How to Run a Warm-up Session Before a Musical
A theater cast should warm-up extensively before performing in a musical. Just like when you exercise, before you perform you must warm-up to prevent damage to your muscles. Warm-ups also help bond the cast before the performance. Run an efficient and successful musical theater warm-up session by following these steps.
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Instructions
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Gather the cast. Tell everyone to follow your lead. As you perform the exercises repeat aloud what you are doing.
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Warm-up physically (see "How to Run a Warm-up Session Before a Play" in related eHows).
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Do breathing exercises. Breathe in slowly for five seconds. Hold your breath for five seconds. Breathe out slowly for five seconds. Repeat.
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Trill your lips. This is done by blowing air gently between your lips, making a "motor-boat" type of sound. Trill as long as you can before running out of breath. Take a deep breath and repeat.
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Perform a few tongue twisters. Encourage the cast to exaggerate their enunciation as they repeat the tongue twisters. Some favorites include: "I carried the married character over the barrier" and "red leather, yellow leather."
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Sing a string of round open vowel sounds up and down the scale. Start in your lower register and sing "Mah-May-Me-Moe-Moo" on the same note before moving up a half step. Repeat all the way up to the top of your register.
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Encourage the cast to continue to warming up vocally on their own until the musical starts. They can do this by quietly humming or singing to themselves.
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Tips & Warnings
Drink a lot of water before, during and after the performance. This will keep your throat and vocal folds moist. It is best to drink room temperature water during the show.
Don't drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages the day of the show. This is bad for your voice, will dry out your throat and dehydrate you.
