The way I tend to help people get better at compression is by having them either exhale air and sing scales or just do very very long scales or holding sustained notes until they run out of air. Over time they get used to not using too much breathiness (unless they want that specifically for a sexy tone. The key is having it as a choice not a limitation.)

I also think the SLS exercises tend to deal with this well because of the consonants in the scales as long as the singer understands how to translate that on open vowels later.

If you have a really breathy singer who just blasts air when they go higher (even on consonants scales like BUP BUP BUP or GO GO GO) what do you tend to have them do?

btw I like the haircut

and can someone tell me how to make a clickable link in my signature.

You on the other hand, must have it in the bag because you have been singing ballsy songs on stage for years.

As far as the the "air pressure" you are building up what is the gage you are using to measure it. This is the thing as you get more skillful the better your cords get at adducting and "holding back the air". That is what gives you this feeling of pressure if there was no valve (cords)the air would pour out. So as time goes on and your technique gets better you will feel this air to sing on better. It is about balance the balance of the cords doing their job efficiently at holding back the air not physically holding back the air.

@owen the air rushed out because you didn't have the vocal cord strength and coordination to stop the air. Once you the cords get more skillful at staying closed it will be natural. That is the process you don't want to rush. If you do you will sound like you are holding back the air and holding your breath.

I'm gonna make more vids this year guys. I'm gonna be the old wise man(46) doing my best to bring the technique that I learned years ago and used to make a living. I hope I can help whoever will listen.

OwenKorzec said
I feel it's important to note there is also a problem with blowing too much air, Dan I don't know if you get students who do this, but I used to do it - it's like when singers think they have to blow harder to sing higher or louder and that that's the big secret to singing. I know because I have been there. It is almost a little "shortcut" trick but it gets the voice stuck in an extremely loud sound and really beats it up.

I also went through that exact same phase. I was straining on high notes and so I concluded that the opposite of the strain was air flow so I would blow more air but my voice had no longevity or power as a result.

I feel it's important to note there is also a problem with blowing too much air, Dan I don't know if you get students who do this, but I used to do it - it's like when singers think they have to blow harder to sing higher or louder and that that's the big secret to singing. I know because I have been there. It is almost a little "shortcut" trick but it gets the voice stuck in an extremely loud sound and really beats it up.

That is an interesting perspective. I look at it like this, you need to build up air pressure, depending on the sound you are looking to achieve, (light or heavy), you will need more or less of that air pressure but it needs to be there in order to be connected. When I do build up that air pressure beneath the cords my lower body does engage reflexively to keep that air pressure going (just like if you cough your muscles will naturally kick), but it should never be a forced tightening of the abdominal muscles, that will lead to strain.

Am I holding the air back while I sing? Yeah, I guess I am because otherwise air pressure wouldn't build up, but you can't take that too far because then you will choke yourself. It is a balance. The most important thing I have learnt about singing is that it is all about balance, chord closure with air flow and chest resonance with head resonance.

As in all of life, without a good balance something will go awry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHKSLVi2f5A&list=PLoWcfXjHDXqhdL_N_0yO5o-6HqCFX32on&index=13