Importance of warming up (A QUESTION POST!!!)

[soapguy17]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 6:15pm

I've had dosens of different things thrown at me about warming up before jusy practicing singing. Most teachers say 30 minutes should suffice. But then others tell me most of that thrity minutes should consisit of range expanding exersises and that they should only be done two to three times a week? Can anyone confirm or deny that second one?

[WalveMalve]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 3:43pm

If you're intending to sing out in full voice, you should warm up as much as you feel necessary. A lot of people who have to sing a wide range of notes at different levels of dynamic and tone might spend an hour warming up if necessary to get the entire range ready. However, if you're sining something simple, 30 minutes will usually suffice. Warming up the vocal chords is like stretch before you excersize, you should always do it before you intend to use your muscles. As far as range expansion is concerned, you probably shouldn't try to stretch your range daily, that can be taxing on the vocal chords. It's like excersizing: you shouldn't up the weight too much at once; though you should excersize every day, you shouldn't try to increaase how much weight you're lifting every single day.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 4:03pm

You do what ever is right for you. There should never be rules as to how you much you should practice. It's different for everyone. I know people who warm up from the minute they wake up and others who kust kinda clear their throats before singing, and both do equally as well singing. That's not to say either of these methods would work for you.

I'm an acting teacher and I have students ask me all the time about how much prepartion should go into a role or how much they should warm up. You gotta remember that there are NO right or wrong answers in theatre. It's not like math where there is a definitive answer. The reason there are so many acting/singing styles and mehtods is to adjust to the different types of artists. We're not all using the same instrument, after all. My advice is to do what you feel is right. If it means warming up for 5 minutes, great...5 hours, great. There's no right or wrong answer!

[Broadway_Baby2]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 6:19pm

You should always get into your warm-up slowly. The length of time depends on you personally. How long does it take you before you feel like you're warmed up. I would suggest trying different lengths of time, and different exercises. Sing after you've done the different warm-ups and find out what gells the best to you. Don't forget that your vocal chords aren't the only thing involved in singing. A physical warm-up also helps immensly, slow breathing-warming up the diaphragm, and stretching of the body will help you align to proper posture and open you up to have more support. Don't believe me, once again, I suggest you try it. See what works for you. You don't have to listen to anything I say, but I do suggest you try it once and see if it helps you.

Here's a great article about warm-ups that can give you more information than I can.
http://www.nyee.edu/pdf/voice-vocal-warm-ups.pdf

[Pinguin]

Posted: 10/25/05 at 11:37am

You should warm up at least somewhat every day...you probably shouldn't go crazy with range expanding warm-ups on a daily basis, but a 30 minute warm up every day will build strength in your voice if you do it right. I try to warm up every morning just to prepare for the day, including the fact that I'll be speaking and I do an actor's voice warm up as well.

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:46am

I've found that full body physical warm ups are just as important to singing as voice warm ups, especially when singing in the morning or early afternoon.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:24am

Jumping on board here--
It really does depend on you, your voice, and your body, as well as the songs/roles you're singing. I've actually had teachers who say that if you've been talking all day, you are warmed up (which is true--you've been using your voice, so the vocal folds have been working). I don't view it as warming up so much as doing vocal exercises. However, if I'm singing first thing in the morning, then yes, I will take quite a while getting my voice going before I'd perform or go into a rehearsal. It's really the same thing with foods/drink. Some people have milk affect them negatively, some positively. It really depends on your body.