Singing Tips
Bite-sized exercises to improve your singing voice!
Breathe In-2, Breathe Out-2-3-4-5
Have you heard about the vagus nerve? It is the main pathway of your nervous system -- and helps you get out of "fight or flight" mode and into "rest and digest" mode.
The vagus nerve connects directly to your singing muscles, and we can make singing easier and more beautiful by tapping into it to find some chill. This exercise targets the vagus nerve directly - by slowing down your exhale, you get immediate vocal benefits.
You can use it before you start making any singing sounds to set your singing up for success -- or any time of day as a quick reset!
Singing Through a Straw
Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) exercises set up helpful air pressure in your throat, to reduce strain on your vocal cords. This makes singing easier ... and more beautiful!
Singing through a straw (also called "straw phonation") is one such exercise that can set your singing up optimally. You can use this exercise to start your singing warmups, or to reset your voice any time!
Downward Slides
Your cricothyroid muscles (CTs) are responsible for changing pitch, helping you to create higher and lower notes.
They can get tight from stress, strain, and emotional response … this exercise can help to relax and reset them for easier singing.
VVV for a Tired Voice
Everyone gets vocal tension, but often we try to overcome it with force by squeezing our vocal muscles.
Instead, using these buzzy vvvv downward slides will help you release any tension so you can sing freely.
Do You Always Skip Your Vocal Warmup?
While I usually recommend a regular warm-up routine, I know singers are often over-excited to go right to their songs.
Make it easier on yourself, and take 30 seconds first to breathe and do your no no nos. The idea is to teach your voice to sing without strain before it gets tough!
Arpeggios
One of my favourite exercises:
🎵 No hocus pocus about it, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!
(Exercise originally from the book “Ideal Singing” by Walter Charles Foster).
If you’d like exercises and ideas tailored to your voice and your goals, get in touch!