How to Do Vocal Warm Ups

Good posture is essential to practicing proper vocal technique.

Warming up vocally before singing is much like stretching before exercising. The vocal cords and muscles that you use while singing are more likely to perform better and less likely to get injured if you warm up first. If you do vocal warm ups regularly and correctly, you are able to sing with a fuller tone and a larger range. These simple warm ups only take a few minutes of your time.

Instructions

1. Stand straight and tall with your facial and neck muscles relaxed. Using good form when warming up vocally is essential to reaping the maximum benefits from your warm up.

2. Hum a "mmmm" sound softly as you gently massage your mouth, jaw and cheeks to release any remaining tension.

3. Sing through the open vowel sounds starting with a note that is comfortable for you to sing, not too low and not too high. The open vowel sounds are "ee, ay, ah, oh, oo." Attach an extended consonant to the front of the vowels, such as "mmee, mmay, mmah, mmoh, mmoo." Sing the five sounds on the same note. Move your pitch up by a half step or whole step and repeat the five sounds. Continue doing this for about 10 to 12 notes within a comfortable vocal range.

4. Sing the word, "Ohio" using the pitches middle C ("Ohh"), high C("hii"), Bb("ii"), A("ii"), G("ii") and F("ohhh"). Repeat this exercise, beginning at various pitches and using the same pattern of intervals, an octave, a flat seventh, a sixth, a fifth and a fourth.

5. Sing quickly, "Mama made me eat my M&Ms" on the same pitch to warm up your lips. Repeat this phrase on various pitches of the scale.

References

• Music Kit: Some Basic Tips for Vocal Health
• Star Singing Lessons: Vocal Warm Up Exercises

Resources

• Virtual Keyboard