be like... "Miss... I sing waay better after I eat xD". She told me, "okay, then eat"!!! Glad to know I wasn't crazy for thinkin that!
Mark..this is an excellent exercise to wake up the voice.In Indian classical music we have been taught to sing a word'Om'at early mornings(4:30am)We sing this in lower octaves as possible as one can and then gradually go to middle scale it's also a wonderful exercise.
weeks ago i had some issues with my vocal always being fatigued and such. but mark's videos has helped me so much to recover my voice and my tone. this guy is the real deal !!
This was great! There are so many things to take away here that I'll have to keep coming back to watch this. The main thing I took away is awareness of my voice condition. I don't sleep very well so my voice feels very tired and heavy most days. I know as a singer it's hard to take steps backward in order to move forward, but I need to do more of the "Worried about vocal damage" video you have AND sleep well (which is hard right now) so I can actually feel good again. Feeling good is so important to singing is another takeaway. Your videos are so packed with wisdom and well put together. Thank you for your hard work and efforts! God bless you Sir.
You're absolutely right - sleep is the number one influence on the voice (hydration is second). Focus on getting better sleep and your voice will thrive.
I'm so glad I came across this video!! Your humor is refreshing, I love when people don't take themselves too seriously. This is a huge help to me now and I will be doing this every morning before I start my long day at school!
@@voicelessondotcom You have no idea how am I refraining from posting at least one comment on every single video of yours I watch 😅I am trying to avoid the spam effect so I am turning all those enthusiastic comments into vocalizing for now 😂
this is such a good training in the morning. thank you for all these good details and descriptions and the joy and the humor. helps me really before I start with my challenging song parts...thank you, man!👍🏻👍🏻
It is so encouraging that you share the whole process like this. I thought there was something wrong with me because I have to go through this every time I want to sing (not just the mornings)! I have learned so much from your videos, and probably the most important thing, is not to push it! Love this video. I'm adding it to the Epic Vocal Warmup video you did as most treasured items in my vocal technique tool box. I really appreciate you putting this out there - the places where your voice is not working properly yet and won't make the note, where you have to clear the gunk off your chords, the need for food ...! SO much to relate to - you made me feel so much better😁Thank you!!!
Thanks for chiming in, Dryden - and I'm glad to be crusin in the Sprinter with ya. I'm very familiar with your band - hopefully you're not still head-banging on Smooth Criminal with a broken neck! Rev that vocal machine up slowly and you'll rock for a very long time.
@drydenmitchell3488 hey man, hella random but i thought you might find it funny that my school used to always use smooth criminal as teaching material on the lesson of 'song covers' lol. Anyways, I hope your neck gets better mate, glad we both watch Mark 😂
OMG I am such a fan! I saw you guys with Mudvayne in the early 2000’s at the Barrymore in Madison, WI. :) I feel super cool knowing I do the same warmup as you. I’m a fully disabled vet due to service and started singing and playing guitar a couple of years ago through a music therapy program for vets with PTSD. I have been practicing everyday since I started and now I can even play some of your songs. I have so much fun going down memory lane with you. I could never do you justice.. but my dogs enjoy my performance nonetheless. I do this warmup everyday. I have Mark’s book and talk about wisdom. I love how I can feel the passion he has for teaching through the pages. I once heard him say that singing is like giving yourself a hug. I can testify to that. Singing has brought me so much healing both physically and mentally-it really does help keep me going. Singing AAF songs is a part this journey too- making me feel like I’m still cool ;) Thank you tons for what you do. ❤❤
You are the best! thank you so much for the inspiration and motivation.. I'll be very happy-and not only me-to see a video for those who have a vocal chord surgery..how to exercise,what to do to get back in shape..? Thank you so much!
Thank you for the new video! I'll add this to my work out. I see that this is another video that took a while to complete. I guess you had to wait for a snow day!
This I think is going to be my 3rd fave lesson, or for me it's pt for my voice. well, maybe by the 6:00 or so I might stop. lol My brain gets confused. Mark so authentic, showing us all how to be true, or the voice, performance wont be true. Thank you ~
How do you feel about bass singers using vocal fry to extend their lower register? For me personally, it impresses me how some people can kind of "cheat" to go lower but that doesn't make someone a true bass.
