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Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
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SwallowingDisorders(Dysphagia) impressionwiththeirvoice.Allowapproximately20minutestoperforma
completewarmup.Ideally,thesewarmupsshouldbeperformedleisurely,but Address
NeurologicalVoiceDisorders withgoodmentalfocusandattentiontodetail.Makesureyouarewell NewYorkEyeandEarInfirmaryof
Program MountSinai
hydrateddrinklotsofwaterbeforeandduringyourwarmupexercises.Pay
VoiceTherapy attentiontoyourposturewhileyoudotheseexercises.Good(butrelaxed) 310East14thStreet
VoiceTherapyFAQs postureisimportantforfullandeasyrangeofmotionofthemusclesandfull NorthBuilding,6thFloor
breathsupport. NewYork,NY10003
VoiceTherapyTechniques
VoiceTherapyGoals
Whatisthepurposeofvocalwarmups?
Address
VocalSelfAwareness Therearemanybeliefsandaccepted"truth'aboutvocalwarmups,butvery
TheMountSinaiHospital
littlescientificdatatosupportorrefutethesebeliefs.Whatwe"know"about
VocalWarmUps 5East98thStreet,8thFloor
vocalwarmupsisreallybaseduponcollectivepersonalexperienceofmany
NewYork,NY10029
VocalHygiene singers,singingteachers,voicetherapists,voicescientists,athletes,athletic
coaches,sportsphysiologists,andstudents.Warmingupthebodyisusedin
VoicePresentationSkills
athleticsaswellasartisticperformances.Somewhatsurprisingly,thereisnota
Address
IndividualsatRiskforVoice lotofresearchinsportsphysiologytodescribetheeffectsofwarmups.The
Disorders MountSinaiBethIsrael
voiceproductionsystemhassomeuniquecharacteristicsthatmakeit
10UnionSquareE,Ste4J
RehabilitationafterHeadandNeck somewhatdifficulttotransferconclusionsfromstudiesinotherpartsofthe
NewYork,NY10003
Cancer bodytothelarynx.
WhatisaVoiceDisorder? Thewarmupsmayincreasebloodflowtomusclesandothertissues,thinout
thicksecretions,anddecreaseuseofexcessivemusculartension,butof Address
VocalExercisesandTips
coursewearenotpositive.Perhapstherearecertainpatternsofcoordinated ColumbusCirclePractice
Doctors motoractivitythataremostoptimalforperformingaspecificvocaltask,and 200West57thStreet,Suite1410
perhapsthevocalwarmupsallowusto"access"thosepatterns.Andagain, NewYork,NY10019
wearenotcertain.Soweareleft,atthemoment,withcarefullyconsidering
hypothesesandsubjectiveexperience.Withthatcaution,webelievethatwarm Viewalllocations
upsimprovetheperformanceoftheindividualmusclesofthethorax(chest),
larynxanduppervocaltract(throat,mouth),aswellasthecoordination
betweenthesubsystemsofvoiceproduction,namelythelungs,larynx,and FindaDoctor
upperairwayarticulators.Everywarmuproutinecontainsanumberof
differentexercisestofocusupondifferentmusclesanddifferentmovements. bySpecialty byName
Warmupsarehypothesizedtoimproveperformanceandtocontributetothe
preventionofinjury. First Name
Isitharmfultowarmupfortoolong? Last Name
Itisprobablymoreimportanttoknowwhysomeoneiswarmingupforlonger Find A Doctor
thanusual,ratherthantheactuallyeffectsofalengthywarmup.Therearetwo
warningsignsrelatedtowarmupsthatmayindicateavoiceproblem: RequestaReferral
Needingprogressivelylonger,moreextensivevocalwarmupperiods
inordertoachieveaclearvoice
Decreasingthedurationofthevocalwarmuproutineinorderto
"preserve"thevoicefearingthatafullvocalwarmupwilltirethe
voice.
Ifyouareexperiencingeitherofthesephenomenafrequentlyandyoudon't
haveacoldortheflu,youmaybeintheearlystagesofavoiceproblem.We
suggestthatyouscheduleavisittotheVoiceandSwallowingInstitutefor
evaluation.
