If you ever use your own voice in your productions – either as lead or backup vocals – you’ll want to get the most you can out of your instrument. The best way to improve the pitch, diction and tone of your voice is to practice daily vocal exercises. Here are a bunch of places to get you started
Amateur Dramatic
http://www.amateurdramatic.co.uk/VocalExercises.html
“Whether you’re an actor or singer, it’s crucial to ‘warm up’ your voice before heading out onto stage. Think of yourself as an athlete—would you run a marathon without getting your leg muscles ‘in the groove’ beforehand? In fact, you should make it a part of your rehearsal process, too.”
This article covers three main types of vocal exercises:
1. Animal Noises – “ma-may-me-mow-moo”
2. Tongue Twisters – including “Peter Piper”
3. Laughing – “ha-ha-has” belly laugh
The Ultimate Voice Training for Singers
http://www.voicetraining.com/online.htm
“Stand or sit in an upright position and place your hands against your diaphragm; your stomach area, just below the ribs. Shout the word hut like a football quarterback, and feel the pulsing there. Now practice slowly pushing your stomach out while taking a deep breath in; as you continue through the inhale, your chest will begin to lift and expand.”
Extended samples of the commercial program are available on the website. You’ll find five vocal exercises, including multiple MP3 demonstrations for men and women.
The five vocal exercises are:
1. Opening Up
2. Support and Relaxation
3. The Lip Roll
4. Bridges; Increasing Usable Range
5. Sustains
Vocalist.org.uk
http://www.vocalist.org.uk/singing_exercises.html
“Free vocal singing exercises online complete with midi scales to help you practice, plus singers articles and links to sites offering vocal exercises. When you have mastered your breathing, the following free singing exercises will help you on the path to improving and understanding your voice.”
The page includes instructions about posture, breathing etc., and phrases to sing that improve diction.
eHow.com – Vocal Exercises 101
http://www.ehow.com/topic_3699_vocal-exercises-101.html
eHow have quite a few courses on vocal exercises and singing. Click the link above to explore them. Here are samples of a few of them.
Introduction to Vocal Exercises
http://www.ehow.com/video_2374202_introduction-vocal-exercises.html
“Learn the basics of exercising the vocal chords in this free how-to video clip on voice training exercises.”
eHow.com Effective Exercises for Vocal Training
http://www.ehow.com/video_5113322_effective-exercises-vocal-training.html
“When doing vocal training, it’s important to warm up the singing muscles properly by doing exercises that fit one’s own voice type. Find out how humming can be used to warm up for vocal training with help from a vocal coach in this free video on vocal training.”
eHow.com Lip Bubble Vocal Exercises
http://www.ehow.com/video_2378839_lip-bubble-vocal-exercises.html
“Learn lip bubble vocal exercises to avoid vocal cord damage from bad technique with singing and vocal training tips in this free online vocal coaching video clip.”
Kristin Chenoweth – vocal exercises
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3NT1I0zS64
“Kristin Chenoweth demonstrating her various vocal exercises” on various talk shows.
Paramore – Hayley Williams Vocal Warm Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ8DGCjjPx0
Sing along with Hayley as she warms up.
Vocal Training – Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZTgZZXHyi8
Brett Manning gives Mary-Kathryn a vocal checkup. You get to see some funny faces, and hear bird noises and lip rolls.
Do you use an exercise program to warm up your voice or improve your singing. Did you find any of these videos helpful? Let us know in the comments.