# Singers - recommend exercises to strengthen my voice **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528 "2017-09-05T06:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528/1 "2017-09-05T06:04:01Z")
In a little over a year I will be teaching a Javanese gamelan group, and that means I’ll probably need to sing a little to help people learn. In high school I was an (undistinguished) alto in the school choir, but it’s been decades since then. I figure I’d better prepare a little, as my singing voice is not exactly robust these days. This is what I need to focus on, in order of importance: [ul] [li] **Pitch**. I need to be able to sing in tune. (The gamelan uses non-Western scales, although I don’t think that matters.)[/li][li] **Range**. As a teenager I had pretty decent range (alto bordering on contralto) but I swear, I’m down to an octave or so now. Seems like I can’t sing along with any tune without having to switch octaves or have my voice give out.[/li][li] **Volume**. I should be able to sing loudly enough to be heard over a variety of instruments.[/li][/ul] Things I _don’t_ particularly care about are: [ul] [li] **Timbre**. Sadly, I do not have a lovely voice. (My husband will be glad to confirm this for you if you doubt me. 🙂 )But it’s irrelevant in this case; I’m just trying to help people hear the notes they need to play. (Anyway, the Javanese have a completely different aesthetic for singing, so sounding “pretty” from a Western standpoint wouldn’t matter.)[/li][li] **Breathing technique**. Again, I don’t need to sound beautiful (and dynamics aren’t a concern). I just need to convey tonal/rhythmic information.[/li][/ul] Any suggestions? Are their on-line singing exercises I ought to do? How much time do I need to devote to this? Thanks in advance for any tips. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528/2 "2017-09-05T10:16:22Z")
I can’t sing decently, but from a guitar standpoint, I surf YouTube looking for tutorial videos. I’d check there for vocal training series and see whose approach I liked. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528/3 "2017-09-05T17:06:28Z")
I’m a singer, but I’m old-school and prefer voice lessons. So I can’t really help, except to strongly recommend that you move “breathing technique” to the top of the list: it will help with both pitch and volume, and is pretty critical. IMO. I second **WordMan** ’s “Good luck!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528/4 "2017-09-05T17:34:23Z")
[Straw training](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xYDvwvmBIM) is a standard in singing lessons nowadays. Though in singing, as opposed to speaking, we usually use arpeggiations and thirds instead of the stuff he does. The trick is to start with a long, thick straw (like a bendy straw) and after you’re warmed up move to a long, thin straw (like a stirring straw). It strengthens your voice a lot and makes it easier to match pitch. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528/5 "2017-09-05T17:37:44Z")
I take vocal lessons. I’ve been using this book of exercises. There’s a little of everything. Vowels, breath support, Octaves, intervals etc. My favorite is the sing a half step, sing a whole step exercise. Great warm up. Drop your Jaw is a fun one. I warm up with it every day. The 4 vowel exercises are good. The breath exercises are frustrating but very useful. I’ve studied 14 of the exercises in the book so far. > **[Vocalize! 1: 45 Accompanied Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique, Book &...](https://www.amazon.com/Vocalize-Accompanied-Warm-Ups-Technique-Enhanced/dp/0739096524)** > > Vocalize! 1: 45 Accompanied Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique, Book & Enhanced CD \[Beck, Andy, Hayden, Tim\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Vocalize! 1: 45 Accompanied Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique, Book & Enhanced CD ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-recommend-exercises-to-strengthen-my-voice/795528/6 "2017-09-06T06:07:09Z")
Thanks to all for your suggestions and good wishes. [QUOTE=Misnomer] recommend that you move “breathing technique” to the top of the list: **it will help with both pitch and volume** , and is pretty critical. IMO. [/QUOTE] I had no idea it mattered! Glad you told me this.