When singing vocal scales correctly, you not only warm up your vocal chords and muscles, you also get great training in breathing, positioning and memorization for intonation. Doing them correctly on a regular basis can also help broaden your range.
The key word above is “correctly”. Singing the vocal scales incorrectly, could risk vocal straining, damage to your vocal chords, or even temporary voice loss. If you are taking lessons from a reputable vocal coach, ask them if they have a vocal scale CD(s) that you can purchase. When purchasing a vocal scale CD from a store or online, make sure that it includes instructions and proper technique. Also, see if there is online help or info for the scales in regards to any questions that you may have.
Tip #1: “Posture”
To warm up properly with the vocal scales, you must first remember to have good posture throughout the scales from beginning to end. Take note, it is always better to the scales standing rather than sitting and should always be done in front of a mirror. When checking your posture, make sure that you are standing or sitting with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Next, you should be facing forward, without moving your chin up or down toward your chest. If you are tense, your shoulders are hunched, or if you tilt your held up and down, this may cause difficulty with your breathing and may cause you to trap air in your chest or throat which can sometimes contribute to vocal straining.
Reminders
Proper posture= Back straight, shoulders relaxed, looking forward without moving chin
Tip #2: “Breathing”
Once your posture is set, we can move onto breathing. Remember to keep your posture throughout the entire warm up. Taking deep breaths from your diaphragm before each scale will ensure that you have enough air to sing through the scale without any straining or tightness in your throat. The more air you have, the more you have to work with. In order to take deep breaths from your diaphragm, focus on your stomach moving in and out. As you breath, watch your shoulders and chest and make sure that they are not moving. Be sure to wait until the last possible second to breath before starting each scale. If you take a deep breath early, hold it, then release, it may cause a break in your air as it is released in comparison to a smooth inhale and exhale with no obstruction.
Reminder
Deep breath=more air
Tip #3: “Positioning”
Now that you are breathing properly, it’s time to position your lips to ensure control of your air as it comes out. For men, you will position your lips forward and sing in an “O” position as when you sing the first line of the “Star Spangled Banner”. “Oh say can you see?” Can you see that nice “O” position in the mirror? Keep it right there!
For the women you will sing in an “ooh” position as in the word “Uno”. Keep your lips stretched forward in that position and double check in the mirror from time to time to ensure that you do not loose your positioning. The main things that you are trying to uphold is the position of your lips stretching forward and the narrowness of the position. Keeping this position at first will feel odd, as we do not usually keep our mouth and lips in this position. After a few times of reviewing the scales, it will eventually get easier and feel more comfortable. As with all muscles that are not used and need to be stretched, once they are stretched on a regular basis, they loosen and become easier to maintain.
Reminder
“Oh”= Men
“Ooh”=”Women
Tip #4 “Opening & Closing”
Start each scale in your “O” or “ooh” position stretching your lips forward throughout each scale. As you move through the scales toward higher notes, you will need to keep your original position with your top lip staying in place stretching forward and slowly and slightly dropping your jaw and bottom lip. Opening helps to release more air and increase volume to hit higher notes. As you come back down each scale, slowly close back to the original position that you started in.
Reminder:
Open position= High Notes
Close position= Low Notes
Tip #5 “Volume Control”
In order to hit higher notes and lower notes more comfortably, we need to know how to control our volume. Remember the section on breathing? Taking deep breaths is essential regardless if you are singing a low or high note. Remember, the more air you have, the more you have to work with.
For High Notes, you need to take a deep breath and quickly push the air from your diaphragm and open your position vertically as you go up the scale. For low notes, take a deep breath and slowly release the air from your diaphragm while slowly closing your position as you go down the scale.
Reminder:
Quick air release pushed from diaphragm= High Notes
Slow air release from diaphragm=Low Notes
