Daily Vocal Warmup You Should Be Doing

Summary

Join Meline Harvey for a quick, effective daily vocal warm-up designed to prepare your voice for singing. This 10-minute routine emphasizes progressive load, starting light and gradually increasing intensity, while focusing on proper vocal placement and airflow. Exercises include gentle lip trills, head voice activation, nasal mask resonance, and faucal space release, all aimed at safely ramping up the voice for higher notes. With tips on maintaining intensity without strain and achieving a perfect blend of chest and head resonance, this warm-up helps singers activate their vocal cords, improve control, and feel ready to perform. Additional full-length resources are available for channel members.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start your vocal warm-up gently and progressively; avoid jumping into the hardest exercises first.
• 😀 Lip trills are an effective first step to warm up the voice using airflow rather than tension.
• 😀 Head voice activation with a 'W' to 'E' transition helps release pressure and support high notes.
• 😀 Using the nasal mask (or 'cow sound') directs resonance to the face, reducing strain on the throat.
• 😀 Volume should be moderated during warm-ups to ensure proper placement and airflow.
• 😀 Fingal space activation (back space) involves subtle tongue movement to create release without pushing.
• 😀 Warm-ups should focus on activating vocal spaces and cords, not achieving loudness or perfection.
• 😀 Compression teaches the vocal cords to thin and gently squeeze, supporting high notes safely.
• 😀 Daily practice, even a short 10-minute version, is sufficient to prepare the voice effectively.
• 😀 Consistent warm-ups improve vocal endurance, coordination, and the ability to hit high notes without strain.
• 😀 Membership options provide extended warm-ups, live lessons, and extensive practice resources for deeper learning.

Q & A

Who is presenting the warm-up in this video?

The warm-up is presented by Meline Harvey.

What is the primary purpose of the vocal warm-up described in the video?

The primary purpose is to ramp up the voice gradually, preparing it for singing by progressively increasing intensity and activation without overstraining.

What is meant by 'progressive load' in the context of this warm-up?

Progressive load refers to starting with light vocal exercises and gradually adding intensity and weight to the sound, rather than starting with the hardest exercises immediately.

What is the first exercise in this warm-up, and how should it be performed?

The first exercise is a gentle lip trill. It should be done by focusing on speed rather than reaching for high notes, keeping the pressure gentle and gradual.

How does the 'W to E' exercise help with head voice activation?

The 'W to E' exercise provides a controlled release of pressure using the 'W' sound, allowing the singer to activate their head voice without straining or reaching unnaturally.

What is the purpose of the 'cow' sound in the warm-up?

The 'cow' sound targets the nasal resonance, also called the mask, helping to drive pressure into the nose, relieve strain from the throat, and properly place airflow for singing.

Why does the warm-up include exercises for the 'Fingal space'?

Exercises for the Fingal space, located where the throat meets the nose, help activate the back resonance and allow the voice to release tension, creating a balanced mixture of sound without pushing chest voice.

What is the goal of the 'shaking off' exercises in this warm-up?

The 'shaking off' exercises aim to find a speech-level, relaxed approach to sound, maintaining intensity while allowing the vocal cords to stay thin and agile, avoiding unnecessary strain.

What is meant by 'compression' in vocal training, as explained in the video?

Compression refers to the vocal cords gently squeezing on the interior to produce controlled, thin, and edgy sound, helping to ramp up intensity for high notes without over-pushing or over-squeezing.

How long is the quick warm-up presented in the video, and what options are available for more extensive practice?

The quick warm-up in the video is approximately 10 minutes. For more extensive practice, viewers can join the channel membership for access to full warm-ups and over 50–100 hours of additional voice lessons.

What overall advice does Meline Harvey give about warming up the voice?

Meline emphasizes that warm-ups are about activation, not volume or perfection. Singers should progressively engage their voice, focus on proper placement and airflow, and maintain intensity while releasing tension.