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VOCAL WARM
UP EXERCISES
| "Continuing vocal
efficiency can be promoted by maintaining a regular
practice schedule, by cultivating good speech habits,
by employing strategies to deal with the demands
of performance and by warming up before performances
(or any form of singing session)."1
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Singers who invest
time warming up their voice before they sing, will find that
after a few years their vocal stamina develops to a stage
where they rarely get a hoarse throat after singing.
Conversely, those
who haven't invested this time will probably experience vocal
fatigue such as a hoarse throat; sometimes after just one
heavy singing session, gig or rehearsal.
What is a "vocal warm up"?
A vocal warm up
is the process of warming up the muscles of the voice box
(larynx) in preparation for singing.
In the context of singing, it is done through a combination
of different singing exercises.
The
importance of vocal warm ups.
.
Singers need to strengthen the muscles of the larynx (voice
box) so that it is able to withstand the long haul of singing
and the physical demands placed on the voice.
.
Overextending the voice can cause short or long term vocal
damage due to the strain on the larynx muscles.
Just as warming
up before sporting activity is important to prevent over-extending
and damaging muscles, the same is true for singing.
How do we warm up the voice?
It is important
to think in terms of a structured warm up routine for your
voice rather than a series of random vocal exercises.
A warm up routine
(see below) should be done before each singing session. A
session can be a singing lesson, a singing practice at home,
a gig, performance, concert, audition or any rehearsal involving
singing.
Establishing
a warm up routine.
Callaghan2
states that undertaking an established warm up routine before
performance offers psychological as well as physical security
to the singer.
Each individual's
voice type (bass, tenor, soprano etc) will determine the amount
of time spent on warming up the voice.
A routine of 15
- 20 minutes is recommended depending on the individual's
needs and voice type.
As previously indicated,
any warm up routine needs to be tailored to the individual
voice.
As a guide, a good routine should
include a gentle beginning, slowly extending the range to
its upper and lower limits. Include some exercises which access
the entire range of pitch and vocal quality. Callaghan3
recommends completing the warm up with some loud singing.
LHSS warming up exercises:
1/ we start with
10 minutes of gentle 'sirening' in the singer's comfortable
range; not too loud or forcing too much air past the vocal
folds. This exercise is an excellent way to start because
it is very gentle on the vocal folds.
2/ gently extend
this 'sirening' exercise to the upper and lower ranges of
the voice.
3/ using the 'æ'
sound (as in 'mat') sing exercises using small intervals
of a 2nd or 3rd in the singer's comfortable range.
4/ once the singer's
comfortable range has been warmed-up, they can carefully extend
the exercises to the upper and lower ranges of the voice and
move to more complicated interval patterns.
For maximum voice
quality (and to avoid bad habits) it is imperative that correct
technique be applied at all times when singing, including
warm up exercises; this is especially the case for beginners.
Vocal
fatigue (avoid over doing warm ups)
The singer must
be aware of their vocal limits and not overdo warm ups, or
singing in general, for long periods to the point of vocal
fatigue.
Fatigue is a cause
of weariness; labour; exertion.4
Callaghan5
quotes Titze (1983a) by saying "vocal fatigue is linked
to inefficient use of the mechanism, to muscular fatigue,
and to dehydration. Fatigue may result when the mechanism
is asked to perform a task requiring unaccustomed muscle use.
Some muscle fatigue can be expected to occur after prolonged
periods of phonation, regardless of how well the muscles are
developed."
Ultimately, the
singer will understand his/her own voice and will get to know
for themselves at what point their voice is warmed-up enough
to start singing. The teacher can assist in this process.
Dealing
with the temptation to skip the warm up routine.
Singers are often
tempted to bypass their vocal warm up routine and to get straight
into singing. This is a mistake.
Major factors which
tempt singers to skip their warm up routine include:
- undervaluing its importance
- not knowing how to warm up
- not allowing time to warm up
- finding a suitable location
It is crucial to
understand that
your voice relies
on warming up for its longevity, range and quality. You also
gain the psychological security of knowing your voice will
deliver the goods.
Do you want your
voice to last for 20 years?
Do you want to hit
the high notes you dread?
Do you want to be
considered reliable and get the roles?
Do you want to last
the gigs night after night without your voice tiring?
The answer is simple,
effective and timeless with no shortcuts:
Vocal
Cooldown
It is worth mentioning
the cooldown process which should be exercised after extensive
singing.
Callaghan6,
says "Cooling down has long been advocated after extended
athletic effort. While it is rarely mentioned in the vocal
literature, it would seem a sensible procedure after extended
vocal effort."
Thurman and Welch7
quote Saxon and Schneider by recommending that a vocal cooldown
be undertaken after extensive and/or vigorous voice use. A
cooldown begins after vigorous voice use and a reverse warm
up is performed. Cooldown helps prevent post-voice-use muscle
tightening.
Thurman and Welch further suggest
a less strenuous version of earlier more vigorous singing
will gradually reverse the warmup process. Gentle stretching
is recommended, perhaps using softer, downward sigh-glides
using a puppy-cry sound with the starting pitches gradually
lowering.
External hand massages
of the larynx and other neck muscles, and exercises that are
performed near the beginning of the warm up are also appropriate.
What
to do now?
You can:
- establish a regular warm up routine. We recommend you
consult a singing teacher to help you.
- make sure you set aside time to warm up before every singing
session
A series of warm
ups on a cassette tape can be a useful tool, especially for
those who are not yet used to the warm up regime.
You can do these
exercises at home during the day or in the car on the way
to work, to choir, to the singing lesson or gig. When at the
venue find a vacant room, bathroom or car. or set aside time
to warm-up as a group.
At our singing Studio
we have recording facilities whereby we tape the lessons.
Upon request we can also record a 'warm up exercise programme'.
Footnotes
1.
Miller, Richard (1990). Structure Of Singing System and Art
in Vocal Technique, New York: Schirmer Books,
2.
Callaghan, Jean PhD (2000). Singing and Voice Science. San
Diego, California: Singular Publishing Group, p105.
3.
ibid, p105.
4.
Delbridge, A., Bernard, J R L, eds. (1988). The Macquarie
Concise Dictionary, Australia, New South Wales: The Macquarie
Library, p342.
5.
Callaghan, Jean PhD (2000). Singing and Voice Science. San
Diego, California: Singular Publishing Group, p102.
6.
ibid, p103.
7.
Thurman, Leon., Welch, Graham, eds. (2000). Body & Voice
Foundations of Voice Education, Minnesota, USA: The VoiceCare
Network, pp 502-503.
Bibliography
Callaghan,
Jean PhD (2000). Singing and Voice Science. San Diego, California:
Singular Publishing Group.
Estill,
Jo (1997). Compulsory Figures for Voice: A user's Guide to
Voice Quality Six Basic Voice Qualities, Level Two, Santa
Rosa, California: Estill Voice Training Systems.
Miller,
Richard (1990). Structure Of Singing System and Art in Vocal
Technique, New York: Schirmer Books.
Oates,
Jenni (2003). What Is Vocal Fatigue. Voiceprint, 23, April
2002 - May 2003, pp1-2.
Thurman,
Leon., Welch, Graham, eds. (2000). Bodymind & Voice:
Foundations of Voice Education, Minnesota,
USA: The VoiceCare Network.
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