How Long Should You Warm Up Before Singing?
Doing vocal warmups is as vital before vocal performance as it is to an athlete before a game. How long should you do it?
... As long as it takes to be warmed up!
That means if you're singing regularly and in good physical and vocal shape, you should be great with about 10 minutes or even less of some wise vocal exercises (and yes, you should still do it). If however you are NOT in top shape or are waking up a little thick-corded, you could take as much as 30 to 45 minutes to be completely conditioned for singing.
Warm up smart... not hard. That means take it easy at first and don't push yourself til you've worked your cords a bit, then get more strenuous as your vocal cords tell you that they're ready. If you vocalize too hard at first you will experience a tighten up, not a warmup.
Also, please remember that when it comes to vocal exercise, form is everything!! If you do a great exercise with wrong form, it can actually hurt you instead of help.
OK... all ready? start with the bubble or trill..... hopefully you know the rest:)
Labels: Judy Rodman, vocal exercises, vocal warmups
posted by Unknown
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7:14 AM
5 Comments :
At September 23, 2011 at 8:32 PM ,
Ross said...
Great post as always, Judy!
I'm trying to get back into a routine of doing my vocal warmups whether or not I'm going to be singing that day. It can be difficult finding the motivation if you don't have something you're building up to and/or don't have a lot of time anyway!
Any tips to keep motivated?
At September 27, 2011 at 7:17 PM ,
Unknown said...
Ross... thank you so much for your kind feedback. You're right, it's hard to make yourself warm up without a gig coming up. Don't worry... just make sure you give yourself time (days) to warmup when you do get an upcoming singing opportunity. And in the meantime,it's really easy to warm up and sing in the car a couple times a week at least... do it for the love of feeling and hearing your own voice!
At November 6, 2011 at 12:22 PM ,
site said...
Hi Judy,
thanks for all the help you are giving all the singers out there! I just have a question- each time im warming up or beginning to sing, after like 10 minutes, i get a scratchy throat that goes away after some time. or if i talk too loud sometimes. Im wondering if I have injured my cords or is it to do with breathing?
At November 8, 2011 at 1:56 AM ,
Unknown said...
site...
If warming up or talking hurts your throat, you are not doing the exercises or speaking properly. You're probably pushing your voice, or sounding your voice from a tight throat. So yes, it could be breathing, tight throat or even the way you are forming the syllables- and yes, it could be some degree of vocal strain or damage. It sounds like you need to touch base with a vocal coach. Good luck with everything!
At November 9, 2011 at 12:09 PM ,
site said...
thanks Judy. will check with a vocal coach!
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