Afewnotesaboutvocalwarmupsforperformers
Someartistsfindithelpfultoperformgentlewarmupseachmorning,in
additiontofullwarmupsbeforealesson,rehearsalorperformance.Thisis
especiallyimportantifyouareexperiencingvocalproblemsduetorefluxor
vocalfatigue.Someartistsperformtheseexercisesinasteamybathroomto
takeadvantageofthewarmmoisture.Manyartistsfindthatpracticingvocal
warmupsalsoprovidesamentalwarmup,increasingawarenessof
kinestheticfeedback.Don'tconfusevocalwarmupswithvocalizes.Performing
vocalizesistheprocessofacquiringaspecificvocalskill(orsetofvocalskills)
suchasarticulatoryprecision,smoothnessofregistertransition,vowel
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2017-8-17 Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
balancing,singingwideintervals,increasingaccuracyofvocalonsetwith
maintenanceoftone,andcorrectingtechnicalfaults.Vocalizesshouldbe
practicedafterthevoiceiswarmedup.Eachartistwilldevelophisorherown
routineofwarmups,whichmaybevarieddependinguponthenatureofthe
role.Ifyouareaperformercurrentlystudyingvocaltechnique,itislikelythat
yourteacherhashisorherownopinionsaboutpreferredwarmups.Some
advisestartingfairlylowinthepitchrangeandextendingupward,movingfrom
limitedrangeexercisestowiderranges.Otherteacherspreferstartingatthe
higherendoftherangeandmovingdownwardtoavoidcarryingthechest
voiceuptohighbeforebecomingfullywarmedup.Someteachersprefer
exercisesthatdonotexceedafifth,othersfavoranoctaveoratwelfth.These
areissuestodiscusswithyourteacherandexplorewithyourownvoice!
AwordaboutVocalWarmDowns
Manyprofessionalvoiceusersroutinelyusevocalwarmdownsafter
rehearsalsandperformances.Thoughnotascommonlyusedaswarmups,
someperformersfindithelpfultoperformashortroutineofgentlevocalizing,
suchasrelaxedhumming,massageoftheneck,throat,andlowerface,easily
"cooing"the/u/vowel(asincoo).Itmaybethatwarmdownshelprelease
someofexcessivemuscletensionthatmayaccumulateduringrehearsalor
performance,especiallyvocallydemandingroles.Someperformerswhosing
primarilyinaheavy"chest"register,or"belt",findthatitishelpfultowarm
downthevoicebysinginglightlyina"head"(falsetto)voice.Aswithwarmups,
thereisnoscientificdatatosupportorrefutetheutilityofwarmdowns.The
analogytoathletesisused,inwhichmusclecrampingandstraincanoccur
afterdemandingactivitiesifthemusclesarenotstretchedinacooldown
routine.While"cramping"ofthelaryngealandoralmuscleshasrarelybeen
observedinhealthyindividuals,certainlyitmaybehelpfulforperformersto
disengagefromdemandingvocalperformancesbyperformingwarmdown
exercises.
Anoteforindividualswithinjuredvoices
Ifyouhaveavoicedisorder,vocalwarmupsmaybeanimportantpartofyour
voicetherapyprogram.Althoughwehavenoproofthatvocalwarmupsare
helpfulincasesofvocalfoldandvoicedisorders,wethinkthat,inadditionto
thebenefitsexplainedabove,theymayhelpinotherwaystoo,byrefocusing
thepatientonhealthyvoiceusepatterns,andrelaxingthemusclestoprevent
useofexcessivemusclecontractionDiscusswarmupswithyourvoicecare
teambeforeinitiatingaregularwarmupprogram.
WholeBodyWarmUps
Professionalvoiceuserssingers,actors,radiopersonalities,andother
performershaveknownforalongtimethatahealthyandbeautifulvoice
requiresexcellentwholebodypositioning.Goodpostureisanimportant
component,butproperalignmentandbalanced,smoothmovementarealso
essentialforgoodvocalperformance.Nobodystandsstillasastatuewhen
theyusetheirvoice,inroutineorinperformance.Fitnessworkouts,Hatha
yoga,AlexanderTechnique,Pilates,TaiChi,FeldenkraisMethodarejusta
fewofthemanydisciplinesthatcanbestudiedtoimprovewholebody
positioning.Fortheseriousvocalperformer,andforthevoicepatientworking
tohealandimprovethevoice,incorporatingwholebodywarmupsintothe
vocalwarmuproutinemaybehelpfultopreventanddecreaseexcessive
musculartensionandoptimizevocalquality.
Avoicespecialist*canhelpimproveyourwarmuproutine.He
orshecan:
1.Provideasuggestedoptimalorderofwarmups.Notallwarmup
exerciseshaveanequallevelofdifficultyofperformance.Itmaybebest
toproceedfromeasiertoharderexercises.
2.Provideabroadrangeofwarmups.Differentwarmupexercisesfocus
upondifferentcomponentsofthevoiceproductionsystem.Itmaybebest
toincorporateexercisesintoyourroutinethatfocusondifferentareasof
thevocaltractandvocaltechnique.
3.Tailorasetofroutinesforyourparticularneeds.Aswithanytypeof
exercise,youmaybenefitfromfocusinguponspecificareasofthevocal
tractorvocaltechniqueforyourpersonalneeds.
