Reading My Way Around the World

Wednesday 17 May 2017

Singing Tips: an easy and essential warm up exercise












Warming Up


Why do we bother to warm up our voices?  We don't need to warm up when we are talking... No, but we all sound a bit croaky in the mornings, especially as we get older, and it takes a while for me anyway to be talking full throttle as it were.  

Like runners getting ready to go out for a jog, it pays to do a little bit of stretching to get the muscles gently moving.  

Here's my favourite ...

Lip Trills 

It sounds comical - like blowing a raspberry -  don't try doing it if you're laughing :)   And it looks even worse, believe me.   We never get through more than 3 or 4 of them in choir warm ups.   

It has the effect of letting your vocal chords loosen, not shaping a word.   If you're a teacher, or if your voice is a bit tired, a minute or two of doing this will make your voice feel fresher again.  

So, here's a video of a Nashville vocal coach, Cari Cole, demonstrating how to do lip trills - she looks a lot prettier than I would do with the same thing - expensive camera and better lighting!! Ha!!


Let me know how you get on.

Joining in for the first time with Wednesday Around the World


9 comments:

  1. I gave it a try - just for fun. The dog was alarmed and the cat came up and patted me on the face .... I might just stick to waving the paint brush around - they don't mind that kind of warming up!!

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  2. hahahaha Well done for giving it a go Kate :) There's days I might give in to the paint brush instead lol

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    1. It's the cat patting you on the face that had me lol

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  3. Thanks for stopping by, it's always good to hear from you. There are two things I can't do and regret I can't: Sing and Dance. And I'm sorry for it, but I have still managed to have a happy life. I just wish I could be musical as well.

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    1. I bet you sing for yourself around the place Inger - and that's great to do.

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  4. I like warmups! We do some very silly ones at school!

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    1. I'd love to hear some of those Kezzie - kids are great at just going along with you.

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  5. bringing me back to my choir days. Mommy made me mash my m&M's! used to love the warm up as much as the singing.

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    1. I still do that one with my singing group Kelleyn - it always brings a smile to everyone's face :)

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