"Ten Minute Toolbox," by Richard Mays (Sonare publications)

"Choir Builders" by Rollo Dilworth. They are great fun, progress in a very carefully constructed way, and they come with a rehearsal CD and full accompaniments depending on your skills or preference.

"The Complete Choral Warm-Up Book: A Source for Choral Directors" Russell Robinson, Jay Althouse, Alfred Publishing ISBN 0-88284-657-4 approx $22.95

I've had good success with Building Beautiful Voices, by Paul Nesheim and Weston Noble, published by Roger Dean Publishing.  Available on www.musicmotion.com ($30 for director's ed.) or www.sheetmusicplus.com ($34).  Made a big difference in my choir's sound and they like the exercises.  There's a singer's ed. available ($3.95 each) but I just used the director's ed.

I go back again and again to Tim Seelig's "The Perfect Blend."  It's fun to read, easy to understand, and sets you up with many options for a warm-up session that is logical with specific goals in mind. His stuff works both with beginners and experienced singers.  It's my #1 reference.  I must own at least 10 other warm-up books, but I have found none as useful and as successful with my choirs as Tim's.

 

Paula Roberts

I have enjoyed the Robinson/Russell text previously mentioned for many years.  I have used it in my beginning choirs, and also in more advanced high school and adult choirs.  Sally Albrecht also put out a warmup book, The Choral Warm-Up Collection, (also published by Alfred) and I have used some in that but haven't had a chance to really sit down with the book and explore.  I also try to create warmups based on pieces we're working on and skills I'd like for the group to achieve.

Hi John, I am Roger Alden Anderson, BM Westminster Choir College, MA, NYU. I studied with Frauka Haasseman. To understand warm ups is to understand the essence of the voice.

            1 )Yawn Sigh:  high to low---Why? To add blood to all parts of the voice without worry of notes.

            2)  Do rhythms on Consonants for diction (Have fun).

            3) Long tones on vowells one at a time 12 counts at least ( Pitch integrity).

            4) Long tones with dynamics.

            5) Create five standard warm ups for pitch and agility then take three from the hard sections of your music it's self.

            6) always work the entire range of the voice, high and low.

            7) Don't under estemate the power of lip trills.

Roger 

raamaestro(a)roadrunner.com