Improving your voice with vocal warm-ups and physical activity
I’m sure by now you’ve seen a TikTok, youtube video or some other post claiming to have amazing vocal warmups. You’ve seen titles and headlines like “ 3 Best Warmups For Singers,” “You Need These Warmups,” “If You Want To Be Pro Singer Do This,” etc. I’m not here to bash any ideas, specific voice training or videos. A lot of these videos and posts have great information that helps a lot of singers. But warmups that are good for some are not good for all. Sometimes it’s hard to establish a warmup routine and even more difficult to realize when that routine might need to change. But maybe there is a warmup practice that is more universal. Something that every singer can do that can help improve the voice.
It has become a common phrase for singers that “your whole body is your instrument.” So it stands to reason that warming up your whole body with some kind of physical activity is a great way to warm up your voice and prepare you to sing. The vocal mechanism is more than just what is happening in the voice box (larynx), the throat and mouth. Your pelvic floor, abs, diaphragm, rib cage and of course your lungs all play a role in balancing the system that allows us to create specific sounds. We all want our voices to have flexibility and mobility but our whole body needs this. Doing some kind of movement, stretches and/or exercises increases blood flow to your whole body and therefore to your voice. That increased blood flow through movement is what warms up your body and improves your voice.
For anyone who has had to sing in the morning you know it is an uphill battle to warm up your voice. Singing right after waking up can be stressful, embarrassing and sometimes dangerous. Not only is our voice not ready but our entire body is still trying to wake up. If given the option to sing without warming up at 8am VS 3pm many singers would choose to sing at the later time. Throughout the day as we go through our daily activities our body has time to regain its mobility. Blood is flowing freely and getting oxygen, nutrients and heat to your body including your whole vocal mechanism.
The Journal of Voice published a study on three university choirs that looked at the possibility of adding physical warmups into their practice. After reviewing videos and surveying the singers, the researchers found that all three choirs preferred the added physical warmups before their rehearsal. They note that the choirs sang more in tune and with better control.
In my own individual practice I notice that there is a big difference in my vocal flexibility, control and stamina if I’ve done some kind of physical activity before singing. It is common for me to do yoga or go to the gym before I have to do any heavy vocal work. There are times that the only warmup I do in a day is my physical activity.
To be clear, I am not advocating for you to adopt some intense workout routine and do it before you sing every day. Nor am I saying that adding in exercise is going to fix all your vocal struggles. That is a conversation that needs to be had with your trusted voice teacher, doctor and most importantly yourself. You know your body better than anyone else. Our entire body is our instrument. Movement increases blood flow and mobility. So the next time you’re preparing to sing take a quick walk, stretch for a few minutes, do some jumping jacks, swing your arms for a bit, listen to your body and do whatever physical activity works for you. Then see if your voice control, flexibility and tone improves.
References and Related Content
Exercise Science Principles and the Vocal Warm-up: Implications for Singing Voice Pedagogy
Aerobic Exercise as a Warm-Up for Singing: Aerodynamic Changes
