🎤 Free Vocal Warm-Up Exercises for Speakers

Professional voice exercises to prepare for presentations, video recordings, and teleprompter sessions

Why Warm Up Your Voice?

Just like athletes warm up before a game, speakers and presenters need to prepare their voice before recording or presenting. A proper vocal warm-up routine helps you:

Reduce vocal strain and prevent voice fatigue during long recordings
Improve clarity and articulation for better audience comprehension
Increase projection and speak with more confidence
Eliminate "morning voice" and sound professional from the first take
Reduce nervous tension in your jaw, tongue, and throat

Spend 5-10 minutes on these exercises before using a teleprompter or recording video content for best results.

⚡ 5-Minute Quick Warm-Up Routine

Breathing

1 minute

Lip Trills

1 minute

Jaw Release

30 seconds

Tongue Twisters

1.5 minutes

Range Slides

1 minute

🌬️ Breathing Exercises

Diaphragmatic Breathing 2 min

The foundation of all voice work. Proper breath support gives you power, control, and prevents vocal strain.

How to do it:

Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly
Breathe in slowly through your nose for 4 counts
Your belly should expand (not your chest)
Hold for 2 counts
Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 counts
Repeat 5-10 times

Pro Tip: If your shoulders rise when you breathe, you're using chest breathing. Focus on expanding your belly like a balloon.

Sustained "S" Exercise 1 min

Builds breath control and helps you sustain longer sentences without running out of air.

How to do it:

Take a deep diaphragmatic breath
Exhale making a continuous "ssssss" sound
Keep the sound steady and even
Time yourself - aim for 20-30 seconds
Repeat 3-5 times, trying to increase duration

Breath Pulsing 1 min

Activates your core and prepares you for punchy, energetic delivery.

How to do it:

Take a deep breath
Say "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA" sharply, pushing from your diaphragm
Feel your belly bounce with each "HA"
Rest and repeat 5 times

👄 Lip & Tongue Exercises

Lip Trills (Motorboat) 1 min

The ultimate vocal warm-up! Relaxes the lips, engages breath support, and gently warms up your vocal cords.

How to do it:

Relax your lips completely
Take a breath and blow air through closed lips
Make a "BRRRRR" sound like a motorboat
Add voice and slide up and down your range
Continue for 30-60 seconds

Pro Tip: If you can't get the trill going, try pressing your fingers gently against your cheeks to help your lips vibrate.

Tongue Stretches 30 sec

Increases tongue flexibility for clearer articulation, especially for fast-paced scripts.

How to do it:

Stick your tongue out as far as possible - hold 5 seconds
Try to touch your nose with your tongue - hold 5 seconds
Try to touch your chin - hold 5 seconds
Move tongue side to side (like a windshield wiper) - 10 times
Circle your tongue around your lips - 5 times each direction

The "LA-LA-LA" Exercise 30 sec

Loosens the tongue and improves the clarity of "L" sounds.

How to do it:

Say "LA-LA-LA-LA-LA" rapidly
Exaggerate the tongue movement
Start slow, then increase speed
Repeat for 30 seconds

Cork Exercise (Optional) 2 min

Used by professional speakers to dramatically improve articulation. You'll need a wine cork or similar object.

How to do it:

Place a cork between your front teeth (bite down gently)
Read a paragraph from your script out loud
Over-articulate every word despite the obstruction
Remove the cork and read the same paragraph
Notice how much clearer your speech becomes!

😮 Jaw & Facial Relaxation

Jaw Release 30 sec

Releases tension that causes mumbling and muffled speech. Essential if you hold stress in your jaw.

How to do it:

Place your palms on your cheeks
Slowly open your mouth as wide as comfortable
Massage your jaw muscles in circular motions
Let your jaw hang loose and relaxed
Gently move your jaw side to side
Repeat 5-10 times

The Yawn-Sigh 30 sec

Opens up your throat and relaxes your vocal mechanism naturally.

How to do it:

Pretend you're about to yawn
Open your mouth wide and inhale
As you exhale, let out a relaxed "ahhhhh" sigh
Start high and slide down to your lowest comfortable note
Repeat 5 times

Face Massage 1 min

Releases facial tension and prepares your face for expressive delivery on camera.

How to do it:

Use your fingertips to massage your forehead
Massage your temples in circular motions
Press along your cheekbones
Massage your jaw joints (just below your ears)
Scrunch your face tight, then release completely
Repeat the scrunch-release 5 times

🎵 Vocal Range & Resonance

Sirens (Pitch Glides) 1 min

Warms up your entire vocal range and helps you find your optimal speaking pitch.

How to do it:

Start at the lowest comfortable note in your range
Slide up to your highest comfortable note on "WOOO"
Then slide back down
Keep the sound smooth and connected
Repeat 5-10 times

Humming 1 min

Gently warms the vocal cords and develops forward resonance for a richer voice.

How to do it:

Close your lips gently
Hum a comfortable note - feel vibration in your lips and nose
Hum up and down your range
Try humming a simple melody
Continue for 1 minute

Pro Tip: Place your fingers on your nose and lips. You should feel strong vibration - this indicates good resonance.

"Mum-Mum-Mum" Exercise 30 sec

Combines humming with mouth opening for smooth transitions.

How to do it:

Say "MUM-MUM-MUM-MUM-MUM" on one note
Keep your lips relaxed
Feel the vibration move from your nose to your mouth
Move up and down your range
Repeat for 30 seconds

🗣️ Articulation: Tongue Twisters

Practice these tongue twisters slowly at first, then gradually increase speed while maintaining clarity. Say each one 3-5 times in a row.

