How to Warm Up Your Voice before Singing

Learn the right way to warm up your voice so you can surprise friends without setting off the neighborhood dogs.

Step 1: Discipline your voice Discipline yourself with a good diet and regular exercise. The poor blood flow from self-abuse can compromise vocal quality.
Step 2: Relax the body Relax your whole body and do a series of breathing exercises, slowly, to exercise your diaphragm.
Step 3: Warm up incrementally Warm up incrementally, never forcing your voice. Thicker and deeper voices will take longer to prepare.
TIP: Trying too hard, going too fast, or attempting to vocalize too soon can do great damage. Be patient and cautious.
Step 4: Drink water Drink lots of room temperature water throughout the day. Give your body time to absorb the water before working your voice.
Step 5: Do scales Do your scales, starting from middle C and going low, and then high. Be comfortable and don’t push it. If it hurts, stop.
Step 6: Build the voice Build volume, speed, and range as you go. Vocalize a siren sound, using "Ee" as you move up and down your range, and repeat until you feel limber.
Step 7: Work and shape the mouth Over-enunciate different sounds and phrases to work out your mouth, tongue, and face. Open your mouth for vowels, and make consonants crisp.
TIP: Singing is done with vowels. Consonants are pitch-less.
Step 8: Avoid using the voice Avoid using your voice throughout the day you have to sing. Don’t raise your voice or whisper, which can also fatigue your voice.
FACT: Did you know? A Chinese music teacher, Li Wenxing, is said to sing across six octaves.