Structure Your Vocal Practice
When you get ready to practice, it can be difficult to know where to begin or how to spend your time.
Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Set a goal (or a few) for your practice session.
How much time do you hope to spend practicing?
Do you want to work on technical skills? Learning notes and rhythms? Character? Memorization?
To start, choose one of these objectives.
Warm up your body and breath.
Get moving and stretch to connect to your breath – take some deep breaths and try one of these breathing exercises:
Feel a 360 Breath: In a comfortable standing position, clasp both of your hands behind your head. Slowly exhale all of your air and pause for a few moments. Gently open your mouth and allow the air to rush in. Notice what you feel throughout your abdomen, back, and side body. Try this in different positions, and see what stays consistent and what changes.
Energize the Breath: Pant like a dog, beginning slowly and gradually speeding up. Notice what sensations you feel in your lower, middle, and upper abdominal area. Allow your jaw and tongue to remain relaxed.
Warm up your voice
Begin gently and gradually increase intensity by trying these exercises:
Sing "ng": On an "ng" (like at the end of the word sing) and with your mouth open, sing a simple melody (we always love a good Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Three Blind Mice!). Gradually sing the melody higher and lower.
Slide Around: Begin by gently hooting like an owl. You may notice a ring or buzz behind your nose, which we’ll call nasal a resonance (it’s a good thing!). Now, on the same "hoo" slide from high to low in your voice. Try that a few times, exploring what can make the slide feel as easy and smooth as possible. Try some variations, such as moving from low to high or using different vowel sounds. Watch Wesley’s video on vocal registers to hear an example of this exercise.
Work on your repertoire.
Sing the notes of your piece on a lip buzz.
Sing the notes of your piece on a single vowel.
Speak your text in rhythm.
Practice the text of your music like a reciting a poem to focus on character and expression.
Record yourself singing a section of your song. What do you notice visually or aurally? What improvements can you make?
A few reminders:
If you get frustrated, take a break and come back.
Work in segments, alternating between sections and goals.
Balance challenging sections with ones that are gentler on your voice.
As you practice, don’t forget to check in with your focus. (Explore this blog for ideas on staying present as you practice).
Happy Practicing!
Have questions about how to practice efficiently and effectively? Send us a message at info@wdstudio.org!