Practical vocal warmup exercises for singers of all abilities

A well-crafted vocal warm-up routine can be the cornerstone of a healthy and effective singing practice. It prepares the vocal cords for the demands of singing, helping reduce the risk of strain and injury.

Let’s explore some excellent exercises that cater to singers of all abilities, designed to enhance vocal health and performance. Time-tested techniques for singers warming up their voice.

For agility (vocal runs)

Exercise: Zing, Zing, Zah (1-3-5-4-3-2-1)

This exercise uses a mix of consonant and vowel sounds to engage articulation and resonance while encouraging clear enunciation.

Zing uses a voiced consonant to engage the breath and start moving air, you use this to jump to the top of the arpeggio (Zing (1) Zing (3)) and open to Zah on ‘5’ (stay on the ‘Ah’ on the way down the scale). Start this in an easy bottom note of your range and move up around 14 half steps). Move through this exercise quickly and keep the breath bouncy. This requires a ton of air, but you expand this to a full octave once you have mastered the beginning exercise.

Strengthen both articulation and resonance, promoting clarity in diction and enriching your vocal tone through balanced resonance and effective consonantal initiation.

Method:

1. Begin with a comfortable mid-range pitch.
2. Sing the phrase “Zing, zing, zah” on a three-note ascending scale (e.g., C-D-E) and then descend (E-D-C).
3. Focus on crisp and precise articulation of the “z” consonant while allowing the vowels to resonate fully in the face (“mask”).
4. Move through your range in half steps, ensuring that the articulation remains clear and the tone consistent.
5. Emphasize the transition from “zing” to “zah” to highlight vowel resonance.

Imagine painting with sound, each “zing” and “zah” a brushstroke adding texture and vibrancy to your vocal canvas. Your articulation and resonance are the tools that allow you to create vivid vocal imagery.

Explore other exercises and resources for improving pitch control for any singer.

Vocal warm ups for Resonance

Exercise: Mee, Meh, Mah, Moh, Moo (5,5,5,5,5-4-3-2-1)

Utilizing the series of vowels “mee,” “meh,” “mah,” “moh,” and “moo,” this exercise focuses on vowel clarity and consistency, promoting balanced tone across the vocal range.

Using the ‘Mm’ to engage breath and focus on the sound resonating in the tops of your cheeks right below the eyes. You can touch that spot as you do this exercise to create mind/body connection to help the sound aim in this location. Give a little wiggle of the nose (like a bunny) before each ‘Mm’ sound to help keep the resonators relaxed.

Method:

1. Start with a comfortable pitch and sing each vowel (i.e., “mee,” “meh,” “mah,” “moh,” “moo”) on a five-note scale.
2. Concentrate on keeping the tone even and resonant as you transition between the vowels.
3. Progress through your range, maintaining control and uniformity of sound.
4. Focus on vowel modification to ensure consistency and avoid vocal strain.

Think of your voice as a chameleon, seamlessly adapting to different vowel sounds with ease and maintaining its brilliance through each variation.

Exercise: Straw Phonation

Straw phonation involves singing through a straw, a method inspired by semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVT). It balances subglottic pressure, encourages efficient phonation, and is beneficial for vocal health.

The exercise aims to refine airflow management and vocal fold closure, promoting relaxed and efficient voice use. It is often utilized in vocal therapy to alleviate strain and develop healthier phonatory habits.

Method:

1. Place a thin straw between your lips, leaving no gaps for air to escape.
2. Begin with a simple hum through the straw, focusing on steady, even airflow.
3. Progress to singing a simple five-note scale (e.g., C-D-E-F-G) through the straw.
4. As you advance, experiment with different volumes and pitches, maintaining a relaxed, even tone.
5. Pay attention to the balance between breath and vocal fold engagement, feeling the air pressure increase and decrease as you move through pitches.

Picture your voice as a gentle breeze flowing through the straw, smoothly and effortlessly navigating its path. This control over your breath and vocal folds will enhance your vocal ease and precision.

General warm up exercises:

Exercise: Yawning Sighs

This exercise mimics a yawn, encouraging a relaxed and open throat, essential for healthy singing. Many singers will begin with physical stretches before singing, and this exercise, as a general warm up.

Open the throat for greater ease of vocalization, reducing tension and enhancing vocal richness and tone quality.

