ASk Jacqueline Jax - To warm up or not to warm up!

 Many singers engage in some form of daily routine or warm-up prior to singing; however, many singers do not know the rationale behind choosing various warm-ups or their actual function. Warm-ups should not be confused with vocalizes. Warm-ups, as in weight training, are used to stretch the muscles to prepare them for work without injury. In order to maintain healthy vocal chords and to strengthen your voice, consult with your vocal instructor to evaluate your vocal ability and design a customized routine for warming up, exercising and cooling down your voice.


 These exercise are great to get the blood flowing into the vocal chords:

1) ZOUNDS!* stretch and yawn; hold the ending "ah" sound; relax your throat and jaws* chew the letter "N" on both sides of the mouth* feel different parts of mouth and nasal passages vibrate with these different sounds:MMMMMMMMMMMMMM... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN...VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV... ThThThThThThThThThThTh...Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum Mum

2) The Lip Trill, or what some vocal instructors call the "Bubble", is an extremely useful warmup exercise for all singers, be it to warmup before a performance, or to build a strong and healthy voice! Imagine you are swimming, and your head is submerged under the surface of the water. Now, when you blow air out from your lips, there will be a 'brbrbrbr' sound, and your lips will vibrate naturally and easily.
Now try to repeat this motion out of the water, by letting your breath be released from your mouth, with your lips vibrating in a relaxed manner while you control the supply of air with your diaphragm muscles. (This is why vocal instructors also refer to the lip trill as 'bubble', because it is just like what we do when we are blowing bubbles underwater!)
One important point to note is that you should not be blowing air from your mouth by pursing your lips. Your lips should be relaxed and the air should be controlled with your diaphragm, with your lips vibrating freely as the air passes over your lips.
If you are unable to let your lips vibrate freely, place one finger from each hand on each side of your face (near where dimples would usually be), and gently push into your cheeks, then push your fingers outwards to support your lip muscles. This would relieve the lips of any tension that might be present, and allow them to vibrate more freely with your breath.
Once you are able to produce the 'brbrbrbr' sound with just your lips and your breath, we can move on to producing just one note with your voice while doing the 'bubble' exercise. Just pick a comfortable pitch or note, and try to do the 'bubble' and produce sound for that note at the same time. Then work up and down your range with a nice focused warm-up.

If you feel that your need a custom warm-up created just for you, get in touch. We have online lessons customized to your own needs just by taking our simple video test!   http://www.americanvocalacademy.com/vocal_program.html

Good luck & take care of your instrument!
Jacqueline Jax
Director of Artist Development www.AmericanVocalAcademy.com

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