Quick and Easy Vocal Warm-ups without a piano

A vast majority of musicians know that it is appropriate and healthy to warm up your voice up with vocal exercises before singing. But are you using a simple vocal warm-up that can get the job done?

Since I cantor at an 11 am Mass (previously 9:30 am), I usually rely on talking throughout the day or my short morning routine to warm my voice up. I know it’s not the best practice, but it’s what I tend to do.

Related: Best practices for cantors

But when you don’t want to lose your voice or have a big performance or extremely long Mass with extensive music ahead of you, you warm up. That’s the smart thing to do.

I get that you don’t want to spend a lot of time on warm-ups when you could be practicing the music. My high school students used to struggle a lot with that concept until I informed them that the vocal cords are a muscle.

You don’t run a marathon without stretching. So don’t try to sing without warming up your voice.

[bctt tweet=”You don’t run a marathon without stretching. So don’t try to sing without warming up your voice.” username=”SpiritualCantor”]

Using Vocal Warm-ups (a cappella)

It is simple to warm up if you have the right tools.

I recommend just using your voice and maybe a pitch pipe* or virtual piano. There are also some cool apps like Pitch Pipe Free or Realistic Pitch Pipe available on Google Play.

Once you get the idea of an ascending or descending line while warming up, it is a lot easier to do simple vocal warmups a cappella.

Let me show you what I mean.

Does that make sense? Good.

Now, let’s explore five simple ways to warm up without a piano.

Vocal Exercise #1: Variations of “La”

Using the syllable “la” is very easy on the vocal cords and helps create an open throat and mouth while warming up. The key to using “la” is to lightly touch the tongue on the roof of the mouth right behind your top teeth.

variation 1: 4-note scale ascending

variation 2: 5-note skip ascending

variation 3: 9-note ascending

Exercise #2: Humming

Humming is also very easy on the vocal cords, as long as you focus the sound near your nose and forehead and keep your throat loose and open. This one is especially helpful for those early morning Masses and singing commitments.

Humming has always been one of my favorite easy vocal warm-ups! Try it out!

variation 1: 5-note skip descending

variation 2: Climbing scale ascending

variation 3: Slides

Vocal Exercise #3: Canons

Canons are especially fun and appropriate vocal warm-ups when you are warming up with the choir. If the choir is not present when you are warming up, the exercises can still work nicely on their own.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat Canon

Numbers Scale Canon

Exercise #4: Lip Trills

Lips trills are super effective vocal warm-ups for increasing breath support and increasing your vocal range. Try to maintain the concept that breath must come from your diaphragm and that your throat must be open.

Lip Trills

Related Articles:

• How to Sing Well At Early Morning Masses
• 7 Ways to Reduce Stress As a Cantor
• Are You Scared to Sing? 
• 3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Take Voice Lessons
• What Not To Do When Losing Your Voice
• 7 Things Every Cantor Needs (while singing at Mass)
• 10 Easy to Sing Catholic Hymns

simple vocal warm-up #5: Hymns with a vowel

This is a great way to warm up your vocal chords while also practicing the melody of a song you need or like to sing.

Slower, softer songs tend to pair nicely with vowels for a less stressful warm-up. You might need to sing these in a lower key than written in order to not strain your voice.

variation 1: “ah” vowel with “They’ll Know We Are Christians” melody

variation 2: “oh” vowel with “Silent Night” melody (just because Christmas music is awesome!)

variation 3: “oo” vowel with “Amazing Grace” melody

Bonus Warm-up and Technique Videos

Vocal Warm-ups Are Important

Whether you adopt one or more of these vocal exercises or not, the point is to always warm up. With these simple vocal warm-ups for the days you cantor, you will be more prepared for whatever comes your way.

If you are struggling with preparing for early Masses, check out How To Sing Well At Early Morning Masses.

Let me know what go-to warm-ups you use on a regular basis. I would be happy to add them to my list!