by Taylor Morgan

Working a full-time job, plus a part-time job, sometimes makes finding the time to practice my vocal exercises a difficult endeavor.  I have found that the key to good vocal health is consistency. Practicing the right exercises for the development and maintenance of my voice can only go so far if I do not practice with regularity. As a more active morning-person who thrives by waking up at the same time every morning and immediately getting started with my day, I have found that the best time to practice my warm-ups is during my morning drive on the way to work. 

This is really effective for me, not only because it helps me keep my singing voice in tip-top shape, it also helps promote healthy speaking habits as well. (I have to talk at work all day, sometimes over noise, so this is especially important for me). 

I always have a room-temperature bottle of water that I drink during my drive to work. If I have time, I might even indulge in vocal steaming prior to my morning commute. If you are interested in discovering more about vocal fold moisturization, watch our videos on hydration and steaming

I love starting  a practice session with SOVT (semi-occluded vocal tract) exercises because they help improve resonance and reduce vocal strain, and they safely stretch the vocal muscles before the more serious part of my vocal workout. My first SOVT exercise is lip trills. Focusing on relaxing my lips, jaw, throat, or anywhere else I might have tension, I vocalize on scales or slides with a closed mouth and my teeth apart. See the video for a neat trick to make lip trills easier, as well as an alternative, but equally effective SOVT exercise, tongue trills. 

My next step is a straw phonation exercise, which is why I keep a special reusable straw in my car. Straw phonation promotes healthy vocal fold vibration by creating back pressure. (See voicescienceworks.org for a great explanation of this).

SOVT Straw Pronation from Voice Science Works

I cover up progressively more of the end of the straw with my thumb as I vocalize, to increase the amount of back pressure. 

After this, I proceed with various scales. The warm-ups I choose vary, depending on what aspect of my voice I am focusing on working out (resonance, tone placement, belting, breath control, etc.). For example, if I am focusing primarily on improving my breath control, I might practice staccato patterns (i.e., short choppy notes) to work on abdominal activation. 

Karen Sussman reminds us that vocal exercises like the ones I’ve talked about can be used as a warm-up in the morning, as frequent vocal resets throughout the day, and as a gentle cool-down in the evening. The practice sessions can be short (1-2 minutes to start), but they are highly effective. It only takes a few minutes of vocal warm-ups repeated throughout each day to achieve that Choice Voice you’ve always wanted!

Taylor Morgan is a musical theatre performer, and Karen Sussman’s video editor and singing student. Taylor enjoys learning musical theatre repertoire, including music from European productions, which in turn, inspires her to continue her vocal training.