10-Minute Singing Warm-Up

Liverpool Music Lessons

Emma DivaEssential Vocal Exercises for Any Singer

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned performer, warming up your voice is crucial to ensure vocal health and performance quality. A solid warm-up prepares your voice for the demands of singing, improving range, tone, and endurance while reducing the risk of strain.

Here’s a simple but effective 10-minute routine that will get your voice ready for action.

 

Why Warm Up?

Before we dive into the exercises, let’s talk about why warming up is important. Singing uses muscles just like any other physical activity. Without proper warm-up, you risk vocal fatigue, hoarseness, or even long-term damage to your vocal cords. A well-structured warm-up helps:

  • Increase blood flow to the vocal cords
  • Stretch and activate vocal muscles
  • Enhance breath control and lung capacity
  • Improve tone, resonance, and vocal range

 

Now, let’s get started!

You can use this backing track to sing your warmups with.

 

Minute 1: Breathing Exercise – Controlled Inhale and Exhale

Good singing starts with proper breath support, so let’s begin by focusing on your breathing.

  1. Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 counts, expanding your diaphragm (think of filling your belly with air).
  2. Hold your breath for 4 counts.
  3. Exhale slowly and steadily through your mouth for 8 counts, controlling the release of air.

Repeat this process for one minute. As you do this, focus on keeping your chest and shoulders still, allowing your diaphragm and lower lungs to do the work. This helps engage the breath support necessary for singing.

 

Minute 2-3: Lip Trills

Lip trills (or “lip bubbles”) are excellent for warming up the vocal folds without putting too much pressure on them. They also promote relaxed airflow and resonance.

  1. Relax your lips, place them loosely together, and blow air through them so they “buzz” or vibrate. It should sound like a motorboat.
  2. Start on a comfortable pitch and slide up and down your range, almost like a siren.

You can vary your pitch, sliding from low to high and back down. Do this for about two minutes, making sure to maintain consistent airflow. If the trills break off, focus on steady breath support from your diaphragm.

 

Minute 4-5: Humming

Humming is a gentle way to start activating the vocal cords, warming them up without straining.

  1. Start by humming a simple five-note scale (do-re-mi-fa-so) in a comfortable range.
  2. Hum on “mmmmm,” feeling the vibration in your lips and nasal passages.
  3. Begin at a lower pitch and work your way up, then back down.

Focus on resonance and keeping the sound smooth. Humming helps develop proper vocal placement and gets the voice resonating in the mask (the area around the nose and eyes).

 

Minute 6-7: Sirens

Sirens are another excellent way to stretch your vocal range in a gentle and natural way.

  1. Begin at a low pitch and slide up smoothly to the highest comfortable note.
  2. Glide back down in one continuous motion, similar to the sound of a siren or wailing police car.

This exercise helps to smoothly transition between chest voice and head voice, which is key for developing range and flexibility. Repeat this up-and-down slide for two minutes, focusing on smoothness rather than volume.

 

Minute 8-9: Vocalizing on Vowels

Vocalizing on pure vowel sounds helps to improve tone and resonance while balancing the vocal registers.

  1. Choose a vowel sound (start with “ah” or “ee”).
  2. Sing a five-note scale up and down on this vowel, starting at a comfortable pitch.
  3. Gradually move the scale higher, then work your way back down.

Vary the vowel sounds between “ah,” “ee,” “oh,” “oo,” and “eh” to stretch different parts of your vocal apparatus. Keep your tone consistent and avoid unnecessary tension in your jaw or throat.

 

Minute 10: Articulation Exercises

Tongue twisters and articulation exercises will help loosen up your mouth and ensure your diction is clear.

  1. Start with simple tongue twisters like “Red leather, yellow leather” or “Unique New York.”
  2. Say the phrases slowly at first, then speed them up while maintaining clarity and precision.
  3. You can also sing these tongue twisters on a single note to combine diction with vocalization.

Articulation exercises warm up the muscles in your mouth, lips, and tongue, which play a big role in how clearly you sing.

 

Bonus Tip: Hydration and Rest

Throughout your warm-up, make sure to sip water to keep your vocal cords hydrated. Avoid any caffeinated drinks before singing, as they can dry out your throat. If you’re feeling fatigued or strained during the warm-up, take a break or stop to avoid pushing your voice too far.

 

Final Thoughts

A solid warm-up routine is essential for any singer looking to improve their vocal performance and maintain long-term vocal health. This 10-minute warm-up is simple, efficient, and targets all the key elements of singing: breath support, range, flexibility, resonance, and articulation. Whether you’re rehearsing, performing, or just practicing at home, take the time to prepare your voice properly, and you’ll see the benefits in no time!

Happy singing! 🎶