Partner Warm-Up #2
by Teresa Jennings
Like its predecessor, "Partner Warm-Up #1," this warm-up is for older students. In fact, this time part 2 is written in bass clef for your changed, changing, or lower voices. As with most partner songs, each part is sung independently at first, then combined.
The focus of this warm-up is proper use of the diaphragm - or stomach muscles, if you prefer - when singing. Have students separate each syllable completely that is marked staccato. Not connecting will force the stomach muscles to work. When done properly, the stomach should bounce.
If the chromatic progression at measure 13 is too difficult, feel free to alter or adjust the parts as needed. For example, have them sing the pick-up D's into measure 13 and into measure 14 and so on, instead of the notes on beats 2 and 3 in each bar.
One word of caution - don't repeat this exercise too much. That proper muscle use might cause a little dizziness in some. In fact, having students sit down with straight backs might be best, just in case. (It's the overuse of the "h" that may cause problems for some. You can remove this consonant throughout and just go with a hard vowel attack if you prefer.)
Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.