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In today’s How To Warm Up video, we’ve looped back around to a Resonance exercise! In the last loop we talked about mask resonance, which helps you get into a forward-placed, ping-y sound. Today, we’re going to talk about what I like to call ‘loft resonance.’ It helps you get into a taller, more robust placement. Think about it this way… mask resonance is the belt-y Elphaba sound, and loft resonance is more the classical Glinda sound. (Hats off to Idina and Kristin by the way 🎩  … and fun fact, ...

I’ve been thinking about sharing the content in today’s How To Warm Up video for quite awhile, and I’m very excited the time has come! See, today I am teaching you how massage the muscles on the front of your throat.

Your larynx (pictured to your right – image courtesy of Blue Tree Publishing, www.bluetreepublishing.com) is your voice box: the thing made of cartilage that sits in your throat and houses the vocal folds (aka the vocal cords). It’s suspended in your throat by some small but strong...

We’re back with another “How To Warm Up” video, and today we’re covering breath support!

In the last video on Body we covered one of my favorite new things – abdominal massage. Massaging your guts is super beneficial for helping your belly release so you can allow in an easy, expansive inhalation.
– HOWEVER –
When we’re producing sound, the exhalation isn’t just released… rather it needs to be supported and energized. That means there’s actually engagement and work happening in the low abdominal ...

Okay guys today is GOOD, because this exercise that is my latest obsession.

We’re on to the Body stage in the “How To Warm Up” sequence, and today I’m sharing a technique for abdominal self-massage. It was actually my Ayurvedic wellness coach who taught me how to massage my belly in order to aid digestion. But in the last few months I’ve been applying it to my own vocal practice and sharing it with my students, and the results have been astounding.

Here’s why I think it works: In order to allo...

We’ve made it through a full loop of the How To Warm Up Series, and you’ve now got one video each pertaining to Impulse, Body, Breath, Sound, Resonance, Articulation, and Language! So at this juncture I’d like to take a moment to have a midterm check in….

Before you go running away at the sound of the word midterm, don’t worry it’s not a test! 😜

What it is is a check up to make sure you’re incorporating all the exercises with awareness of what you’re doing them for. So have a watch of the vide...

In this week’s How To Warm Up video, we’re moving into Language! I’ll take you through a beloved tongue twister you may know: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers! This text has tons of plosive sounds in it, so you’ll have a chance to build on your work with clear and sharp explosive consonants which we worked on in last week’s Articulation video. Ready? Let’s do this!

Check out the Peter Piper exercise here:

Once you get good, try it in lots of different ways!

xo,

In this week’s How To Warm Up video, we’ve made it to Articulation! This time around we’re focusing on plosive sounds… the ‘explosive’ consonants that are super important to pronounce accurately for clear enunciation. This exercise is silly and fun, and if you practice I bet you’ll get good at doing it fast enough to impress all your friends😊

Check out the Topeka Bodega exercise here:

If you get really good at this, please record yourself and send it to me so I can be proud with you.

xo,

In this week’s How To Warm Up video, we’re tackling that elusive idea of mask resonance. What is it anyway, and how the heck to we get that effortless, ping-y sound? This is a great way to find it, so you can belt like Elphaba!

Check out the Mask Resonance exercise here:

Does this work for you?? Let me know, and ask me any questions in the comments! 😊

xo,

Did you know that humming up and down in pitch is a great little “stretch” for your vocal cords? It’s so valuable that I’m willing to create a gif where I look like a total goof. 😆

In this week’s How To Warm Up video, you’ll learn how a gentle humming exercise can make sure that your air is flowing and your vocal folds are functioning optimally. I recommend this exercise both as a quick assessment to see how your voice is feeling when you’ve been sick or you’re fatigued, and also as a great che...

This week’s How To Warm Up video addresses Breath, the all-important power source of our voice! I’m sharing this exercise before any other breathing stuff because I think you should do it literally. every. day. I mean it.

The way our body is hard-wired to breathe – an effortful inhalation, and a passive exhalation – is the opposite of the pattern we need for voice, speech, and singing. So do this daily to remind your body how to step into the most efficient pattern for making sound. Enjoy, and ...