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Warm-ups

Warm-ups are the exercises that professional singers do before they begin to sing.

Why do warm-ups?

Just as athletes need to warm up their muscles before they exercise or enter competitions, to achieve their best performance, vocalists also need to warm up before they sing. Singing without warming up can cause muscles to go into shock. The muscles will become tight, which makes it difficult to deliver a good tone, and restricts the vocalist’s sound. Warming up not only loosens the muscles and produces a better sound, it also makes the vocalist more comfortable and relaxed.

Which muscles do you warm up?

You warm up the muscles that you need to use as a singer.

So it’s the muscles around the throat, the larynx, all the muscles in the neck, the front of the chest and in the shoulders and back.

Stretching loosens-up the muscles and promotes flexibility, preparing your voice box for vocal action. Try the ‘yawn’ as an example.

Example of a warm-up: the ‘yawn’

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Why do the ‘yawn’?

The first muscle that you exercise islocated at the back of the throat. This warm-up loosens and opens up the right muscles.

How to practise the ‘yawn’

It’s just like when you get up in the morning and you wake up from a beautiful sleep, and you yawn. Open the back of your throat and inhale. When you’ve inhaled to the max hold for 3 seconds, and then exhale gently with a soft sound in the form of a sigh. Repeat.

Variations on the ‘yawn’

Silent or with sound.

When to practise

Before you start entering other warm-ups like scales, arpeggios and any breathing exercises. I would suggest doing breathing exercises as a second exercise after yawning, and then going into exercises that produce sound. And always start quietly and gently, increasing your sound little by little.

How often to practise

You should always warm-up before you sing. I would suggest every day if you’re going to do intense exercises – it’s a little bit like aerobics. If you want to be a good singer you should always warm up before you sing anyway. Try doing this in the bath or shower as the steam and moisture is very soothing and voice-friendly. Make this part of your daily routine and enjoy it.

How long to practise for

Do your exercises/warm-ups for about half an hour – be as full bodied as you can – and open the back of your throat as much as you can.

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