Method:

1. Simulate the sensation of a yawn, feeling the natural opening at the back of the throat.
2. Maintain this openness while sighing gently from high to low on an “ah” sound.
3. Pay attention to maintaining a relaxed, open throat throughout.
4. Repeat, focusing on effortless vocal production.

Picture yourself softly releasing tension like a gentle yawn, leaving your voice unencumbered by stress or pressure.

Exercise: Lip Buzz

This involves singing scales while maintaining a lip buzz, promoting breath control and even vocal tone.

Engages and energizes the lips and front of the vocal tract. Build consistency in tone production through regulated airflow and equalized vocal fold pressure.

Method:

1. Take a deep, supportive breath.
2. Begin with a lip trill at your lowest comfortable pitch.
3. Sing a simple five-note scale up and down (e.g., C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C).
4. Progress through your range in half-step increments.
5. Focus on maintaining a steady lip trill throughout the scale.

Visualize a balloon gradually inflating and deflating with each note, reminding yourself of the breath’s role in controlling your voice.

Exercise: Glissandos (aka Slides)

Glissandos, or vocal slides, involve smoothly sliding your voice from one pitch to another across a consistent interval, enhancing smooth transitions and vocal connection.

Develop vocal flexibility and smoothness by encouraging even transitions without strain or breaks between notes, promoting seamless register integration.

Method:

• Choose an interval (such as a fifth or an octave) starting at a comfortable pitch.
• Glide smoothly from the starting note to the target note and back down, using an “ah” or “oo” sound.
• Pay attention to maintaining an even tone and consistent airflow throughout the slide.
• Move up and down the scale in half steps, working through different intervals for variety.

Imagine riding a musical elevator, gliding effortlessly between floors without pauses or stops, allowing your voice to explore heights and depths comfortably.

Exercise: Tongue Trills

Engaging in tongue trills involves rolling the tongue while singing, which is excellent for building breath support and improving articulation.

Strengthen articulation and breath control while promoting relaxation in the throat and larynx, contributing to cleaner vocal lines and enhanced diction.

Method:

1. Take a deep breath, relaxing your shoulders and jaw.
2. Start a gentle “r” roll with your tongue at a comfortable pitch.
3. Sustain the trill while ascending and descending a simple scale (e.g., C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C).
4. Keep the airflow steady to maintain the trill, gradually exploring different pitches and dynamics.

Think of your tongue as a gymnastic performer executing seamless routines, nimble and precise, reinforcing clarity and dexterity in your vocal presentation.

Exercise: Jaw Relaxation

Jaw relaxation exercises aim to release tension in the jaw and surrounding muscles, contributing to more natural vocal production and articulation.

Alleviate tension, promote clarity of articulation, and prevent undue strain by fostering a relaxed jaw position.

Method:

1. Begin with gentle jaw massages using your fingertips along the jawline and cheeks.
2. Drop your jaw gently (without forcing), letting it hang loosely.
3. Perform slow, large circles with your jaw, both clockwise and counterclockwise.
4. Close and open your mouth slowly, focusing on keeping the motion relaxed and tension-free.
5. Incorporate gentle humming or vowel sounds (“ah” or “eh”) to ensure vocal freedom alongside jaw relaxation.

Imagine your jaw as a relaxed hinge, facilitating smooth, effortless movement, which allows your voice to resonate with clarity and freedom.

Exercise: Staccato Singing

Staccato singing involves singing short, detached notes, promoting precision in onset and offset of each note.

Refine articulation and breath control, essential for clear diction and agility in varied singing styles.

Method:

1. Choose a comfortable pitch at your lower range.
2. Sing short, detached notes in a five-note scale (e.g., C-D-E-F-G) with clear, percussive onsets.
3. Focus on a quick breath reset between each note.
4. Move gradually up the scale in half steps, maintaining accuracy in articulation.

Imagine each staccato note is a tiny stepping stone, guiding you towards precision and clarity in your singing.

Explore other resources that can help you sing lower notes and explore your voice’s lower range, while maintaining positive vocal health, and improving your overall voice performance.

For breath engagement

Exercise 1: Lip trills on pitch (1-2-3-2-1)

A simple scale of three notes up and down while buzzing your lips. This is the best way to strengthen breath and start associating pitch and breath together. Work through this exercise from the bottom of your range to the top then back down in half steps. This requires a ton of air, but once you have mastered the 3 note scale, you can take this to 5.

Enhances breath control and vocal cord flexibility.

