Physical Warm Up:
http://youtu.be/1mdoJXGxnXA
Breathing Warm Up:
http://youtu.be/K05P5Nn3_uU
Diction Warm Up:
http://youtu.be/Kd0Dorqjwxk
Resonance Warm Up
http://youtu.be/YCC2mQJE6ig
Flexibility
http://youtu.be/7-gRHFYTBKs
Vocal Warm Up — Oct. 9, 2014
Colin and Chantelle
Physical: Comparing relaxed posture and tension
Bend down while exhaling and touch toes and slowly rising to standing position during a 8 beat count.
An entire body clench for four seconds followed by a complete relaxation and bending down to repeat step 1
Bring hands into praying position, then raise them up, out and down. Hands should rest on the seam of the pants. This puts shoulders in a good place where they are relaxed, and it opens chest up for breathing.
Breathing: Candles, lasers, and bouncing bellies
Begin with a few yawns. This is a simple way to show the basics of a good breath.
Candles and laser beams at varying amounts and tempi. Activate diaphragm by bounding the belly for every candle and laser.
Diction: Tongue Twisters
Instructor: “Red leather.” Choir repeats (spoken)
Instructor: “Yellow leather.” Choir repeats (spoken)
Instructor: “Red leather, yellow leather.” Choir repeats (spoken)
Sing “red leather, yellow leather” in descending scale and slowly increase tempo.
This provides a great opportunity for members to also come up with there own tongue twisters. This especially fun with young groups.
Resonance: Long vowels
Have choir sing mah, may, mee, moh, moo descending from Sol to Do. On last moo slur up from Do to Sol and back down to Do again.
Can be done with many other consonants. Note that soft consonants work better for long legato and connected lines, while a hard consonant might impede the connectivity.
Flexibility: Stairs and Elevators
Do, Me Sol Do’ Re’— Do’ Sol Me Do, Do, / Re’ \ Do, Stairs / Elevator
“Stairs” are meant to be sung normally without telegraphing.
“Elevator” is to be sung with embracing the telegraphing to connect the lower range to the upper range.
N.B: Exercises work best if the instructor demonstrates first and then has choir repeat it back. Demonstrating rather than explaining with words keeps the choir more engaged.
