Warming up before singing not only strengthens the vocal chords but also helps to prepare a performer mentally. Warming up or rehearsing allows you to become more relaxed and better accustomed to the words and tune of the song, providing for a smoother, less stressful performance. A warm-up may last all day in order for you to reach the perfect pitch and comfort level with the music, enhancing your performance of the song.
Some singers may become short of breath when singing. Warm-up exercises are necessary for deep breathing. Many voice coaches encourage breathing exercises that allow more air to fill the diaphragm. The diaphragm regulates the flow of air in the body by contracting and relaxing whenever you inhale and exhale. For proper breathing when warming up, it is important that the shoulders and chest are relaxed when inhaling. If the shoulders are raised when warming up, resting both hands on your chest and repeating the inhaling process will provide better air flow. Warming up with proper breathing exercises can improve your performance.
Failure to warm up in preparation for a song may result in injury to the vocal chords. Warm-up exercises can prevent breathing-related tension that affects the voice box muscles. Without adequate blood flow to those muscles, singers will have difficulty warming up the vocal cords, which may lead to hoarseness, sore throat, low voice projection or laryngitis. To prevent injury, lightly sing under your volume level or hum softly when doing a warm up. This will help to prevent strain and sore throat of the larynx that may lead to laryngitis. Warming up can release the soreness of the throat and return your voice to a normal pitch.
Warm-up exercises not only strengthen the muscles and vocal chords of the throat, but also allow you to achieve a more melodious-sounding singing voice. When used frequently warm-up exercises can shape the pharynx and provide a smoother melody when singing. Warming up can protect the true pitch of a voice and preserve the voice as well. When your voice is smooth and harmonious, you can better project emotions to the audience. When warming up, your exercises should consist not only of singing lightly or softly, but also of practicing singing at high volumes and intensity, to improve projection of your vocal range. Enunciation and pronunciation warm-ups play a role in developing the words of the song as well.