subject: Why Should You Go For Vocal Warm Up Exercises? [print this page] Why Should You Go For Vocal Warm Up Exercises?
It is imperative for beginners as well as accomplished singers to incorporate vocal warm up exercises in their daily singing routine. Most singers and instructors are well aware of the benefits associated with vocal warm up exercises such as improvement in voice strength and quality and the removal of muscle tension. For the warm up exercises to be effective they should be done for at least 20 minutes. Before you start the warm up exercises you should hydrate and moisturize the vocal chords by drinking ample of water.
Vocal warm up exercises help to condition the voice producing organs by augmenting the blood flow to them. It is important to relax yourself mentally and physically before starting the warm up exercises. Follow the relaxation exercises with techniques that increase breath control, improve pitch range and help in increasing vocal strength. It is not unusual to start enjoying certain warm up exercises and form a routine incorporating them.
However in the beginning it is important for you to discuss the warm up exercises with your teacher and ask him/her to chalk out a plan for you. While there isn't an ideal set of warm up exercises some will work better for you than the others. As a thumb rule, warm up exercises should progress gradually from the mid ranges to the extremes. There are many books and online programs that provide a wealth of information on the topic. However, if you can, seek help from a voice professional to develop your own personalized set of vocal warm up exercises.
Below is a list of popular exercises:
Yawning Sighing: Inhale slowly on a yawn keeping your jaw, tongue and shoulders relaxed and exhale out vocally.
The Hmmm Exercise: Make the hmmm sound at a comfortable pitch half way through the exhaled breath change the sound to aaahh.
The Straw Technique: You should start by inhaling as you yawn but purse your lips together to breathe out through the straw.
The 'huh' exhalation: To begin with, breathe in deeply feeling your chest and diaphragm expand to the maximum capacity and then exhale sharply by clenching the abdominal muscles and breathing out with an audible 'huh' sound.
Vowel Sounds: A good exercise to relax the jaw and to improve pitch range is to sing various combinations of consonant and vowel sounds at different scales ranging from low to high and vice versa.
Tongue Twisters: Another way is to use common tongue twisters like 'she sells sea shells on the sea shore'. The aim while performing this exercise should be to avoid tension in the articulators ( tongue, palate, lip and throat). You can then try to experiment with different pitch levels.
Listed below are a few of the benefits associated with warm up exercises:
*Helps to improve stamina
*Improves the vocal range
*Is important for mental and physical well being
*Increases voice control
*Improves Breath control
*Helps to prepare articulators for singing to avoid damage
*Vocal Strength is augmented
There is no disputing the fact that vocal warm up exercises are necessary to keep your voice and speech organs in the best condition.
