Vocal warm ups and exercises are key when you’re learning how to sing! Just like athletes stretch out their body and muscles before a big game, vocalists must warm up their singing voice before a performance or rehearsal. All it takes is 10 minutes with these five simple vocal warm ups to maintain a healthy voice. These vocal exercises will work for both beginning and advanced vocalists. Add them to your daily routine and you’ll be a pro at singing your favorite songs in no time!
1.Lip Buzz
To do this vocal warm up, simply vibrate your lips together without pitch, at first. This will help build up your breath support and stamina while singing.
Next, try adding a pitch to your lip buzz, and hold it anywhere from 3-5 seconds. Pitch can go up, down, or stay on one note. There should be a funny, tickling sensation in your nose and other resonators (the forehead, cheeks, etc.). If you do not feel this, try harder!
2. Solfege
We all should be familiar with “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do” from the The Sound of Music. Starting on middle C, sing through the solfege up and down the scale, taking your time and really listening to each pitch.
See if you can try this vocal warm up without a piano (acapella), as this will help with ear training! Practicing solfege is not only a great tool for your ears, but it will also help you with sight reading.
3. “Mah-May-Me-Mo-Moo”
This is another one of our favorite vocal warm ups that will help you sing better. Remaining on one note (monotone), sing “mah-may-me-mo-moo” nice and slow, really pronouncing the Ms. Start low, perhaps at A3, and sing up the scale to an octave above. Take your time and see if you can sing this exercise all in one breath. While you don’t have to sing the warm up well, focus on your intonation to create the best vocal sound. Don’t push – this exercise should be nice and relaxed.