4.Providefeedbackondoingitcorrectly.Readingaboutexercisesand
doingthemcorrectlycanbetwoverydifferentthings!Asmalladjustment
invoiceorbodypositioncanmakeacriticaldifferenceinhowmuch
benefityoureceivefromaparticularwarmupexercise.Anddoingthem
wrongcansometimesbeharmfultoyourvoice.
*Voicespecialistcanrefertodifferentprofessionals,dependinguponyour
specificneeds.Theseincludethevoicetherapist(statelicensedspeech
languagepathologistwithexpertiseinvoicetherapy),singingteacher,choir
director,orvoicecoach.
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2017-8-17 Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
Isthereoneidealsetofvocalwarmups?
thereisnosinglecorrectwaytospeakorsing.Sometimes,awarmuproutine
canbecometraditionalitisusedbysomanyvoiceprofessionalsthatit
becomesastandard.Ifitworks,great.Ifnot,don'tuseit.Novocalwarmup
routineissacred!Everyonehastheirfavoritesetofwarmupsandjustlikeany
exercise,there'sacertainamountofpersonalpreferencetodoingwarmups.
Somewarmupexercisesmayworkbetterforyouthanothers.Someofthe
warmupsrequiremorevocalskillandexperiencethanothers.Ingeneral,
warmupsprogressfromgentlesoundproductioninthemiddleofthepitchand
dynamicrange,andslowlyprogresstowardstheextremes.Aswithallskilled
routines,thesearebestlearnedundertheguidanceofateacher.Workingwith
ateacherorvoicetherapistprovidesthebestfeedbacktomakesureyouare
gettingthemostoutofthesewarmups.Therearemany(strong!)opinions
aboutwhichwarmupexercisesarebetterthanothers,andtheorderinwhich
theyshouldbeperformedanothergoodreasontoobtainguidancefroma
voiceprofessionaltodevelopone'sownpersonalizedsetofvocalwarmup
routines!Lookthroughthesewarmupexercises.Allarecommonroutinesthat
manypeopleuseinonevariationoranother.Exploresomeofthemandseeif
theyarerightforyou.Forallofthesewarmups,sitorstandinarelaxedand
balancedposition,moistenyourmouthandlipswithafewsipsofwaterand
inhaleslowlyonayawnorthroughdeepbutrelaxedinhalationthroughyour
nose.Keepyourshoulderslowandrelaxed.
YawnSigh
Inhaleslowlyonayawn.Feeltheairinthebackofyourthroat.Keep
yourjawhangingrelaxedandyourtonguerelaxedonthefloorof
yourmouth.Makesureyourshouldersarelowandrelaxed.
Exhaleslowly.Keepyourheadandshouldersstillbutrelaxed,not
stiff.
Repeattheinhaledyawnvocalizeasyouexhale.Repeatagain
andvarythepitchasyouvocalize.
Repeatagain,andcountfrom1to5asyouexhale,varyingthepitch
asyoucount.
UsingtheHMMMMMMM
Produceagentlehmmmmonanexhalationatapitchthatis
comfortablypositionedinthelowerrange.Repeatandchangethe
hmmtoahhhhalfwaythroughtheexhaledbreath.Trytochange
nothingbuttheopeningofthemouth.Maintainthesamefacialbuzz
withtheahhthatwasachievedwiththehmmm.
Experimentwiththepitch.Producewhilesweepingthepitchfrom
hightolowandthenlowtohigh.
StrawVocalizing
Afterinhalingslowlyonayawn,exhalebyblowingthroughastraw
gently
Repeattheinhaledyawn(notthroughthestraw!)andvocalizeas
youblowoutthroughthestraw.
Repeatagain,andvarythepitchasyouvocalizethroughthestraw.
WorkingtheBreathSupportSystemwithHUH!
Afteraslowdeepinhalation,expelsharplybycontractingthe
abdominalmuscleshardwithaloudHUH!Thelarynxandthroat
shouldstayrelaxedandopen.Thisisadifficultexerciseand
excellentfocusmustbemaintainedonseparatingthecontractionsof
theabdominalswiththemaintenanceofrelaxedupperairway
Asyouimproveyourabilitytoperformthiscorrectly,increasethe
speedandrepetitionsoftheexpelledHUH!
LipBuzzing
Putyoulipslooselytogetherandexhalebyvibratingyourlipslikea
motorboat.
Makesuretokeepyourtonguerelaxedasyouexhale.
Repeattheinhaledyawn,andvocalizeasyoutrillyourlips.
Repeatagain,andsweepupinpitchthenbackdown.Ifthisbegins
totickleyourlipsandnose,thenyouredoingitcorrectly.
LowFlowHAHAHA
Whilemonitoringyourposturetomaintaincorrectpositionandlow,
relaxedshoulder,inhaleslowlyanddeeply(butbecarefulNOTto
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2017-8-17 Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
lockyourshouldersatthetopoftheinhalation).
