What are warm-ups for?

Choir leaders hear this plaintive cry from time to time. What's the point of warming up? Can't we just start singing?

Well, the answer is yes, we can just start singing. Singing is the most natural activity in the world and as long as we don't launch straight into the final movement of Beethoven 9, we're unlikely to do ourselves a nasty.

However, the singing voice is a largely muscular system. Like any muscles, our singing muscles prefer to be used gently before we put them under increased strain. If we're singing regularly, it's a good idea to begin, at the very least, with gentle singing in the middle of our vocal range.

To me, the point of warm-ups for choirs has always been more social than physical. People arrive at rehearsal with the weight of the day on their shoulders. We can't expect them to instantly find the relaxed focus that is ideal for choral singing.

That's where a well-crafted warm-up plan can be a real help, but even a couple of minutes of deep breathing and humming is better than nothing.

Fortunately, for you busy choir leaders, you'll find done-for-you warm-up plans available to download for free at choirwarmups.com.

Happy singing!