This week we’re going to talk about warming up your voice. And it’s something you have got to do for voiceovers. I mean, your voice is your instrument. So if you haven’t been trained as an actor, if you’re not used to this, this is something new for you. So let me take you through some exercises this week that are really, really going to help you.

Now, why should you warm up your voice? Well, first off, it helps protect your vocal folds because some of the voiceovers we do these days are quite long, such as audio books and e-learning narrations. And that can put a real strain on your voice if you’re not prepared. So it really is for the health of your voice. And the second reason to do it is you’re going to sound so much better after a vocal warm up, your voice will sound richer, and at its best and at its strongest.

So when we warm up your voice, there’s a few things you need to remember. You’re trying to put your voice and keep your voice in the facial mask. Now the mask is the area that stretches from your sinuses down to your larynx. It’s kind of an inverted triangle and when your voice is in the mask, like I’m speaking right now, it’s forward. So the way you get your voice into the mask is to hum like this. Mm one, Mm two, Mm three, and you want to really feel like your nose is vibrating and tickling when you do it. The best time to do this is in the morning when you’re in the shower. That warm, moist air really will help with those vocal warmups.

Another great thing to do when you’re warming up your voice are these exercises that sound like this. Mm. So you’re humming and you’re going from your lowest to your highest point and then down again. And keeping that one really, really soft.

And then the third thing are lip flutters that sound like this. Now, if those are hard for you, just take your two fingers and go like this.

So with those three warmups and you do them every morning, you’re in good shape to start your day as a voiceover artist.

The other day my singing teacher, the lovely and talented Kimberly Hawkey, showed me a really cool vocal warm up trick that also works great for your speaking voice.

Grab a plain ole’ drinking straw and a glass of water. Stick the straw in the glass and blow bubbles in the water.

This will help you control your air flow for speaking, which is great if you’re doing long form narrations or audio books.

Another thing you can do is stick the straw in your mouth and hum like blowing into a kazoo. The focused flow of air will help you target your diaphragm and increase breath support.

Easy and fun.

Voice health and vocal warm ups are the topic of this week’s Inside Voice Over video training blog. I suggest practicing these daily to take care of your precious voice.

Go here to watch my short training blog and when you’re done, be sure to leave me a comment. I always love to hear from you.

Watch this week’s short training video Here Now

After you watch the video be sure to leave a comment. I always love to hear from you so I can support you as you grow your voice over career.

To your voice over success,

Susan Berkley
Founder, The Great Voice Company

PS. When you’re ready, the best way to start your voice over career is with my VO Start Here training. It includes step-by-step instruction in my Perfect Performance method and a voice consultation with our talent advisor, all for only $47. Go here now to get the ball rolling: https://greatvoice.com/vo-start-here/