The Arts Unit Creative Teachers
Preparing the voice
A terrific way to prepare the vocal cords for singing is by using exercises that incorporate humming, sirens or lip trills. These are a gentle way to warm up all parts of the vocal range and develop resonance.
Preparing the voice examples
The following 4 videos and accompanying notes have been provided as examples of exercises you can do with your choir to warm up the voice.
- Humming and sliding
Duration: 02:38
Instructions
Hum ('mm') a middle C.
On 'mm', starting on middle C, slide up a fifth to G, then back. Repeat, moving up one semitone at a time: C, C♯, D, D♯, E.
Change to ‘nn’. Starting on E, slide up a fifth to B, then back. Repeat, moving up one semitone at a time: E, F, F♯, G, G♯.
Change to 'ng'. Starting on G♯, slide up a fifth to D♯, then back. Repeat, moving up one semitone at a time: G♯, A, A♯, B.
In the sheet music example, this exercise is illustrated using middle C as the starting note, then B (above middle C) as the starting note.
Sliding – sheet music example
Instructions
On ‘ng’, start high and slide to a low note (keeping the head still).
Slide down from a higher note.
Slide down from an even higher note and, once at the bottom, slide back up again.
Follow the conductor’s pitch indication (highs and lows).
3. Humming exercise
Duration: 01:50
Instructions
On 'mm', starting on middle C, move up a tone to D, then back. Perform this pattern twice with a crotchet rest in between. Then repeat this entire pattern, moving up one semitone at a time: C, C♯, D, D♯, E.
Change to ‘nn’. Starting on F, move up a tone to G, then back. Perform this pattern twice with a crotchet rest in between. Then repeat this entire pattern, moving up one semitone at a time: F, F♯, G, G♯, A, A♯.
In the sheet music example, this exercise is illustrated using middle C as the starting note, then B♭ (above middle C) as the starting note.
Humming exercise – sheet music example
4. Ooh intervals 1-3-1-5-1-8-1
Duration: 02:29
Instructions
Starting on middle C, sing the notes C, E, C, G, C, C5, C using an 'ooh' sound. The intervals for this exercise are 1, 3, 1, 5, 1, 8, 1. Repeat the entire pattern moving up one semitone on each repetition: C, C♯, D.
Note: C5 is an octave above middle C.
In the sheet music example, this exercise is illustrated using middle C as the starting note.
Ooh intervals – sheet music example
Preparing the voice instructions
You may like to download and print out Preparing the voice (PDF 254 KB) to keep as a resource in your choir folder.
Prepaing the voice.pdf
Festival of Choral Music 2017, Sydney Opera House, photo: Anna Warr