Training your voice
Developing a daily routine
Learning to
play your most precious musical instrument, your voice, takes time and
dedication. Just like when you learn to play any other instrument. Being able
to talk and to sing is a gift. Developing a routine is the path that can help
you discover your voice’s unique sounds.
Let´s get
started. First choose a part of the day when you don´t need to rush and a place
that is private enough to make you feel comfortable when you have to sing out
loud. Your voice could be as loud as a trumpet and we need to play it loud if
we want to manage it, right? Avoid singing too early in the morning until you
know your voice well. As with any other muscle it takes about two hours for our
vocal cords to be awake and ready to work.
v Checking your posture
Ø Stand with
feet apart
Ø Knees
unlocked
Ø Back
straight
Ø Head erect
Ø Shoulders
relaxed
Ø Hands on
the side
v Stretch to relax (Check with your doctor
before any physical activity)
Ø Gently make
circles with your neck in both directions.
Ø Next, make small
circles with your shoulders forward and then backward. Then deepen the stretch
by making larger circles.
Ø Now for
your face and mouth muscles, clench your eyes and mouth shut and then open them
wide like you’re surprised three times.
Ø For your
tongue follow the exercises shown on these two videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8fV6HX3F7E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhRjTn0cROY
Ø Yawn -sigh:
Yawn, then starting on a high pitch, produce a relaxed descending vocal sigh
with “ah”. (Leavitt, 1995)
v Warming up your respiratory system
Ø Empty you
lungs
Ø Inhale slowly raising your arms over your
head while expanding your rib cage
Ø Hold your
air for three seconds
Ø Exhale on a sounding “ss” while slowly
lowering your arms on your side to the original position. Important: try
to keep your rib cage expanded while exhaling.
REPEAT x 3
Now you’re
ready to start humming some tunes!
