Having tension when singing is one of the most uncomfortable feelings for a singer. Have you found yourself trying to sing a high note but your neck and throat muscles get so tight that it becomes impossible to sing correctly afterwards? If this has happened to you, these warm-ups are just for you.
Singing is like working out: the more you do it, the better you become at it. Every person who practices a sport always makes sure to warm up their muscles before getting into action. The same thing applies to singing.
If you practice singing incorrectly, not only will you not improve, you'll end up hurting your singing muscles and set yourself back even further. This is why it is crucial to have a vocal coach or voice teacher to guide you through the process.
If you don't have a voice teacher, don't worry.
Here are 10 vocal warmups and exercises for you to try right at home!
#1 - Breathing exercise
Lay down on your back and place your hands on your diaphragm. Take a deep breath in while counting up to four seconds. Hold for four more seconds and then exhale while producing a "hissing" sound for fifteen seconds. Do this five times in a row. This is the easiest way to feel the expansion of the mid section of your body.
If you're doing this exercise while standing, keep in mind that as you inhale, your shoulders should stay down and relaxed while your diaphragm, ribcage and back expand just like a balloon.
Mind your posture
Your legs should be shoulder-width apart while your knees stay loose and unlocked. Your chest should be open and kept from collapsing too quickly as you exhale. Your head should feel relaxed, almost as if hanging from a string affixed to the ceiling. Your body should be relaxed and tension-free overall.
Photo Credits: SingDaptive
#2 - Body Stretches
Neck
- Slowly tilt your neck as far as possible to one side and then to the opposite side.
- Smoothly turn your head from one side to the other.
Shoulders
- Shrug your shoulders upwards and then let them fall back to position.
- Gently roll your shoulders forward in a circular motion five to ten times. Repeat this motion backwards.
Arms
- Inhale while reaching upwards with your arms until your hands meet above your head. Then exhale and bring your arms back down to standard position.
#3 - Big Sighs/Yawns
Yawning is an excellent warm up for your voice. Besides relaxing your vocal folds, yawning opens up more space in your mouth. This is important because the more space you have, the more leverage your voice will have to resonate.
While standing in a nice and balanced posture, yawn as wide as you can. Don't worry about making sounds or looking ugly... the wider the better! Just make sure that your head is relaxed and aligned with your shoulders. Remember, you don't want to create undesired tension!
Tip #4 - Humming
Did you know that humming provoques a healthy vibration of the vocal folds?
Choose a comfortable note (not too high or too low) and hum for five seconds. Repeat this several times with the aim to always feel the buzzing on your lips. Remember that this should be done effortlessly; there's no need to physically overdo it.
Tip #5 - Straw Exercises
Lastly, try the "straw" or SOVT exercises (semi occluded vocal tract exercises)
Did you know that blowing through a straw helps with breath control, voice resonance, and relaxation?
Choose a straw of any size although I prefer cocktail or coffee straws. Their smaller diameters produce more resistance and back pressure, perfect for the training of your voice.
You can try this exercise right before or right after a session of singing. Fill up a glass halfway with water and place the straw in the liquid. Begin by blowing air into the straw to create bubbles on the surface of the water. Your goal is to make bubbles all of the same size.
To add a little bit more difficulty, make an "ooo" sound while blowing through the straw. Go from your lowest note to your highest. Do your best to keep the water from spilling out.
This warm up is also effective as a warm down.
#6 - Extra Tip After Singing | Warm Down
Laryngeal Massage or Voice-box Massage
Laryngeal massage is not only used during singing lessons by voice teachers, but by voice therapists and speech language pathologists as well. This exercise helps reduce accumulated tension in your neck area and larynx.
Gently hold your larynx or Adam's apple and wiggle side to side. This will help release accumulated tension.
Now You're Ready To Sing!
During warm-ups, you can correct many things before singing and most importantly, you're preparing your muscles to relax, which will make singing a more pleasant activity overall.
Never underestimate the power of warming up! Every athlete needs it before they play. Singers are the same too!
Let me know in the comments which vocal warm-ups you enjoy doing!
Read this post about why you sing and speak the way you do.
Find straws for SOVT exercises here.
Subscribe to our blog to see more posts like this!
Comments