by Ren La Porte
In this blog we explore how to warm up your voice before an event. Do you sometimes find yourself tripping over your own words? Perhaps they don’t come out as easily as you would expect? The following little activities provide big results when it comes to confidence speaking at your next engagement.
A GOOD VOCAL FIRST IMPRESSION
Professional singers, actors and speakers go through a warm up process of their voice box much the same as an athlete goes through a warm up process ready for running. Each person has their own unique set of activities. Here are some tips for good vocal first impressions.
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
GENTLE YAWN AND SIGH
Yawn deeply to open and stretch your throat muscles. Follow with a relaxed “ah” sigh.
- Why it helps: Relaxes the larynx and encourages an open, tension-free throat.
HUMMING
Keep your teeth slightly apart, lips gently closed, and tongue behind your bottom front teeth. Sing a gentle “hmmm” or ‘h’ sound while gliding up and down your vocal range.
- Why it helps: Increases blood flow to the vocal folds with minimal strain.
LIP TRILLS
Pout your lips loosely and blow air through them while making a “brrrrr” sound, like you are showing a child playing how to play with a toy car.
- Why it helps: Coordinates breath support with vibration to release jaw and lip tension.
THE STRAW EXERCISE
Place a straw gently between your lips, and hum or glide through high and low pitches while ensuring no air escapes the sides of your mouth.
- Why it helps: Balances air pressure and releases vocal strain.
ARTICULATION EXERCISES
Recite tongue twisters (e.g., “Red leather, yellow leather“) at varying speeds and volumes. Another helpful idea here is to choose the most difficult words from your pitch and repeat them over and over again.
- Why it helps: Warms up the lips, tongue, and jaw for clearer speech projection.
CONCLUSION
As individuals, we are all built different with different goals in mind. Some of these tools will be useful to you, some may not. Now that you have an idea of what is possible, have a go at piecing together your own routine or researching more examples. Whatever your end goal, you’ve got this!
REFERENCES
- 9 Best Vocal Warm-ups for Singers (2026). School of Rock. https://www.schoolofrock.com/resources/vocals/9-best-vocal-warm-ups-for-singers
- Dr. Opperman, D. (2025, December 17). 21 Vocal Exercises to Prevent Hoarseness and Voice Strain. Colorado Voice Clinic & Specialty Ear, Nose and Throat. https://www.coloradovoiceclinic.com/post/vocal-exercises
- How to Warm Up Your Voice Before Public Speaking. (2025, August 1). ENT & Allergy Specialists. https://entandallergyspecialists.org/how-to-warm-up-your-voice-before-public-speaking/
- Verba Vocal Technique. (2014, January 11). Quick voice warm up – for public speaking. [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb1Cv7aDXmk
More tips and tricks for public speaking – Streamlining your success
