Ultimately, every singer’s practice regime will differ depending on what the singer is preparing for at that point in time, as well as what their short- and long-term goals are. It is also important to acknowledge that the day-to-day condition of the voice (e.g. if it is fatigued, recovering from injury, affected by allergies, etc.) can affect the exercises a singer needs.

With this in mind, there are common concepts that are conducive to improving and looking after your voice – whether you are a singer who is just starting out or a seasoned professional. This list covers the essentials in a voice-specific practice session.

Start with a Warm-Up

There are a lot of vocal tips and tricks out there for what a warm-up is and how to warm up your voice. In a lot of these instances the warm-up is incorrectly labelled as a “warm-up”, is unnecessary for the singer/s in question, or it has been poorly explained in terms of its function and purpose.

Vocal warm-ups are exercises aimed at priming the voice by gently engaging and stretching the muscles, ligaments and cartilages in and around the larynx. An effective warm-up ensures the voice is ready for use by spanning a broad vocal range, alleviating tension, assessing the voice’s current condition, and building both sensory awareness and muscle memory.

Warm-ups typically do not:

• Cause pain, strain or harm to the voice in any way
• Involve excessive amounts of pressure, effort or volume
• Consist of a combination of consonants and vowels (e.g. “ma ma ma” or “la la la”)

As a general guideline: a warm-up is characteristically the shortest part of your practice regime, consisting of 1-2 simple exercises.

Move on to Technical Exercises

After warming up the voice, the next essential step for any singer is to engage in technical exercises that target and refine specific areas of vocal development. These exercises are customised to the singer’s individual goals and typically consist of a combination of consonants, vowels, scale-patterns, dynamics and tempos. Additionally, it is important to consider both where in their range the singer wants to focus and what specific aspects they wish to work on.

Given the vast array of exercises, it can be overwhelming for singers (especially beginners) to navigate the world of vocal training. How does a singer determine which exercises are best for improving pitch accuracy or strengthening vocal tone? What about exercises for mastering breath control, enhancing vocal agility, or sustaining long notes? Some exercises blend a range of skills, while others are more focused and aimed at achieving specific outcomes.

When in doubt, seeking guidance from a qualified and experienced voice teacher can help streamline this process and accelerate progress toward your vocal goals.

It is also worth mentioning that while some singers and teachers recommend jumping straight into songs after a warm-up, skipping this crucial phase altogether can hinder vocal growth and slow overall progress.

As a general guideline: dedicate as much time as needed to this part of your regime. Keep in mind your vocal goals and be careful not to over-sing.

Dive into Your Repertoire

This is where everything comes together and for many singers it is the most enjoyable and engaging part of the practice regime! Your voice is warmed up, you have gone through your technical exercises, and now your voice is ready to tackle the demands of your current repertoire.

Whether you are learning a new song or perfecting an existing one, take the opportunity to experiment with expression and performance. After all, this is a big part of why singers love to sing!

Be sure to include a mix of songs in your repertoire. Having too many easy songs can lead to boredom, while an excess of difficult ones can hinder progress and diminish confidence. Finding the right balance is key to both improving as a singer and enjoying the process.

As a general guideline: you can practice your repertoire for as long as you like, but make sure to take breaks when necessary to prevent vocal fatigue.

Don’t Skip the Warm-Down

The warm-down is often overlooked in practice regimes but it is just as important as the warm-up. Taking a few moments to cool down your voice at the end of a vocal session helps to reset and relax the muscles in and around your larynx, aiding in recovery, conditioning your voice, and helping to prepare it for the next session.

As a general guideline: the warm-down is similar to the warm-up in that it should be gentle, brief in duration, and cover most of your vocal range (or at the very least the range in which you have been working in). Typically, it consists of 1-2 simple exercises.

In Summary: Practice smart, not just hard

A solid voice-specific practice regime comes down to four key stages:

• Warm-up: A gentle stretch and vocal check-in.
• Technical exercises: Targeted training to build skills.
• Repertoire: The creative and rewarding part of practice.
• Warm-down: A quick reset to finish strong and aid in recovery.

While this structure provides an excellent foundation, it is essential to adjust it to suit your individual vocal needs. Keep your practice sessions focused and intentional to ensure consistent growth as both a singer and an artist. Remember, consistency is the secret ingredient – practicing your customised exercises regularly and mindfully will help you see faster progress.

Please Note!

The general guidelines provided at each stage above are merely suggestions. Your personal schedule, vocal goals and available practice time will ultimately shape what works best for you. Pay attention to your voice, make adjustments as needed, and focus on consistency rather than duration for steady progress.