TOP TEN FAQ’s FOR SINGERS

1. How Do I Warm Up?

Everyone should be warmed up before they sing but the method of warming up can vary considerably from person to

person. It all depends if you are going to be singing all night, doing one song as a guest spot, starting a half hour

practice or coming to a lesson. Some people do scales but then practice them in an area of the voice where they have

just been talking to their mates in the office all day, so they’re already warm and it becomes a pointless exercise. Think

outside the box! Some people hum, chew, blow through their lips, do arpeggios, work on the low voicing (or the

high). I like to hum and I like to do arpeggios but then not everyone has the musical knowledge to do this. If you are

driving to a gig its good to sing a little and get the air down into your back as you push back against the seat and build

the volume up as you feel your body start to warm to the fact that you are exercising, because that is what singing is

and if you are not prepared to treat it as a strong physical exercise you are not treating singing with the respect it

deserves. Keeping a wet throat is good too and not with cold drinks. Ideally warm temperature water is the best or

even a little warmer than that. Remember don’t do anything to “shock” your voice when you are warming up, there will

be time for that when you’re ready to sing. Just never sing without warming up first unless you want to do damage to

your vocal chords. Remember, an athlete would never run a race without being prepared and neither should you

attempt to sing without the same consideration both to your body and your mind.

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VOCAL TIPS