warm-up

Warming Up Your Singing Voice: A Parent's Guide

Andrea Orem
for parents, singer, singing, voice lessons, warm-up
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As a parent, you want the best for your child's musical journey, especially if they are passionate about singing. One crucial aspect of vocal training that often gets overlooked is the importance of warming up the voice. In this guide, we’ll explore why warming up is essential, how it benefits young singers, and practical tips for helping your child develop a healthy vocal routine.

The Importance of Warming Up

Protecting Vocal Health

Just like athletes stretch before a game, singers need to warm up their voices to prevent strain and injury. The vocal cords are delicate structures, and sudden, intense use can lead to issues such as hoarseness or vocal fatigue. A proper warm-up prepares the vocal cords for the demands of singing, ensuring they function optimally.

Enhancing Vocal Performance

Warming up not only protects the voice but also enhances performance. A well-prepared voice can achieve better pitch control, tone quality, and overall vocal agility. This is particularly important for young singers who are still developing their vocal skills. A good warm-up routine can help them gain confidence and expressiveness in their singing.

Building Vocal Awareness

Warm-ups encourage singers to become more aware of their vocal mechanisms. This awareness is crucial for developing good singing habits. By focusing on breath control, resonance, and articulation during warm-ups, young singers can foster a deeper understanding of their instrument—their voice.

Benefits of Warming Up

Improved Breath Control

Breath support is fundamental to singing. Warming up helps singers practice "low belly" diaphragmatic breathing, allowing them to sustain notes longer and sing with more power and control.

Increased Range and Flexibility

Regular warm-ups can expand a singer's vocal range and flexibility. By gradually working through different scales and exercises, young singers can explore their vocal capabilities and push their limits safely.

Confidence

As singers become more comfortable with their voices through warm-ups, their confidence grows. This newfound assurance can translate into more expressive performances and a greater willingness to take on challenging pieces.

Practical Tips for Parents

Create a Routine

Encourage your child to establish a consistent warm-up routine before singing. This could be as simple as dedicating 5-8 minutes to vocal exercises before practice or performances. Don't know where to start? Check out the Classical Collective Membership for warm-up walkthrough videos.

Use Fun Exercises

Make warm-ups enjoyable! Incorporate fun vocal exercises, such as humming, lip trills, or singing along to favorite simple songs. This will keep your child engaged and motivated.

Model Good Habits

Set a positive example by participating in warm-ups together. Show your child that warming up is a valuable part of singing, and they’ll be more likely to adopt the habit themselves.

Seek Professional Guidance

Consider enrolling your child in singing lessons with a qualified voice teacher (I offer in-person and online lessons!). A professional can provide tailored warm-up exercises and techniques that suit your child's unique voice and goals.

Warming up the singing voice is a vital practice that every young singer should embrace. As a parent, you play a crucial role in supporting your child's vocal development by encouraging warm-up routines, fostering a love for singing, and ensuring their vocal health.

For those looking to enhance their musical guidance at home, consider The Classical Collective Membership. This low-cost resource provides ongoing support and tools to empower you as a musical guide, even if you don't have the budget for private lessons or feel unsure about teaching music at home. With access to a wealth of materials and a community of like-minded individuals, you can confidently nurture your child's musical journey. So, let’s get those vocal cords warmed up and ready to shine!

Warming Up Your Singing Voice: Fun Exercises for Kids

Are you ready to become an amazing singer? Just like athletes warm up before a big game, singers need to warm up their voices too! In this guide, we'll explore fun and easy vocal warm-up exercises that will help you sound your best. Whether you're preparing for a school performance, joining a choir, or just singing for fun, these warm-ups will make your voice shine!

Why is Warming Up Your Voice Important?

Warming up your singing voice is super important for several reasons:

Protect Your Voice: Warming up helps prevent strain on your vocal cords, keeping your voice healthy and strong.
Improve Your Singing: A good warm-up routine can help you hit higher notes, sing with more power, and improve your overall sound quality.
Boost Your Confidence: When your voice is warmed up, you'll feel more comfortable and confident while singing.
Enhance Your Vocal Range: Regular warm-ups can help expand your vocal range over time.
Prepare for Performance: Warming up gets your voice ready for singing, just like stretching prepares athletes for sports.

6 Vocal Warm-Up Exercises for Kids

1. Full Body Stretch

Start by stretching your whole body. Reach for the sky, touch your toes, and roll your shoulders. This gets your blood flowing and helps you feel energized for singing.

2. Big Yawn

Take a big, exaggerated yawn. Open your mouth wide and make a gentle "ah" sound as you yawn. This helps relax your throat and jaw muscles.

3. Siren Sounds

Make siren noises like a police car or ambulance. Start at your lowest comfortable note and slide up to your highest, then back down again. This exercise helps improve your vocal range and flexibility.

4. Lip Trills

Pucker your lips and blow air through them to make a "brrrr" sound. Try to maintain this sound while going up and down in pitch. Lip trills are great for warming up your lips and vocal cords.

5. Solfege Scale

Practice singing the solfege scale: "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do." Start on a comfortable note and sing up the scale, then back down. This helps with pitch accuracy and ear training.

