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No matter how far along you may be on your singing journey, the basics never change. These are three proven and easy exercises you can do to help improve your overall singing (without disturbing your neighbors).
Having trouble finding the motivation to sing? Read: Singing in a Pandemic
1. Stretching- These easy stretches do not require any skill or experience.
Step 1 - Reach up to the ceiling as high as you can, and then fall over and just hang, bent over while focusing on deep low breaths into your lower back. Slowly stand back up, moving vertebrae by vertebrae until you are standing up completely straight.
Step 2 - Do some neck stretches to get rid of any tension you may have and to increase mobility. Simply tilt your neck to the side and rest your hand on top of your neck. Make sure not to drag your head down with your arm and to just let it sit on top of the head. Slowly push your head back up with that same hand and repeat on the other side.
2. Tongue out, soft palate up - This is pretty self-explanatory, but you have to do it right, otherwise you will create unnecessary tension. The purpose of this exercise is to increase mobility and warm up the muscles that will be working hard while you are singing. Having your soft palate raised and tongue relaxed will improve your singing by leaps.
Step 1- stick your tongue out and let it hang loose. Make sure that your upper teeth and lips are not touching your tongue and that the inner corners of your mouth do not spread wide. Keep everything relaxed and loose and focus on the back of the tongue root being pushed out. Do this for 30 seconds.
Step 2 - Put your tongue back into your mouth, close your mouth, close your eyes and try to almost yawn or snore. Some people prefer yawning, and some people prefer snoring. Either of these work because they both work to lift the soft palate in the back of your mouth. If you actually start yawning during this exercise, you’re doing it right! Do this for 30 seconds.
Step 3 - Repeat steps 1&2 two more times.
Step 4 - Try to do both at the same (exactly like the 'doggo' in the picture). At first, this will be a bit difficult. Your tongue might waver or want to go back in your mouth, but you have to keep pushing it forward. If you start feeling tension at the base of your neck or under your chin, pretend you are a Bobble Head and start to slowly wobble your head from side to side, as if on a tiny pin. Do this for 30 seconds - 1 minute.
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3. Lip trills - Everybody’s favorite! This is such a simple exercise and so easy to implement. Sometimes it is even enough to warm up your voice before you sing. It is a bit difficult to explain lip trills without a visual, but I will tell you what to focus on when you’re doing it.
It doesn’t really matter what type of vocal pattern you do with these but try to give it a small range and to start the exercise in your lower register (lower part of your voice). Make sure not to let your teeth touch and to keep your tongue relaxed and right behind your lower front teeth.
Breathing during this exercise is the most important. Sometimes, if we don't engage our core enough, or if there isn’t enough space in the back of our mouth for the air to spin, the trill will fizzle out. Stay engaged and take low and deep breaths throughout the exercise.
I hope these tips help improve your singing! The basics should never be forgotten, so keep incorporating them into your everyday practice sessions and even on days that you are not planning on singing. After all, practice makes progress! Happy Singing!