Vocal Warm-Up Techniques

Introduction

• Vocal activities are important for voice protection and warming up.
• A five-step process can enhance sound quality before critical speeches or meetings.

Step 1: Relaxing the Tongue

• Tension often held in the jaw and tongue.
• Exercise:
  • Sing "Happy Birthday":
    • Sing once to feel the natural tension.
    • Stick out your tongue, grab it, and sing again.
    • Notice the relaxation in the tongue.
• Outcome:
  • Tongue feels more relaxed, improving vocal quality.

Step 2: Lip Trills with Tongue Out

• Helps relax the tongue further.
• Exercise:
  • Stick out your tongue and perform lip trills.
  • Can push cheeks together to assist.
  • Sing "Happy Birthday" tune with trills.
• Outcome:
  • Mouth feels more relaxed, providing better access for sound creation.

Step 3: Hissing for Breath Control

• Enhances breath control to prevent overly breathy speech.
• Exercise:
  • Hiss for 10 seconds, breathe in for 4 seconds.
  • Repeat cycle for 2-3 minutes.
• Outcome:
  • Prepares breathing apparatus, controls air release for optimal speech.

Step 4: V Sound Up and Down the Scale

• Focus on placing sound at the front of the mouth.
• Exercise:
  • Make a "v" sound, moving up and down the musical scale.
  • Perform multiple cycles.
• Outcome:
  • Improves vocal cord health, enhances articulators.
  • Encourages sound production at the mouth's front, indicated by vibrating lips.

Step 5: Lip Trills with Favorite Song

• Final warm-up using a favorite song.
• Exercise:
  • Perform lip trills to a favorite song (e.g., "Fly Me to the Moon").
• Outcome:
  • Provides enjoyable and effective warm-up.

Conclusion

• These exercises serve as a routine similar to athletes' physical warm-ups.
• Incorporating these practices can significantly improve vocal performance.