6. Chocolate Cookie Warm-Up

Here's a fun and tasty-sounding warm-up (sung to the tune of Sarasponda, hear it here!):

Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Cookie, yum yum yum!
Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Cookie, yum yum yum!
An OREO! A chocolate oreo!
I love the creamy filling of my chocolate oreo!

Repeat a few times, adding some silly movements if you like. It's a great way to warm up your voice while having fun!

Tips for Effective Vocal Warm-Ups

Start with gentle exercises and gradually increase intensity.
Drink water before and during your warm-up to keep your vocal cords hydrated.
Listen to your body – if something feels uncomfortable, stop and try a different exercise.
Be consistent – try to warm up every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.
Have fun! The more you enjoy your warm-ups, the more likely you are to do them regularly.

Now that you know these fun vocal warm-up exercises, you're ready to start singing like a star! Remember, warming up your voice is an important part of being a great singer. It helps protect your voice, improves your singing, and boosts your confidence.For even more singing tips, exercises, and resources, check out The Classical Collective Membership. It's a fantastic way to get ongoing support and tools to help you become an amazing singer, right from the comfort of your home.So, what are you waiting for? Start warming up that beautiful voice of yours and let's make some incredible music together. Happy singing, everyone!

This is my health story

I have always been sensitive. That's a word that has described me, my body in particular, my whole life. I have skin sensitivities to fabrics, bruise easily, I get cold easily, I tend to be on "alert" all of the time (no coffee needed here!), I'm a musician and very creative, and I don't even THINK about using any conventional personal care or other products that are scented... they bother my skin, and they bother my respiratory system too. I've never been able to use any scented products because of the discomfort and increased sensitivity they cause. I can't be around people who wear perfume or scented deodorant, because I can't breathe well and my head has discomfort. I can't go into a public bathroom that has been just cleaned because of the toxic chemicals they used to clean it. I can't enjoy candles or most lotions or makeup like most women I know because I'm sensitive to it.

During my first semester of college, I started to develop debilitating discomfort in my jaw, which I was later told is TMJD or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, not just the kind of little twinge when you bite down on something too hard, but long-lasting aching, along with clicking and cracking. It was exacerbated by singing, gum-chewing, caffeine, and other things, and I was easily able to cut out all of the things listed on my doctor's list except for one -- singing. I was a vocal music education major, and singing was my livelihood (or at least soon-to-be), so I couldn't just not practice! I struggled so hard for 2.5 years through long choir rehearsals, voice lessons, practice sessions, and more. By the end of the day, it would be so bad that I'd almost be in tears. My roommates and boyfriend (and his roommates!), bless their servant hearts, would bring me freezing cold ice packs to numb my face enough so that I could fall asleep at least, though I would wake up in the night unable to fall back asleep due to other sleep issues I also was dealing with.

It seemed like a vicious cycle that I needed to stop. Maybe I needed to change majors and give up my dream of making music, of teaching others to make music too. Maybe I needed to pick something that didn't require so much singing and talking. Even smiling a lot bothered me, so maybe I needed to pick a major or job with less human interaction. But THAT idea broke my heart. I didn't enjoy any of the things I could think of! My boyfriend at the time (now husband!) and I had many conversations about what I should do... singing was part of the fabric of my BEING. I am MADE to sing. If you know me, you know that hardly an hour went by without me humming or singing some little tune. But my jaw bothered me so much most of the time that I needed to change SOMETHING. But what?

And that's when change came...

I found some natural and pretty simple solutions -- though simple doesn't always mean easy! It required a LOT of discipline and self-control on my part.

I'm blessed now to have so many versatile tools in my tool box for any emotion, body system, or issue I may be experiencing. So, where am I now? Healthier than I’ve EVER been. I have NO jaw issues anymore when I keep up my self-created protocol. I sleep through the night. I feel so much better now that I'm sleeping more and deeper. I've spent 4 years now working through the emotional issues I faced in early career, and I am so happy that I can now FEEL emotions without feeling completely run-over and frozen by emotions. I’m also happy to say that I have only had little illnesses since finding solutions, not the constant strep throat and other illnesses I was getting at least once per month before! And, that’s saying a lot as I was constantly around germs while working full time with 500+ elementary students. But once I started supporting my immune system, I stopped getting sick every couple of weeks. I can clean with the most amazing smelling cleaner without coughing. I can wear my own homemade "perfume" and get compliments, and not only does it smell good, it supports my body systems. I can use amazing smelling shampoo now! I can have twice as much energy for the day without drinking any coffee or sugary drink. When I started having these successes, I was at first in disbelief, and now in awe at all that God's created, I believe, and given us for our good. Now these are my first line of defense, my go-tos, the first thing I do when something is off, which is not very often anymore (usually just when the weather changes, ah MN life).

I look forward to living a beautiful life of freedom and feeling empowered every single day, enjoying the life I was meant to live. That life includes sharing my story of overcoming and helping you also find better, safer solutions to overcome your daily struggles.

Are you ready to live empowered to be your own best advocate? Let's chat.

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