We use the two sets of vocal exercises below when we’re warming up at rehearsals. Our music director James also encourages us to practise them between rehearsals as often as we can – and ideally every day. There are only six exercises and at first glance, they seem simple. But when practised regularly, while following all the written tips provided, they are really valuable in helping us to improve our singing.
When doing these exercises, James advises us to:
- warm up the middle of our voices first, before working down to the lower part of our voices. We should exercise the upper part of our voices last.
- start with the exercises on page 1 over a small range of notes either humming or with puffy cheeks (i.e. using the ‘www’ sound). We can then go on to the exercises at the foot of page 1 and the top of page 2 that open up to vowel sounds, before finally singing the arpeggios and other exercises that span more than a 5-note range.
The Orsino Singers 