What is your vocal range? ____________________
Find it by using a keyboard! Download a keyboard app to help you find it.
- Baritone: A2-A4
- Tenor: B2-G4
- Alto: F3-F5
- Soprano: C4-C6
Things to remember:
- Jaw must be loose and open
- Feel your tongue (thumb under jaw), neck, shoulders and face muscles for tension.
- Think TALL
- Remember vowel placement.
Think about this…
- Goal for trained singers to sing two and a half octaves. If you hit 2 that’s still good!
- Are you slipping into your head voice? Where is your break?
- Goal is to increase gradually and slowly. You will cause damage trying to go to high/low too fast.
Exercises
- Breathing
- Sirens
- Lip Trill: 1.5 Octave Arpeggio
- La on 1 Octave
- Octave on “Nay” – For Vowel Placement
Exercise 1 – Breathing Warm Up
- Lie on your back and breath deep. Your tummy should rise and fall. If you breathe correctly your belly will look like it’s bloated. On “Sss”, how long can you release air for.
Exercise 2 – Siren Warm Up
- Exercise 2: Start by taking a lower abdominal breath. Beginning on C slide up one octave and back down in a loud, resonant, full-voice tone on “Yay.” Always use the “Y” at the beginning so that we don’t start the Siren with an abrupt staccato or a breathy attack.
- The goal is to maintain a moderately loud Siren in full voice as you slide smoothly from octave to octave. Don’t forget to keep your foot on your gas pedal. When done correctly, you’ll feel a buzzing sensation in your soft palate from correct placement.
- Sometimes, the voice will crack or sound like there is a bump as you slide. If this happens, then slow down the slide to gain better control.
- Continue your Sirens in half-step increments, working as high as comfortable. If you strain on any pitch or your voice breaks, stop to check your breathing, support, and placement. No side-to-side movement (to release any neck tension).
Exercise 3 – Lip Trills 1.5 Octave
- Using a lip trill or tongue trill, sing up and down the octave (13513542754271 OR 13513531531)
- For a simpler option try a slide on an octave!
Exercise 4 – “La” on 1 Octave
- Sing a very *bright* “La” sound (13531). Stick your tongue slightly out!
- First try it with individual notes (choppy), then without any vocal break.
Exercise 5 – Octave on “Nay”
- Paying close attention to your vowel and mouth placement, sing this octave agility (1351111531). Hitting higher notes has a lot to do with the way your mouth is shaped.