Warming up the voice plays the most important role for any professional vocalist, but also for any human being interested in having a healthy voice. Imagine that warming up the voice is a magical tuning of the vocal box to be able to do all kinds of vocal production and practice.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Body Tactics
Step 1. Maintain good posture
To have the best airflow and therefore the best sound, you will need to have good posture. Both for when you sit or stand. Imagine that a line passes over your head and across your back that supports you.
- If you are standing, keep your feet firmly on the ground at the height of your shoulders. Balance yourself on both legs. Keep your head up and your shoulders back. Every part of your body should be on the same line.
- If you are sitting, follow the same recommendations as for standing, but also keep your back away from the backrest. Sit towards the edge of the chair.
Step 2. Take a deep breath
Most have a bad habit of only using the upper part of the lungs, but this does not make you use your diaphragm and therefore does not let you use your full power.
If you are tense while you breathe, it will resonate in the muscles of your vocal folds. Breathe normally, but remember to keep your shoulders down and your chest relaxed. Focus on breathing lower and keeping your chest loose. If necessary, put a hand on your belly to remind yourself that this is the part that should move up and down, not your chest or shoulders. Hold an "s" (like a hiss) when you breathe out to control the amount of air you breathe out
Step 3. Release your jaw
The slightest tension will prevent you from having your best sound. The jaw is the instrument that your voice comes out of, so you'll have to take care of it, too.
Massage your cheekbones with the base of each hand. Massage yourself by applying pressure to your cheekbones and turning clockwise. Your jaw should open without even thinking about it and you will force it to relax. Do it several times
Step 4. Drink hot liquids
The ice water will close your vocal folds. We also recommend avoiding caffeine and nicotine. Both restrict your throat and will prevent you from giving your best sound.
It is best to drink warm or room temperature teas. You definitely want your vocal cords to be lubricated, but you shouldn't freeze or burn them! If you drink tea, make sure it is not boiling
Method 2 of 2: Before you sing
Step 1. Make scales
You wouldn't run 5 miles (8 km) without warming up, so don't expect your vocal box to be able to go up and down 3 octaves, either. Taking scales slowly warms up the voice and extends it to its upper and lower ranges. It is very easy to do, even alone.
If you breathe correctly and have a correct posture, it will be easier for you to reach those notes in your high register. Of course, be patient and work little by little. If you start too low or too high, you will actually damage your voice and force yourself to do things you really shouldn't
Step 2. Practice your lip and tongue vibrations
Another common method of heating aside from the scales is vibrations. These relax the lips and tongue, occupy the breath and eliminate tension.
- For lip vibes, just create a fart sound by slightly bringing your lips together. Experiment with different consonant sounds like "h" and "b". Slowly move your range up and down, but don't do anything awkward or difficult to hold.
- For the tongue vibrations, remember our Spanish "r". Put your tongue behind your upper teeth and exhale strongly. Hold the sound and the air, vary the pitch as you do the vibrations. We reiterate, do not do anything that your voice should not do. You will realize it.
Step 3. Add sirens and beeps
Some of the funniest voice warm-ups are sirens and beeps. When a siren sound is made (which should start from low to high), use your arm and move it in circular motions, depending on the pitch you make.
- The beeps focus on the sound and lengthen the vocal folds in a healthy and controlled way. Just imagine sucking on a very long noodle, it's that simple. When you exhale, make the beep sound and it will come out as a buzzing sound. Sustain the sound, go up and down at the ends of your range. Do it several times.
- Say some tongue twisters going up and down in pitch. This will prepare your voice for complex songs. For example: "Three sad tigers eat wheat in a wheat field" (repeat in do, re, mi).
Step 4. Hum
Humming helps cool down your voice. It is a technique that is often forgotten, although important. Warms up the voice without straining it like singing.
Release your jaw and relax your shoulders. Inhale normally and exhale humming. Go from high to low, like a half siren sighing. If you're tingling near your nose and lips, you've done a good job
Advice
- Drink a lot of water. Make sure it is at room temperature. Cold drinks tighten the vocal folds.
- Don't drink dairy or cold water. Dairy lines the throat and makes it difficult to breathe out. Do not drink dairy less than 24 hours before your singing performance. Cold water will upset your vocal cords.
- A voice that is heated recovers much faster from vocal abuse than one that does not. Relax after about 30 minutes.
- Make sure your tongue posture is correct when practicing vowels. As you go up and down in your register, your mouth should be open and closed as appropriate (to create the same vowel sound on each note). Your mouth will be open, because you will raise your tongue in front to keep the same space. If there is too much space, you will produce a dark and artificial sound.
- Make sure you know what you do. There are many singing schools, so find out which one is the best because of its history.
- Be confident and practice, but always be aware of your limits.