November 2024
How long should you warm up?
This varies with each singer. Some people will need more; some, less. It is a personal preference. However, if you are going to be singing intensely for a long performance, does it make sense to practice for an hour before hand? You wouldn’t run for an hour before setting off on a cross-country race, would you?
If you have developed a nice routine of warming up the large muscles of the torso and then the small muscles of the tongue and jaw, doing a series of sirens, staccato work, etc. for another 15 minutes or so should wake up the required muscles. The better your technique, the less time you may need.