Gorgeous home. Cereal 🤔 Was that with milk? I was always told by instructors not to drink milk before I sing, it coats the throat and lowers your voice placing I was told, mucus etc. I warm up with you often, can you shed some light please. Many thanks.
Yes there is milk in my cereal every morning! There is no scientific evidence of milk making it hard to sing - but there's certainly a lot of folks that say so. Nothing we swallow touches the vocal folds and we sing through our throats - not from them. Mostly I drink water - but little milk and a little alcohol are not going to diminish what deep skills provide!
@@voicelessondotcom Interesting, I've read both studies for and against. Anything we eat or drink can get into our bloodstream, same as water, which takes a long time to reach the vocal cords. I guess it comes down to how it affects you personally. I always felt like my throat was coated and my voice gurgled after drinking milk. When milk is not present and The voice is congested or gurgling, those skills you mentioned certainly help one pass over the hump.
@@bellaboop1 Yes - everything we eat effects us via the bloodstream. But water doesn't lubricate the vocal folds - hyaluronic acid does. And there's more to hydration than water (electrolytes like sodium, potassium and calcium are vital). The things we ingest are broken down into what the body needs to function. So a balanced diet is the best approach for a healthy voice.
Hi Mark. Thanks again for your informative video. Well, this is my initial MR routine now LOL. I have a question if I may-once a month on Sundays I am rostered AM & PM to sing with the team in church. What I usually do I use your "Good morning voice!" vocal warmup while getting ready, and one more 10 mins while getting to church (My husband is driving in the meantime 😄), and once in church we get into practising the songs. Would this"Wake Up, Voice" system be more beneficial -than your 15 mins vocal warm up?? Or both? Much appreciated🙏😊.
This one would be good to alternate with "Good Morning Voice". Using a variety of warmups will make you more aware of your condition - better beginning to your vocal day!
Ohhh gracias por tu comentario! No sabes lo feliz que me hizo! :)) Es uno de esos días que dan ganas de rendirse 🥹 pero leer tu comentario me hizo sonreír! Ahora si, a seguir ensayando! 💪
Hi again! I have two questions, one of which might be a video request: what do we do when life is a bit rough, let's say, and we just don't find the strength to sing. At the same time, we don't want to interrupt the daily training, yet singing is just out of place. What do we do if this goes on for a while? Second: does vocalising out of range damage the voice? I'm thinking about the fact the average person will not have custom tonality piano base, so we will have to use karaokes. And we might need the +3 version while having just other versions available. Can it create a bad habit in the long run? Thank you
It's basic anatomy. Your vocal folds lay horizontally across the windpipe and are tensed or released to change pitch. The vocal tract runs vertically from your trachea to your sinuses - and resonance moves according to the size of the sound wave: Low notes are attracted to large cavities (chest) and high notes to small cavities (head).
That does make sense, as you said, anatomy wise. I guess what I meant to ask was; are pitch and note supposed to be controllable independently while you sing or speak? For example, if I sing or even say a note at a certain pitch, when I go up and down the scale, it feels as though I can either sing up and down notes by changing the qualities of my mouth resonators, or I can thicken/relax my vocal chords to produce higher and lower pitches. (So, same note, different pitch) I just can't seem to do both at the same time. Is this something that can be trained? I am trying to gain full control over my voice to assist me with my voice and character acting. And of course, to sing comfortably when I want to. Thank you so much for reading comments and actually responding to them. It's a rare thing to see these days on this here youtubes.
@@NoisyRooster Every sound we make has only four variables: The pitch, the volume, the quality and the duration. Focus on those rather than what you think your body should do and you'll open up the treasure trove of all the available sounds humans can make. Your only restriction is your imagination!
Just discovered your videos. I seriously need help with a terrible wobble I have developed. It is not the nice vibrato I have had most of my life. What do you recommend?
No problem with a cup of coffee - but watch that 3rd trenta! With spices - It depends on the amount and your response. So, every singer should know what their voice can and cannot handle. Make a mental note of what you ate and when every time you're in good or bad voice. That way you'll know how to set the stage for a great performance!
awesome. was wondering where you might be. your videos have very much helped me rehab my significantly misaligned vocal cords due to singing unsupported by my diaphragm, fostering years long bad habits & now I'm finally moving slowly/surely towards finding my voice🏆🫶🏾