Easy

"Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry."

Easy

"Unique New York, unique New York, you know you need unique New York."

Easy

"Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat."

Medium

"She sells seashells by the seashore."

Medium

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Medium

"How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?"

Medium

"Whether the weather is warm, whether the weather is hot, we have to put up with the weather, whether we like it or not."

Hard

"The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick."

Hard

"She stood on the balcony, inexplicably mimicking him hiccupping, and amicably welcoming him in."

Hard

"Pad kid poured curd pulled cod."

Hard

"Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons."

Hard

"Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards."

Articulation Focus: For P/B sounds: "Peter Piper" • For S sounds: "She sells seashells" • For TH sounds: "The thirty-three thieves" • For R/L sounds: "Red lorry, yellow lorry"

📢 Volume & Projection

The "HEY!" Exercise 30 sec

Activates your diaphragm for powerful projection without straining.

How to do it:

Imagine calling to someone across a large room
Take a deep breath
Say "HEY!" firmly from your diaphragm (not your throat)
The power should come from your core, not volume
Repeat 5 times

Counting with Crescendo 1 min

Develops control over your volume range.

How to do it:

Count from 1 to 10
Start at a whisper with "1"
Gradually increase volume with each number
By "10" you should be projecting fully
Then count backward from 10 to 1, getting softer
Repeat 3 times

✅ Pre-Recording Checklist

Final Preparation Steps

Before hitting record:

✅ Complete your warm-up routine (5-10 minutes)
✅ Drink room temperature water (cold water tightens vocal cords)
✅ Avoid dairy products (causes mucus)
✅ Clear your throat gently by humming (not coughing)
✅ Read your first few lines out loud as practice
✅ Check your teleprompter speed settings
✅ Take 3 deep breaths to center yourself
✅ Smile to warm up facial muscles and lift your energy

Hydration Tip: Drink water throughout the day, not just before recording. Your vocal cords need to be hydrated from the inside, which takes time.

Ready to Record?

Now that your voice is warmed up, practice your script with Teleprompter.com for a flawless delivery!

Open Teleprompter App →

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🎙️ Why Voice Matters on Camera

Your voice is 38% of your communication impact according to studies. A well-warmed voice:

Sounds more confident and authoritative
Has better clarity and articulation
Maintains consistent energy throughout recording
Reduces the need for multiple takes

⏰ When to Warm Up

The best times to do vocal warm-ups:

Morning recordings: 10-15 minutes (voice is stiffest)
Afternoon recordings: 5-10 minutes
After a break: 3-5 minute refresh
Long recording sessions: Brief warm-ups every 30-45 minutes

🚫 Things to Avoid

Before and during recording sessions:

Cold drinks (constricts vocal cords)
Dairy products (creates mucus)
Excessive caffeine (dehydrates)
Whispering (actually strains your voice)
Clearing your throat harshly

💡 Voice Care Tips

For ongoing vocal health:

Stay hydrated throughout the day
Use a humidifier in dry environments
Rest your voice between long sessions
Avoid shouting or straining
Warm up before every recording

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I warm up my voice before recording?

For most people, 5-10 minutes is sufficient. If it's early morning or you haven't spoken much that day, aim for 10-15 minutes. The key is warming up until your voice feels loose, clear, and ready. You'll know you're warmed up when your voice feels "placed" forward and doesn't crack or feel tight.

I can't do lip trills - are there alternatives?

Yes! If lip trills are difficult, try tongue trills (rolling your R's), humming, or making a "VVVV" sound. You can also try pressing your fingers gently against your cheeks while attempting lip trills. The goal is to relax and vibrate the articulators while engaging breath support.

What should I drink before recording?

Room temperature water is best. Avoid ice-cold drinks as they can tighten your vocal cords. Also avoid dairy (causes mucus), excessive caffeine (dehydrates), and alcohol (affects coordination and dehydrates). Warm herbal tea with honey can be soothing, but nothing beats plain water for vocal health.

My voice gets tired during long recording sessions - what can I do?

Take breaks every 20-30 minutes for long sessions. During breaks, rest silently and drink water. Do a quick 2-minute refresh warm-up before starting again. Also check your technique - if you're straining to be heard, you may need to adjust your microphone placement rather than speaking louder. Proper breath support also reduces fatigue significantly.

Should I do these exercises every day?

You should warm up before every recording session, presentation, or extended speaking engagement. For general vocal health and improvement, doing a full routine once daily can help strengthen and improve your voice over time. Professional voice-over artists and presenters often do daily vocal exercises as part of their routine.

How do tongue twisters help with teleprompter reading?

Tongue twisters train your articulators (tongue, lips, jaw) to move quickly and precisely. This translates directly to clearer speech when reading from a teleprompter, especially at faster speeds. They also help prevent stumbling over difficult word combinations that might appear in your script.

Why Warm Up Your Voice?

⚡ 5-Minute Quick Warm-Up Routine

🌬️ Breathing Exercises

How to do it:

How to do it:

How to do it:

👄 Lip & Tongue Exercises

How to do it:

How to do it:

How to do it:

How to do it:

😮 Jaw & Facial Relaxation

How to do it:

How to do it:

How to do it:

🎵 Vocal Range & Resonance

How to do it:

How to do it:

How to do it:

🗣️ Articulation: Tongue Twisters

📢 Volume & Projection

How to do it:

How to do it:

✅ Pre-Recording Checklist

Before hitting record:

Ready to Record?

🚀 More Free Tools for Content Creators

🎙️ Why Voice Matters on Camera

⏰ When to Warm Up

🚫 Things to Avoid

💡 Voice Care Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

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