Bluecard/Consonants

As you view the DVD you will hear Renee reference a "Blue Card." This outlines a brief summary that will guide you through a quick daily vocal warm-up. You should go through the warm-up at least once a day as well as before rehearsing and before performing. This warm-up is designed to reaffirm the physical sensations of good support and resonance as you warm up the vocal cords.

In the interest of time, on the video we practice each sound and exercise only once or twice. When YOU warm up, try to repeat each exercise until you feel you are doing it correctly and are meeting our standards of freedom, buzz and resonance. Usually 2-4 times for each sound. Use the techniques and demonstrations from the video as a reference.

RENEE GRANT-WILLIAMS QUICK-FIX VOCAL WARM-UP

1. Re-establish your breathing. Take your time. Open, Drop and Slump when the air comes in.

2. Next, find your support. In speaking voice do these as single sounds first, then as a continuous group of three. Keep your lips closed like a ventriloquist except when breathing.

ZZ EE AA AH OH OO BR(rolled R sound) ZZ

3. Choose a different scale each day from the list below. (The numbers correspond to the notes of a major scale.) Start on a low note using the above vowels and sing the scale first slowly and carefully. Then sing the same vowel and scale 3X's very rapidly.

Repeat the scale on progressively higher notes. Starting with EE on the lowest notes and progress to OO on the highest. (For this portion, it is not necessary to do ZZ or BR.) Keep a relaxed jaw. Remember to support.

1-2-1-2-1

1-2-3-2-1

1-2-3-4-3-2-1

1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2-1

1-3-5-3-1

1-3-5-6-5-3-1

For Advanced students:

1-3-4-4#-5-3-1

1-3-5-7maj.-5-3-1

1-7maj.-8-1

CONSONANTS

VOICED
These have Tone + Pitch + Length
(like singing)

MM NN LL VV RR ZZ TH(There)

UNVOICED
These have Length but NO Tone + NO Pitch
(lots of air)

SS SH FF HH CH TH(Things) TT(Sometimes)

STOPPED
These have No Tone + NO Pitch + NO Length
(short with a space in front of them)

DD GG BB CK PP TT(Sometimes)

WORDS THAT START WITH VOWELS
Like the stopped consonants, use a break before
and a glottal stop

SOMETIMES YY AND WW
Y is always like EE
W is always like OO (as in food)