subject: Seven Techniques To Warm Up Your Voice [print this page] Ask any professional athlete and they will stress the importance of a proper warm-up and stretching regime before the start of any strenuous workout. In their own way, singers are athletes, too vocal athletes. So before you start belting out those show tunes or rock out on a retro Pat Benatar song, you need to warm up your voice. Just as you ease into a hamstring stretch before a gym class, warming up your voice needs to be done in stages. Here are seven techniques to safely and thoroughly warm up your voice.
Relax. Tilt you head to the right while gently lowering your left shoulder. Then tilt your head left while pushing down the right shoulder. Open your mouth and stick your tongue out as far as it will go. Shrug your shoulders, hold then slowly release. Repeat several times.
Get your diaphragm prepared. The diaphragm is located under the lungs and causes them to inflate. To warm up your diaphragm, take some deep breaths and slowly exhale. Concentrate on letting your stomach expand and contract.
Pay attention to your breathing. Take a deep breath, hold it, then exhale in short bursts. Repeat several times. Remember to be mindful of your posture.
Hum. Dont go for any extreme stay midrange to start and keep the volume moderate. Dont hum melodies; hum sounds and do it with your mouth closed.
Perform vocal exercises. Make vowels sounds such as ahhh, ooooh exaggerating your mouth movement.
Do scales. First go slowly, holding each note as long as you can. Then sing up and down a scale, gradually increasing in volume.
Vibrate your lips. Purse your lips and make a motorboat sound so that your lips vibrate.
Singing is an expression of your body so pamper your voice by getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising and staying hydrated. If you take care of yourself, you voice will stay strong and healthy, too.
