Do Vocal Warm Ups Actually Work?

Описание: We've all skipped warm-ups and nothing bad happened. So why does everyone insist they're essential for vocal safety?

In this episode, we dig into what the research actually says about vocal warm-ups—and the answer might surprise you. The injury prevention framing is a surprisingly recent invention, borrowed from sports medicine. And even in sports, the evidence is shakier than we've been told.

The real issue? Warm-up time often becomes permission for mindless practice. Every rep counts, whether you're "just warming up" or performing. The bel canto masters knew this—their exercises weren't about protection, they were about skill-building.

Chapters:
0:00 The Question Nobody Asks
1:20 A Brief History of Warming Up
4:33 What the Research Actually Shows
10:41 The Real Problem—Mindless Practice
14:18 What Should We Do Instead?

Created By:
Performed and Recorded by: Drew Williams-Orozco
Written by: Josh Manuel

References:
Afonso, J., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Sarmento, H., Santos, J. A. R., & Clemente, F. M. (2024). Revisiting the 'Whys' and 'Hows' of the Warm-Up: Are We Asking the Right Questions? *Sports Medicine*, 54(1), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01...

Elliot, N., Sundberg, J., & Gramming, P. (1995). What Happens During Vocal Warm-Up? *Journal of Voice*, 9(1), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(05...

Gish, A., Kunduk, M., Sims, K., & McWhorter, A. J. (2012). Vocal Warm-Up Practices and Perceptions in Vocalists: A Pilot Survey. *Journal of Voice*, 26(1), e1–e10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2010...

Hoch, M., & Sandage, M. J. (2018). Exercise Science Principles and the Vocal Warm-Up: Implications for Singing Voice Pedagogy. *Journal of Voice*, 32(1), 79–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2017...

Iwarsson, J., Lindström, M., Hertegård, S., Sundberg, J., & Nägga, E. (2022). Effects of Warm-Up Exercises on Self-Assessed Vocal Effort. *Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology*, 48(3), 121–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/14015439.2022...

Moorcroft, L., & Kenny, D. T. (2013). Singer and Listener Perception of Vocal Warm-Up. *Journal of Voice*, 27(2), 258.e1–258.e13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2012...

Motel, T., Fisher, K. V., & Leydon, C. (2003). Vocal Warm-Up Increases Phonation Threshold Pressure in Soprano Singers at High Pitch. *Journal of Voice*, 17(2), 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(03...

Ragsdale, J., Nix, J., Sandage, M. J., & Hoch, M. (2022). Collegiate Singers' Perceptions of Vocal Warm-Up Duration. *Journal of Voice*, 36(1), 145.e1–145.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020...

Ruotsalainen, J. H., Sellman, J., Lehto, L., Jauhiainen, M., & Verbeek, J. H. (2007). Interventions for Preventing Voice Disorders in Adults. *Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*, (4), CD006372. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD00...