Vocal Warmup Exercises for Worship Leaders
- Sara Scott McDowell
- Oct 25
- 5 min read
If you lead worship or sing on a worship team, chances are you've searched for allllll the vocal warmups on YouTube and Google. And there are some really great ones out there!
❓ But how do you know which vocal warmup exercises are actually going to work? ❓
Which vocal warmup exercises are the best option for a worship leader or worship team singer to use?
For Christmas or Easter seasons, what vocal warmup routine will best help you get your voice ready or support you in dealing with allergies or singing sick?
And what if you have a specific goal in mind, like building your vocal strength, confidence, or agility?
In this post, I'm giving you all the details.
Before we jump in, if you're looking for a place to start with your vocal warmups or a solid vocal routine, grab my free 5 Minute Vocal Warmup for Worship Leaders. It will give you a taste of what an effective vocal warmup can look like, and I take you through the warmup like you're right there in my studio with me during a 1:1 vocal coaching session.
What are Good Vocal Warmup Exercises Specifically for Worship Leader and Worship Singers?
I've found there's not necessarily something that's specifically "better" for a worship context.
When I'm coaching clients through vocal warmups, I take into consideration what each individual vocalist has going on currently with their voice, their style, any injuries, vocal fatigue, how large their weekly + weekend vocal load is, what their goals are, etc.
That being said, there are some exercises that I recommend to a lot of the worship leaders and worship singers I work with:
Hums
These are a great all around gentle vocal warmup exercise, and can be super effective when done correctly. Hums are also perfect as a vocal warmup for kids or a vocal warmup for beginners because almost all of us know how to hum!
The technique behind the technique: just make sure when you're doing hums that they aren't stuck in the back of your throat. Work to get the placement in the front of your face. Also, don't force a hum. Only use the notes that are within your healthy range, aka, comfy, not squeezed or strained, and almost effortless.
Lip Trills
My all time fav! Lip Trills (also called lip bubbles) are highly effective. And not just for your voice. They help get your inhale and exhale activated, develop breath control and pacing, smooth out coordination between your breath and the notes you're singing...I could go on and on.
The technique behind the technique: your lip trills should actually be starting with your breath support. Don't push/pull the trills from your neck, shoulders, throat, or face. And if you struggle to make a Lip Trill in the first place, try a supported trill by placing one finger on either side of your mouth (where dimples would typically be) and adjusting the pressure until you can form a Lip Trill.
HOO Exercises
Another really gentle option, and one that's also known as an "easy onset" option (which means your vocal cords come together very gently due to the 'H' sound of this exercise). These are done by simply singing the word "HOOOOO".
The technique behind the technique: if these are feeling particularly difficult for you, which they should not, try letting your tongue relax. If you attempt these with too much tension they won't be as easy or effective as they should be.
A Strategic Vocal Warmup Routine
So now that you have some warmup exercises you can use, what do you actually do with them to get your voice warmup up and ready to sing and lead worship?
This is where your vocal warmup routine comes into play.
Think of your routine as a 4 story house. You're going to start on level 1 and gradually climb the stairs to the top floor. I have a favorite effective way to do this.
Let's say you choose to use Lip Trills. You'll work your way through each level using the Lip Trills in the following ways:
Level 1: single notes
Level 2: arpeggios
Level 3: slides (octave slides or shorter if needed)
Level 4: going through a song or worship set list
This gives your voice time to go from sleeping or talking to singing, and gradually increases the intensity, movement, and breath support needed to accomplish each level.
Christmas, Easter, and Singing Sick
The vocal warmup routine above is perfect year round. But what about seasons in the life of the church and worship ministry that are busier, or when you're battling allergies, illness, or coming back after a short or long break?
Enter Straw Exercises 🚪
Also known as straw phonation, these almost feel like a best kept secret.
Using a straw keeps your vocal cords + the back pressure created in a very neutral type of position and level.
Grab yourself a large diameter straw (think Stanley), and hum the above vocal warmup routine through the straw.
The technique behind the technique: make sure no air is escaping through your lips or nostrils when you do straw exercises. Also, no neck or throat squeeze allowed. Keep your volume low until you can get the technique right. Then move closer to your singing volume.
What About Specific Vocal Goals?
Working with a vocal coach is really the best way to get some help with your specific goals or challenges. But here are some of the main goals myself and my clients have had and the vocal exercises that have helped us reach those goals:
Vocal Strength
This will be built over time. Think minimum of 3 months to really see a difference. This is not so much dependent on what type of vocal warmup exercise you use as much as it comes down to being consistent with the routine and gradually increasing the number of days you use it each week.
Grow Your Vocal Range
Another one that will take some time. A healthy guesstimate of this is about 6 months to truly see sustainable growth. This one comes down to a balance of honoring where your voice is at with carefully challenging your range. Use straw exercises, slides, and lip trills.
Vocal Agility and Singing Riffs and Runs
Don't try to tackle this one until you've got a good vocal warmup foundation in place. For example, gradually work your way up to consistently using the effective vocal warmup routine 4 days per week. THEN add in some more challenging slides, sirens, or vocal jumps to add in more agility.
Doing riffs and runs requires vocal agility but also the confidence to experiment, learn, fail and sound silly at first. One easy way to practice this is to try matching your favorite riffs and runs in songs that you listen to. Then, try adding a riff and run into a section of a song where there isn't one. Have fun with this, and try not to take yourself too seriously! Let your creativity grow 💡
For more info on vocal warmups, check out my website, sarascottmcdowell.com/blog.
Looking for customized vocal warmup help? Get in touch about 1:1 vocal coaching. Or check out my vocal coaching membership The Worship Vocal L.A.B.
Hi, I'm Sara!
I support women in worship ministry through vocal coaching, worship leader coaching, and worship ministry coaching. I'm so glad you're here! You can find out more about my coaching options HERE. And always feel free to reach out if you have questions or need anything.
All my best,
Sara
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