Awesome Vocal Tip #1: Vocal Onset Exercises

Vocal Pedagogy scholars agree, vocal onset exercises are the most important exercise you can do for your voice!

Are you experiencing any of the following challenges in your singing practice?

1) rapid vocal fatigue
2) breathy or gravelly vocal tone
3) inability to control vibrato
4) inability to control intonation

If so, you are in need of strengthening the muscles in and around the vocal folds! Practice moving from breathe to sound with the following exercises:

1) Check alignment, chest 3/4 high, low breathing.
2) On any vowel sing quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, then hold.
3) On any vowel sing ascending four or five note scales.
4) Sing any scale patterns stopping to pulse the onset of sound.
5) Be sensitive to what you're feeling. Sense a clean coming together of the vocal folds. It should feel natural, no forcing or pushing.
6) Be patient with yourself if you don't feel it, or hear results right away. This can take some time, but is the single most important exercise for lasting vocal strength and health!

Happy Singing!

Dominic Gregorio holds an B.A. Degree in Music from the University of Guelph, a Master's Degree in Music from Temple University in Choral Conducting, Voice Performance and Music History, and is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting, Music Education and Voice at the University of Southern California.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Awesome
• Vocal
• Tips
• Pedagogy
• Singing
• Onset
• Dominic
• Gregorio

[rawrfee]

I have a whole set of Vocal Tips videos planned. This is my first try. Do you think I should redo this video and try actually looking into the camera? Constructive criticism is very welcome!

[Dragonfire7666]

Thank You.

[duncalftaylor4]

Can you give me exercises for thyroid tilt and how do i know when it tilts? I'm trying to learn how to go from chest voice to middle voice.

[fengqiaoyebowan]

Thank you so much for this effort. Everything is perfect including the weakness as well. Wait for more 

[wholegreaterthansum]

I don't think you need to re-do the video, it was informative and easy to understand. good advice, thanks!

[hrbo12]

Thanks, this is great. Just what I need. And I am grateful that you were having issues, that you pointed them out and gave us your thought processed in response to them.

[MatadorShifter]

@rawrfee No,I actually think that not looking into the camera works better. You gave some great tips, go ahead and make more Vocal Tips vids.

Since English is not my 1st language I struggle to learn the proper pronounciation. My consonants are clear and heavy but I have a problem with vowels.I can produce vowels but they're unclear and because of that I mispronounce lots of words I say.I feel like vowels just stuck in my throat (like it was locking everytime when I produce a vowel). Any tips?

[tastyciggarette]

you have such a great voice and It would be very nice of you if you'd make some new lessons! I also agree with christinavelia, make a video about what the biggest mistakes are and how to correct them?

[christinavelia]

i wonder if you can make a video of "correct" vs "non correct" ...exercises for things like placement, vowels, such...

[christinavelia]

very great!!! thank you