Warm Me Up!

For those of you who have been following my semi-regular column, (I’m doing my best to fix the “semi” part), you may remember that I have talked about great iPhone apps for performers. Well, there is a new app in town and I am glad that I haven’t mentioned it before because I believe it deserves an article of its very own.

That app is “Warm Me Up!” and it does exactly what the name suggests. A vocal warm up application for your iPhone which has been built by three Australian musical directors/vocal coaches; Luke Hunter, Vicky Jacobs and David Young. All well known in the industry both here and abroad for their work with vocalists and for working on an impressive array of musicals.

For me the strength of this app really lies in its simplicity. Once it is set up you can launch the app and literally begin your vocal warm up within 5 seconds.

For years I've been using the same recording of a singing teacher doing 10 minutes of scales and warm ups. I had become so accustomed to singing the same exercises that I would zone out and my voice really wouldn’t get the full benefit of the time spent.

Using “Warm Me Up!”, you can set your voice type, (Male or Female, High or Low) and also specify the time you would like to spend warming up. I think the default time is set at 12 minutes. Once you hit “play” the app then chooses from over 50 exercises in 5 different categories and builds a unique combination every session. Starting with something very gentle and then building through each exercise, and finally stretching your range towards the end. It also throws in a few pitch and articulation exercises to keep you on your toes.

Once you get to know the exercises in the app there is the option to save your own custom combination of warmups. However I enjoy the idea of having a different warm up every day, I find not knowing what exercise is coming next keeps me mentally engaged and a little more focussed on my voice. 

I have also learnt that for some reason I can not sing “Yes no yes no yes no ..... ” on an ascending phrase. There is something in my brain that apparently has an aversion to this and no matter how hard I try it still just comes out as “Yeohnoesyeohnoes”. It’s a new goal. 

I would definitely recommend this app to anyone with an iPhone who warms up on a regular basis.

The app can be purchased on the itunes store here: (click on app store button)

Look for the blue and yellow image above!

 (Anyone else struggling with any exercises, let us know. But if anyone can master that "Yes No Yes No" exercise, I would love to hear about it!)