Range and Flexibility

Note the exercises that follow are a simple start and do not make up a full vocal course

Do try them as a starting point but let me recommend that at the very least you borrow/purchase either a copy of:

  • The Contemporary Singer: Elements of Vocal Technique by Anne Peckham. [Published by Berklee Press]
  • The Vocal Course ‘Funky and Fun’ by Kim Chandler is just that!  This is primarily available from www.funkynfun.com
  • Seth Riggs: Singing for the Stars published by Alfred Press is a course designed by Seth Riggs called ‘Speech Level Singing’ EXCELLENT for building vocal stability

I am sure the authors with me, would suggest that singing lessons/vocal coaching is crucial if you wish to develop your voice seriously.

For a list of singing teachers around the country try www.singing-teachers.co.uk

Range:

[Please read the tips on Voice Production: Breathing, Breath Control and Warm-ups before attempting exercises on this page – great!]

OK here we go with some more scales [Say after me -- I love scales!!!]

Scales really are the best way at developing range and flexibility in our voices and help us to monitor just how much we are improving

Here are some exercises to help you increase your range [i.e. how low and how high you can sing]

Using the sounds ‘ee’ ‘air’ ‘aah’ ‘oh’ ‘oo’:

  • Sing a 9-note scale on the vowel sound ‘ee’. Start on your lowest most comfortable note.
  • Remember to have lungs full of air…
  • …don’t forget to pull in your support
  • …and smile!
  • Repeat the exercise to the other four vowel sounds
  • Then do the whole exercise again continuing up the scale

Another exercise:

  • Arpeggios – are a great blending exercise [helping you to develop the extent of your range and smoothing out any breaks]
  • If you are not sure – do ask someone who knows what arpeggios are to show you how they work!
  • Using the vowel sounds in the above exercise – sing through 5 arpeggios
  • Sing through – the first time as smoothly as possible [legato] and then again with a spiky, disjointed sound [staccato]

Flexibility:

OK – flexibility has to do with your ability to articulate each note without pitches sliding into a mush!

  • Use the vowel sounds as from the previous exercise
  • Starting on your lowest comfortable note, sing a 5-note scale repeating it 3 times. You will need to have good support here, so pull those muscles in when you’ve taken a good breath
  • Sing this exercise up the scale another 8 times

Note: Try to place each note carefully without sliding into them. You could try over-emphasizing by pulling in your support for each note [not unlike laughter!]

Another exercise:

  • Repeat the above exercise using ‘hee’
  • …then ‘ha’
  • A great exercise to connect your ‘support’ with your note placement
  • Again – try to keep each note distinct

Geraldine Latty
22 November 2006