These are my vocal warm-ups. They keep me in tune and ready for anything! You will experience both good and bad vocal days as a vocalist in the industry. You may experience vocal fatigue, hoarseness or difficulty finding your place on the recording session or gig. A daily warm-up routine can help you maintain consistency in your tone, no matter how long it takes to recover from gigs or long days in the studio. Your instrument is closely connected to your body. By knowing your body and what it needs, you can prepare your voice to manage a busy singer’s schedule.

This is the routine that I have found to be most effective for my body, and my voice. You are encouraged to create your own routine that suits your needs. To help you discover what works best for you, I recommend that you keep a mirror, a recording device and a pitch source such as a keyboard.

1. Each morning, when I wake up, my voice checks in to see how I feel. I do this by humming and sighing in my middle and upper registers. After a glass water and a gentle stretch I hum to check if I feel hoarse or congested. After I have assessed my voice in the morning, it is clear how I can continue my daily routine.
2. After you’ve assessed your voice, move in a way that feels good. After taking a few deep breathes, you can continue to do vocal slides on your favorite vowels. As a soprano I prefer to sing front closed vowels such as “oo” or “ee” in my upper register, and back open vowels such as “ah and “eh” in my middle and lower registers. Take your time to feel the sensation in your mask by choosing your favorite vowels according to your tone and style.
3. After the upper and lower registers have been connected, you can incorporate breathing and technical exercises that are focused on tone and placement. These sounds can be pronounced “gnaw/neeah” on a descending scale. Private lesson instructors can help you learn new warm-ups that are tailored to your needs.
4. Once your tone, sound, and breath are all connected, it is time to put the emphasis on agility. Arpeggios and pentatonic riffs are some examples of how you can focus on agility. These exercises can be tailored to your voice by working with a vocal coach or instructor.
5. Here comes the fun part. You can now practice your coordination by singing a familiar song and incorporating all the elements that you have learned. You will feel confident singing any song you like, whether it is a rock song, pop song, or jazz standard.