Voice Acting Warm-Up Exercises
Learn to craft your perfect Voice Acting Warm-Up
Hey there, fellow voice actor! Ready to level up your voice-over game? Your voice is your instrument, and just like any instrument, it needs some tuning up before you hit the recording studio. That’s where vocal warm-ups come in – they’re the secret sauce to a stellar voice acting performance.
Start off with our three VOICE COACHES Mel, Michael and Yvonne as they give you essential tips to perfect your Voice Acting Warm-up:
Mel Churcher
Voice and Acting Coach
Mel Churcher has been an actor, a theatre director and a voice coach. She’s worked at the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Manchester Royal Exchange, Royal Court and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, where she was the voice department for 12 years. She’s been at Central School of Speech and Drama for many years, making showreels, teaching voice, directing theatre and now coaching the acting coaches; she was at Rose Bruford’s as Head of Voice; worked at LAMDA, ALRA, East 15, IFS in Cologne, Zurich University of Arts – and now directs showreels for Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna. She helps with all aspects of voice coaching. Now Mel mainly coaches screen actors, and runs international screen acting workshops. She’s coached on more than 65 major films & TV series (see imdb.me/melchurcher). She’s written three books on acting: Acting for Film: Truth 24 Times a Second (Random House), A Screen Acting Workshop (Nick Hern Books) and The Elemental Actor (Nick Hern Books), which came out in 2023. She holds MAs in Performing Arts (Mddx) and Voice Studies (RCSSD).
Mel’s tips for your voice acting warm-up
Michael Hill
Voice Coach
Michael’s voice coaching has embraced a wide range of different performers and styles – from teaching singing and accents to TV actors, dialect coaching for films, training West End singers, helping lawyers with public speaking and even teaching international metalcore bands to grunt safely on tour!
As an experienced voice coach and Senior Lecturer in Higher Education, Michael has given voice masterclasses for a variety of respected institutions, such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the World Voice Consortium and Clinical Excellence Networks within the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
Michael’s tips for your voice acting warm-up
This video is an extract from Michael’s TIPS TO KEEP YOU TALKING module available in full to members
Yvonne Morley
Voice Teacher and Vocal Coach
Yvonne has been established as a versatile voice teacher and vocal coach for over thirty years. She has been involved in actor training for a number of drama schools including being Head of the Voice Department for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art until July 2007 when she decided to return to freelance work. She is an Associate with the Royal National Theatre’s Voice Department, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Yvonne’s tips for your voice acting warm-up
This is video an extract from Yvonne’s VOCAL CARE programme available in full to members
Tips to improve your voice acting warm-up
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your journey, the daily voice acting warm-up is non-negotiable. It’s your secret weapon for expanding your vocal range, preventing vocal strain, and delivering top-notch performances every time. So, let’s dive into some essential warm-ups for voice actors that will get your vocal cords ready for action:
- Chill Out and Breathe: Take a deep breath in through your nose, filling up your belly. Feel your diaphragm move as you breathe in and out. This helps you engage that all-important muscle for voice acting. Then, slowly exhale, letting go of any tension.
- Loosen Up: Gently massage your face, especially around your jaw, cheeks, and lips. Stick out your tongue and move it around in circles, side to side, up and down. Open and close your mouth a few times, like you’re really surprised by something!
- Hum and Buzz: Start by humming a comfy note in your mid-range, then slide up and down your range to explore your full vocal range. Now, for some fun: close your lips and blow air through them to make a buzzing sound (lip trills). You can also try tongue trills by placing the tip of your tongue behind your upper teeth and blowing air.
- Vocal Fry Time: This is that low, creaky sound you make when you wake up. Gently engage it for a few seconds, then change the pitch up and down. Just don’t overdo it, or your vocal cords might complain!
- Tongue Twisters: These are a blast and great for warming up different parts of your voice and improving articulation. Start easy (“Red lorry, yellow lorry”) and then challenge yourself as your voice warms up. TONGUE TWISTER FOR VOICE ACTORS
- Meow Like You Mean It: Yep, you read that right. Start with a soft “meow” and then crank up the volume and intensity. Play around with different pitches and emotions, just like you would with a character’s voice.
- Straw Phonation: Grab a straw and hum or sing through it. This trick helps with breath control and resonance.
- Fricative Fun: These are sounds like “f,” “v,” “th,” “s,” and “z.” Practice saying words and phrases with these sounds, making sure they’re crisp and clear.
- Hiss It Out: Inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale slowly through your mouth with a hissing sound, like a deflating balloon.
- Cool Down Time: After your warm-up, give your voice a break. Hum a soothing melody or sing softly. Don’t strain your voice right away.
Remember, these voice-over warm-ups are just the beginning. Make warm-ups a regular part of your routine, whether you’re prepping for a recording session or practicing your craft. Your voice is unique, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Now go out there and rock those voice acting gigs!