Singing exercises need to be done daily and before you perform, in order to warm-up your voice, increase your range and strengthen your vocal cords. It’s important to create your own singing exercise routine and follow it consistently. You can certainly use the same type of exercise routines that the pros do, but creating your own routine for singing exercises can make them much more enjoyable, which means you’ll be more likely to do them. There are a number of options when it comes to exercises for the vocal cords. Do a little research and pick and choose the ones you like best, as well as the ones that can challenge your voice the most.
Simple and Easy Singing Exercises
When you speak, you make sounds in your larynx with your vocal folds. The vocal folds consist of soft tissue, muscle, mucous membrane and ligament. You need to do singing exercises to warm-up the vocals, much in the same way that you need to stretch your muscles before you workout or go for a run. Short singing exercises can improve the quality of your voice while also preventing injury. You should also warm-up the vocal cords if you plan on participating in a public speaking event.
Breath relaxation is a common singing exercise. This type of technique can help to release tension in the vocal cords. To do, take a normal breath and exhale. Keep the chest and shoulders relaxed and low. Repeat this exercise several times, focusing on keeping the breaths low in the abdomen. Place one hand on the abdomen to help remind you to keep the focus away from the shoulders and chest. When you exhale, make the “S” sound.
Releasing the jaw will reduce tension in the jaw and mouth while you sing. Place the heels of both hands below each cheekbone. Push down and in from the cheeks to the jaw, massaging the muscles in your face. Keep the jaw relaxed, allowing it to open as your hands move down your face. Repeat this exercise for five minutes.
Another common singing exercise is lip trills. This exercise will release tension in the lips while also working to connect breathing and singing. To do, place your lips together loosely, releasing the air in a steady stream, creating a trill sound. Keep the sound steady as you continue to move air past your lips. Gently go up and down the scales, but be careful not to push beyond what you normally find comfortable.
Working the Scales and Singing Your Favorite Songs
Octave scales can work to really stretch the vocal folds. To do this exercise, start off in a low pitch, gradually gliding up the scale, making the “me” sound. Don’t push your range and instead gently increase it each time you do the scales. Next, reverse, gliding down the scales from top to bottom, making an “ee” sound.
Once you’ve completed these exercises, next sing a few of your favorite, simple songs. The key here is to sing uncomplicated, unchallenging songs. Doing this will gently prepare your voice for singing, without causing it to break or become strained.
