Warmups

Connect to your Body and Breath

Videos in this section provide functional practice for building the key foundational elements of healthful singing for longevity and comfort. Select 1-2 to provide a comfortable, connected baseline for every practice session.

Breath Support Overview

This warmup video provides context for the abstract goal of “breath support”. Listen to and respect your body; in singing, if it feels good and sounds good– you’re doing it right! Keep the idea of breath support in mind, understand the goal, but don’t let it take over your intrinsic sense of music-making and expressivity.

Breathing for Singing

This warmup video will help you build awareness around the sensations of good singing. Too often, we look at breathing only when a problem is evident in our singing. Instead, take a moment to explore and enjoy expansive breathing to build healthy habits before a weak foundation forces you to!

Building Your Voice

This warmup video provides context for how to manage building your vocal skills. By understanding the various layers of function that influence your sound, you can work smarter to make any vocal changes you desire!

Why Warming Up Matters

Rest assured that the benefits of warming up before singing through your song list far outweigh the minor nuisance it might be to create a routine for yourself.

Neck and Jaw Release

Settle into your practice session gently. Take a moment to release the tensions we all carry around with us to make your singing practice that much freer. This warmup video provides a gentle guided stretch with mindful breathing.

Exercises

Strengthen Vocal Coordination and Ear-Training

Sing these scales using the mindful connection to your breath and body. Always, sing only as high or as low as you are comfortable (For best results, do not strain past your comfort zone).

Tongue Flexibility

Release tongue tension for a freer sound throughout your range. This exercise requires three separate movements and works like a tongue-twister to loosen things up!

Get Primal

Have some fun exploring wild sounds! We’ll take our cue from nature in this energetic video to explore deeper core connection with our breath.

Hissing Breath Exercise

Learn about diaphragmatic motion and the sensations of releasing air. Experiment with different lengths of phrases and compare the feelings in your body.

Playful Legato

Remember making playful, spooky ghost sounds as a child– this connected breath release is a perfect model for smooth, legato singing that avoiding tension in the tongue root and throat.

Smooth Arpeggio

This exercise focuses on “legato” or smooth, connected singing to help blend your registers and create a reliable foundation for singing long, smooth phrases in ballads and other sustained songs.

Lip Buzz

This classic SOVT is a great tool to use any time your voice feels tired, sore, or like it’s having a little trouble getting warmed up because it is very therapeutic. Best of all, the back pressure created by SOVTs can help to even out any rough vocal breaks between registers!

SOVTs

Learn all about SOVTs; this type of exercise is useful for creating an even sound across the entire range, and is also very therapeutic for tired or sore voices.

Isolated Tongue

This exercises helps to overcome the strong tie between tongue and jaw for optimal mechanical efficiency. Watch out: this one is deceptively simple!

Primary Vowels

This exercise helps build awareness of vowel clarity, an important element to gain control over before attempting vowel modification for belting or other extreme singing.

Straw Singing

This classic SOVT is a simple way to rebalance and realign your vocal production, and a great tool to keep in your back pocket for warming up before a gig (it’s so quiet!). The back pressure created by SOVTs can help to even out any rough vocal breaks between registers!

Sliding Fifths

Build your connection to your breath and body– visualize one straight line and be sure to sing with your whole body, not just the shoulders and up! Lean into a feeling of ease and warmth, keeping even air pressure and volume throughout your range.

Practice Tracks

Personalize Your Vocal Workout

Know what your voice needs? These tracks provide piano only, without instruction. Choose a Vowel, a Volume Level, and a Phrasing Goal to make the exercise your own!

Major Triad

Major Triad Do-Mi-Sol-Mi-Do This pattern is great for use with the following videos: Lip Buzz Straw Singing

Sol Do Sol Mi Do

Sol-Do-Sol-Mi-Do A Major Triad Variation This pattern is great for use with the following videos: Lip Buzz Straw Singing

Do Re Mi Re Do

Do-Re-Mi-Re-Do Three-note Scale This pattern is great for use with the following videos: Lip Buzz Straw Singing

5-note Major

5-note Major Do Re Mi Fa Sol This pattern is used in the following videos: Primary Vowels Lip Buzz Straw Singing

Do Re Do Ti Do

De Re Do Ti Do Tuning Half Steps and Whole Steps This pattern is great for use with the following videos: Lip Buzz Straw Singing

1-3-2-4-3-5-4-2-1

Intervals 1-3-2-4-3-5-4-2-1 This pattern may be used with the following videos: Lip Buzz Straw Singing

5-3-4-2-1-3-5-3-1

Intervals 5-3-4-2-1-3-5-3-1 This pattern is a great variation for the following videos: Smooth Arpeggio Playful Legato

Major Triad x2

Major Triad x2 Do Mi Sol This pattern is used in the following videos: Bouncy to Smooth

Fifths and Octaves

Fifths and Octaves Interval Tuning This pattern is used in the following videos: Sliding 5ths+8ves

Perfect Fifths

Perfect Fifths Interval Tuning This pattern is used in the following videos: Sliding 5ths "Hey, Taxi!" Call Placement

Major Arpeggios

Major Arpeggios Do Mi Sol Do Sol Mi Do This pattern is used in the following exercises: Smooth Arpeggios Diction: "It Is a Very Nice Day"

Descending 5-note Scale

Descending 5-note Scale Sol Fa Mi Re Do This scale pattern is used in the following videos: Isolated Tongue

Voice Technique

Expand Vocal Agility

Technique takes basic singing to higher expressive levels. Once your voice is adequately limbered up (Don’t cut ahead! Sing 1-2 warmups and 1-2 exercises first), tackle the videos in this section to build your skills and overall control.

LEARNING LIBRARY

How to Use this Library