The Fundamentals
VOCAL NERDS
Preparing when not 100%!
The common cold, five intense performances
in a row or a day screaming at the theme park
are all scenarios that can wreak havoc on the
voice. These situations can result in oedema
(swelling) of the vocal cords. This swelling will
make it impossible to coordinate the vocal
cords in the usual way. They will require plenty
of rest to heal, and this is our recommendation.
If the gig is unavoidable we may have to adjust
our warm up regimen to accommodate the
problem. Approaching things more gently will
get the blood flowing without creating further
problems.!
!
What if my voice seems to take longer?!
In some cases warming up is just a slow
process and not down to anything sinister, for
instance in the morning. At some point in our
amateur or professional careers we may have
to rock out the high notes for a morning gig.
Maybe it’s because you’ve been asked on the
Daybreak show to promote your next single or
someone decides it would be a great idea to
have a live band playing over breakfast (it
happens!). In these instances some more
direct exercises may be required to limber up
quicker. Staccato exercises on sounds such as
A (as in ‘cat’) and an edgy sounding MM , as in
the ‘mmm mmm, that is a tasty burger’... Pulp
Fiction style, (EXERCISE 13). These sounds
will bring the vocal cords together more directly
to stimulate blood flow. However, there is a
health and safety message here; do not
overuse staccato exercises, they do not work
for everyone, and remember to remain relaxed
as you do them. Part 2 of the message is to get
checked out by your GP for gastric reflux if
your morning croaking persists and feels
beyond the help of a warm up.
EXERCISE 13 Staccato MMs:
STACCATO MM
The take home message!
Every singer knows they should warm up
before singing, yet many sacrifice it. Look past
the tedium and attach yourself to the benefits
it will bring to your performance and career.
You won’t have to structure a set list with low
songs at the beginning and waiting till the 2nd
set before hitting the big guns. Instead you
can smack ‘em in the