Start singing
- Charlotte Butler
- Dec 7, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 8, 2021
Singing is great fun and has many physical and psychological benefits; it can create a feeling of well-being, reduce stress levels, exercise the lungs and heart, and bring people together, to name just a few.
Unfortunately, however, many people rarely, or never, sing. Either they don’t feel confident about singing – they may feel that they don’t have a ‘good voice’ – or they simply don’t know where to start.
It’s important to remember that everyone can sing, and, with all the carols and festive songs and sing-a-longs, Christmas is the perfect time to have a go!
Here, I will show you how to get started, by explaining how to warm up correctly, and how to produce a good tone.
Have fun!
You should always warm up before you start singing. We can divide the warm up into three stages; an initial warm up, a breathing warm up, and a vocal warm up. Follow the steps for each stage.
Initial warm up
Start by making sure you are relaxed.
Stand up straight with your feet shoulder width apart, knees relaxed (not locked), and shoulders relaxed.
Next, slowly turn your head to one side then the other.
Roll your tongue around your mouth like a toffee.
Finally, blow through your lips to create a buzzing noise.
Breathing warm up
Begin by taking a short, sharp breath, as though you have been taken by surprise. Make sure you don’t raise your shoulders! It should feel as though you are filling your tummy with air.
Next, take another short, sharp breath. This time, make your lips into an ‘ooh’ shape, then breathe out gradually whilst counting to ‘8’.
Repeat the previous step, but this time count to ‘12’, then ‘15’.
Vocal warm up
Start by choosing any note that is comfortably within your vocal range. Take a short, sharp breath, then sing your chosen note as an ‘ooh’ sound.
Next, try singing a different note as an ‘ahh’ sound.
Finally, gently stretch your voice by choosing a high note and sliding down to a low note. Repeat this step a couple of times. Make sure you are still relaxed, and don’t forget the short, sharp breath beforehand.
Once you have warmed up, you are ready to sing!
Singing a song
Because it’s Christmas, try singing a favourite carol, such as Silent Night.
Remember to stand up straight with your feet shoulder width apart, knees relaxed (not locked), and shoulders relaxed.
Before you sing, take a short, sharp surprise breath (without raising your shoulders). Remember to imagine that you a breathing into your tummy.
As you sing, make sure you move your mouth properly in order to articulate each word as clearly as possible. Take a short, sharp breath before each new phrase.
Feel your voice resonate as you sing. When singing higher notes, remain relaxed, and make sure you don’t stretch your neck upwards.
Remember to smile. This can help you to stay at the correct pitch and stop you from going flat.
Enjoy singing!
To read more about the many benefits of singing, visit the following links:
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