What’s the Difference Between a Vocal Warmup and a Vocal Exercise? (And Why It Matters!)
When you start learning to sing, one of the first recommendations you’ll hear is: warm up your voice. This is excellent advice—but it’s also important to know what a warmup really is, and how it differs from a vocal exercise. Understanding the difference will help you get the most out of your practice and prevent frustration along the way.
What Are Vocal Warmups?
Think of vocal warmups like stretching before a run. The goal is to gently get your voice moving, stretching, and preparing for the more complex work of singing.
As a newer singer, it’s best to focus on one task at a time during warmups. This allows you to notice how your voice feels and sounds before you dive into songs.
Examples of Vocal Warmups:
- Slides, lip buzz, tongue trills, humming, or SOVTs – great for loosening up the voice.
- Articulation warmups – playing with consonants and vowels so your lips, tongue, and teeth coordinate smoothly.
- Breath flow warmups – practicing airflow with hissing, lip buzz, or focused breathing awareness.
These warmups build body awareness and help you check in with your voice. You’ll notice how easily (or not!) things are working, which can guide how you approach practice or performance that day.
What Are Vocal Exercises?
Here’s where things shift: a vocal exercise is not just about warming up—it’s about training a specific coordination, sensation, or balance in your voice that supports your singing goals.
Some exercises may use the same sounds as warmups (like lip buzz or humming), but the intention is different. With exercises, you’re applying the sound directly to skill-building.
Examples of Vocal Exercises:
- Lip buzz on a song melody – helps you smooth out breaks or notice where breath runs out.
- Messa di voce (changing volume on one pitch) – trains volume control and balance so you can apply it later in your songs.
Exercises are about building targeted skills that transfer directly into your repertoire.
Why Does the Difference Matter?
Knowing the difference between warmups and exercises helps you practice efficiently.
If you skip warmups and go straight to challenging exercises (like messa di voce), you may:
- Feel frustrated by a lack of control
- Struggle with vocal coordination
- Risk straining your voice
It’s just like running: if you start a race without stretching, your muscles aren’t ready for the demands you’re placing on them.
Bringing It All Together
Warmups prepare your voice.
Exercises build specific skills.
Songs put it all into action.
By understanding the role of each, you’ll practice more effectively, make faster progress, and enjoy singing with greater freedom and control.
Happy practicing—and may your warmups, exercises, and songs all work together to help you shine as a singer!