Method:

1. Start by relaxing your facial muscles.
2. Place your lips together gently and blow air through them to create a trill sound, akin to mimicking a horse’s “br-r-r” sound.
3. Transition through your vocal range, moving from low to high and back again, over a span of a few octaves.
4. Repeat for 5 minutes.

Imagine your voice flowing effortlessly like a stream. This exercise helps maintain vocal freedom and is a favorite among both beginners and professionals.

Exercise 2: Humming

Humming is a gentle exercise that focuses on resonance and vocal fold closure, crucial for all singers. Humming engages the vocal cords without excessive strain, promoting vocal fold closure and resonance.

Establishes resonance in the mask (nasal passages and forehead).

Method:

1. Take a deep breath and inhale softly through the nose.
2. Start at a comfortable pitch and hum gently.
3. Maintain a closed mouth and focus on the vibrations in your nose and lips.
4. Glide up and down a simple five-note scale (e.g., C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C).
5. Gradually move through your range, focusing on even vibration.

Picture a bee buzzing gently. Feel the vibrations radiate through your head, reinforcing a sensation of effortless singing.

Explore some other really easy vocal exercises that are perfect for beginner singers.

Exercise 3: Sirens

Sirens involve sliding smoothly from the lowest note to the highest within your vocal range and back down.

Enhance vocal flexibility and smoothness, ensuring transitions between registers without breaks or strain. Warms up the entire vocal range and smooths register transitions.

Method:

1. Begin at your lowest comfortable note and gradually glide up to your highest note using an “ng” sound.
2. Glide back down to the starting note in a continuous, fluid motion.
3. Focus on keeping the tone consistent and even throughout the exercise.
4. Repeat several times, aiming for a seamless transition across registers.

Think of sirens as gentle roller coasters for your voice, exploring the highs and lows effortlessly while keeping everything connected.

Explore more resources for improving the higher range of your voice and to enable you to sing higher notes easier, including specific exercises for this aspect of voice training.

Even more warm up exercises

Bonus Exercise 1: Lip Rolls

Strengthens diaphragm support and vocal control.

Lip rolls involve rolling the lips together as you sing, promoting relaxation in facial muscles and smooth airflow.

Facilitate relaxed phonation and even airflow, and reduce tension in the face and throat, enhancing vocal freedom.

Method:

1. Begin with a deep breath, exhaling smoothly.
2. Roll your lips together lightly and begin a lip roll.
3. Sing a simple three-note scale (e.g., C-D-E) up and down while maintaining the lip roll.
4. Progress through your vocal range in half steps, concentrating on a consistent roll and controlled breath.
5. Gradually expand to five-note scales as you gain comfort with the exercise.

Visualize your lips as the smooth wheels of a bicycle, rolling effortlessly along the melody line, creating flow and connection in your singing.

Bonus Exercise 2: Vowel Articulation

This exercise focuses on clear vowel articulation while singing scales, improving clarity and enhancing the precision of vowel sounds.

Develops clear enunciation and vowel modification.

Method:

1. Sing the five primary vowels: “Ah, Eh, Ee, Oh, Oo” on a single pitch.
2. Focus on maintaining uniform sound quality.

Imagine each vowel as a sculpted masterpiece, finely crafted with precision and care, contributing to the beauty of your performance.

Exercise: Lip Buzz with Scales

This involves singing scales while maintaining a lip buzz, promoting breath control and even vocal tone.

Build consistency in tone production through regulated airflow and equalized vocal fold pressure.

Method:

1. Take a deep, supportive breath.
2. Begin with a lip trill at your lowest comfortable pitch.
3. Sing a simple five-note scale up and down (e.g., C-D-E-F-G-F-E-D-C).
4. Progress through your range in half-step increments.
5. Focus on maintaining a steady lip trill throughout the scale.

Visualize a balloon gradually inflating and deflating with each note, reminding yourself of the breath’s role in controlling your voice.

Next steps, going beyond vocal warm ups

Each of these vocal warm-ups serves a vital role in preparing your voice for performance. By understanding the underlying mechanics and intentions behind each exercise, you can work smarter and more effectively towards your vocal goals.

Regular practice, combined with a mindful approach to technique, can significantly enhance your vocal capabilities, leading to confidence and versatility in your singing journey. As you integrate these practices into your routine, you’ll develop a deeper connection with your instrument, unlocking new possibilities and strengths in your vocal performance.

Ask your instructor, even in one of your next voice lessons, about which of these warm ups they suggest specifically for you.