Are Vocal Warm-ups Really Necessary?

Are Vocal Warm-ups Really Necessary?
You might thing that vocal warm-ups are a waste of time.
However, if you've ever heard someone sing and thought to
yourself "They sound like an angel", you might be
interested to know that, in order to sound like that, even
the most gifted singers have to go through very down to
earth procedures to keep their voice in top form. It all
begins with vocal training exercises and warm ups.

You need to look at singing as a sport, if you want to keep
your voice in top form. For example, would you expect a
professional swimmer to swim in a meet right after eating a
large meal? Of course not! Yet, many people might ask you
to sing at the spur of the moment during dinner parties or
at other inopportune times. If you really want those
people to hear you at your best, you should take the time
to do some vocal warm-ups before you sing.

In an ideal situation, under the best possible
circumstances, you should do vocal warm-ups on a regular
basis, in the form of vocal training exercises. You should
do them as a way to get in touch with your inner self, calm
yourself and exercise your vocal chords and larynx muscles.
Vocal warm-ups should not be done when you are hurried or
rushed, if you want the best results from them. It should
be a fun, relaxing experience for you.

Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world. Often,
you may find yourself in a hurry to perform. There just
may not seem to be enough time in the day for a relaxing
warm up. You might be stressed trying to memorize a song
or prepare for a performance. Even in such situations,
though, vocal warm-ups are essential.

Each singer will have his or her own technique for doing
vocal warm-ups. Some start by exercising their entire
bodies. They then begin focusing on their articulation
muscles, which are the muscles that control the tongue,
soft palette, lips and jaw.

No matter how you choose to begin, it is a good idea to
begin your vocal training exercises by starting in your
mid-range voice and moving to your lower and upper
registers afterwards. Recent studies indicate that extreme
changes from high to low or low to high can cause harmful
and uncomfortable muscle tension. So, you should always do
vocal warm-ups before attempting such pitch leaps.

Cooling down is also important. Just as if you were a
runner after a marathon, you should do cool down exercises
to relax your vocal chords after a performance. Which
cool down exercises you do depends on what type of singing
you've been doing. For instance, it may be helpful to sing
in a falsetto voice a bit, as a cool down, if you have been
using a "belting" voice. Also, it can be helpful to
massage your jaw, as well as your neck and shoulders, as a
way of relaxing after a performance.

No matter which vocal warm-ups you choose to do, the key is
consistency. By practicing vocal training exercises on a
regular basis, you can improve your voice quality and keep
your voice as healthy as possible.

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