FAQ Categories
Please select one of the categories below: General questions about singing and vocal technique provided by Martin. - Why does it hurt when I sing?
Many many other young performers also suffer this problem unfortunately (and many professionals too shockingly!). More often than not it is caused by belting and straining when trying to sing higher notes in a strong (chest voice). This is what happens when your larynx / adams apple (run your finger down your throat and feel for the bump) rises and swallowing muscles are engaged. This is probably happening when you are singing, but it is the opposite of what you want to happen. You want to sing free of strain and muscle and with a speech-level larynx. The good news is that you can correct this, and as an extra benefit - when you do correct it, you gain a ton of notes on your vocal range, they sound a million times better and the feeling is nice not painful! 100,00% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ  useful  not useful - My high / head voice is really airy and weak
Martin builds strength in your higher notes by "mixing" the tone with chest voice, this creates a strong and powerful higher voice. This is one of the most common problems amongst young performers but is one of the most easily fixed. No more airy and whistley head voices! 100,00% of 4 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How much should I practice
I gues the answer is as much as you can, or as much as your coach asks you to. Singing is a pleasure and isn't a chore! If you are enjoying your singing lessons, you'll enjoy practicing. After each lesson, Martin will typically provide you with some excercises / tools to work on until your next lesson to allow you to continue developing your voice and making improvements. 1hr a day is probably best, but there is no hard and fast rule. Sing when you want to sing! 100,00% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What's the proper way to clear my throat?
Some say that you should never clear your throat, but excess mucous inhibits free vocal cord coordination. The trick is to find a way to clear your throat without irritating it. Do a gentle "whispered cough" (without tone) and then swallow. Repeat. If this doesn't work, you need to deal with the excess mucous production. Squeeze a 1/4 of a lemon in a tall glass of water and sip over about 20 minutes. This should cut through a lot of the excess mucous. Furthermore, watch your dairy intake... especially cheese. You should never eat it on the day of a performance! 100,00% of 6 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Should I always warm up before I sing?
Yes! When you sing, you are using muscles and tendons within your larynx and laryngeal area. If you have healthy vocal technique, then this process is already relaxed and free of tension, but that doesn't mean you don't warm up. Imagine an Olympic sprinter getting straight out of his car on a freezing cold December morning and running a race. He'd probably keel over! The same goes for your voice. Warm up your instrument before you give it a workout! 100,00% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful FAQ's about vocal coaching with Martin. - Can I have 2 singing teachers?
This is not advised unless your other singing teacher works with you on the same technique that you work on in your Skype lessons. This is because it becomes very confusing to have "Teacher A" telling you to grit your teeth and shout like a banchee, whilst Martin is telling to relax give me a "gug" ! Having two singing teachers who teach contrasting styles will hurt you, not help you, so we suggest just sticking to one. 100,00% of 4 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How quickly will I improve?
Naturally, every case is different, but you will improve from lesson 1. Dramatic improvements are normally noticeable after 2 or 3 1hr sessions. Students who come with problems such as belting and pain notice an instant dramatic improvement. Martin is well known for providing fast and effective results, and so you can expect to see an improvement very quickly. 2 - 3 sessions. 100,00% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Short term fix or long term benefits?
There is certainly nothing short-term about a healthy and long lasting vocal technique. Removing strain from your singing provides no end of benefit in the long term. Continued strain on your larynx and related muscles will eventually cause serious vocal problems such as nodules and other nasties. Healthy vocal production will ensure this never becomes an issue and this is the cornerstone of all Martins lessons. The added benefit is that, because the changes are so fundamental and beneficial, results are instant and so you benefit right away and for the rest of your singing life. 0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - My classical singing teacher says I shouldn't use chest / mix voice
Not true! Singing styles have changed and vocal techniques have had to adapt to cater for modern styles of music. If you had an old school classical singing teacher, the chances are you were never allowed to use chest voice before. Unfortuantly, this method of training is now completely outdated and techniques and methods exist in order to allow you to sing with a powerful sound, totally free of strain and with a much healthier vocal production than the older styles of singing. There are many cases where the old fashioned approach remains best. However - singing and vocal technique is certainly not one of them. 100,00% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
Questions about having your singing lessons on Skype. - How can you hear me properly?
Modern technology makes Skype lessons just as good as face to face and are a modern way to teach a modern vocal technique. Since when did you listen with your eyes? If you do not have a broadband internet connection, then you may occasionally experience drop-outs but these are not a big enough problem to outweigh the numerous benefits of Skype lessons. Don't knock it till you've tried it! 100,00% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
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