Ontheexhaledbreath,repeatHAHAHAslowly.Thereshouldbe
littleexpelledairwitheachHA.Placeyourpalminfrontofyourlips
tomonitortheairflow.Youshouldnotfeelmuchofabreeze!
Experimentwithvaryingthepitchasyourepeattheexercise.
TongueTrills
Lightlyplaceyourtonguetipbehindyourupperteethandexhale
whilevibratingyourtonguetipinatrill.
Repeattheinhaledyawn,andvocalizeasyoutrillyourtongue.
Repeatagain,andvarythepitchasyoutrill.
LooseningtheJaw
Monitoryourposturetomaintaineasybalanceandlow,relaxed
shoulders,readyforfulllungexpansion.
Placeyourpalmsonthesidesofyourfaceandslowlymassagethe
jawandcheekmuscleswithslowsmallcircularmotions.
Continuetomassageandnowlowerandraiseyourjaw.
Addsoundmamamamamammawithaverylightlipcontactfor
them.
Changetowawawawawawithverylightliproundforaslightly
distortedw.
TwoOctavePitchGlide
Inhaleslowlyonayawn.Keepyourshoulderslowandrelaxed.
Vocalizegentlyandmoderatelysoftlyusingtheeevowelfrom
moderatelyhighchestvoicetolowchestvoice,andthenfromhead
voicedownthroughchest.
Repeatafewtimesandthenreversedirection,goingfromchestto
head.
Repeatusingothervowels.
TheLessacCall
Keepingyourjawloose,callHello,payingattentiontothefeelof
thesoundinyourheadandface.Changethewordtomoreof
Hlloooooo.Placethebackofyourhandafewinchesfromyour
mouthtofeeltheairflow.Youshouldnotfeelmuchairflowingpast
yourhand.
Donottrytocontrolthepitch.Donotforcethebreathtocomeout.
Experimentwithchangingthepitchhigherorlowerasyourepeatthe
exercise.
Repeatusinghello,forme,today,bequiet,mynameis..
ArticulationFlexibilityandBuzz
RepeatMumulaMumulaMumulaMumulaMumulaMumulaMumula
Mumula
Focusuponthebuzzinthefrontoftheface.Asyourepeattheword,
changeyourfocusfirsttothefeelofyourlipstogether,thenaftera
fewrepetitions,focusuponyourtonguetouchingthefrontpalatefor
thelsound,thenafteranotherfewrepetitions,refocustotheeasy
jawopeningoftheendingahsound.
Keeptheairflowingeasyexperimentwithchangingthepitchhigher
orlowerasyourepeattheexercise
UsingTongueTwistersforArticulationFlexibility
Therearemanydifferenttonguetwistersthataregood(andfun)topractice.
Thegoalistoproducethesephraseswithoutextratensioninthearticulators
(tongue,lips,jaw)orthethroat.Allshouldbeproducedwithgoodpostureand
fullbreathsupport.Startslowly,butmakesureyouarenotusingexcessive
muscletension.Initially,donottrytocontrolyourpitch,butalsomakesureyou
donotgetlockedintoanarrowpitchrange.Asyouwarmup,experiment
withvaryingthepitch.Experimentwithdifferentfocuspointsconcentrating
forafewrepetitionsonthetongue,thenthelips,thenthemovementofthe
jaw.
PeterPiperpickedapeckofpickledpeppersUniqueNewYork
Thetipofthetongue,thelips,theteethReallyrural
Thebig,blackbackedbumblebeeRedletter,yellowletter
SallysellsseashellsbytheseashoreTeachingghoststosing
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2017-8-17 Vocal Warm Up Exercises - NYEE
ExtendingBreathSupportandControlwithacaveat!
Airflowmustbecontrolledwellbyusingtheinspiratoryandexpiratorymuscles
aswell
asthemusclesthatcontrolvalvingoftheairflowatthelevelofthevocalfolds.
Apopularexercisetoimprovethiscontrolisproductionofprogressivelylonger
phrasesononebreath.Whilethisisanexcellentwaytodevelopbreath
control,theexercisecaneasilybeperformedincorrectly,leadingtohabituation
ofimproperbreathmanagementtechnique.Acommonerrorinperforming
theseexercisesistolockthemusclesoftheabdomen,chestandthroatinan
efforttolimittheairflow.Whilethisstrategymayenablethespeakerto
increasethenumberofphrasesproducedononebreath,itwillmostcertainly
traintheuseofexcessivemusclecontractionandtensionthroughouttheentire
voiceproductionsystem.Theresultwillbeavoicewithpoorresonanceand
ultimately,vocalfatigueandimpairedvocalstaminaagoodreasontousea
singingteacher,voicecoachorvoicetherapisttohelpyoulearntoperform
vocalwarmupscorrectly!
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