Vocalise for Singers

What are Vocalises?

As you make your way through the vocalist’s journey of learning, training and performance, you’ll no doubt come across the term vocalising; but what exactly does it mean to ‘vocalise’, and how can it improve your overall vocal ability?

A vocalise is a vocal exercise without words, often suitable for performance. Vocalises range from basic vocal scales and exercises to classical works of art designed to practice particular vocal skills, including intonation, phrasing, control and nuance.

A vocalise typically consists of sustained or repeated vowel sounds that are sung on a single pitch or a specific musical scale. They can help singers warm up their voices before a performance, develop their vocal agility and flexibility, and improve their breath control and tone.

Some common vocalises for singers include lip trills, sirens, and vowel glides. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Lip trills

A lip trill, also known as a lip roll or buzz, is a vocal exercise where you rapidly vibrate your lips together to produce a continuous sound. This exercise can help you develop your breath control and improve your diction, as well as warm up your facial muscles and prepare you for singing. To do a lip trill, take a deep breath and exhale slowly while making a “brrr” sound with your lips. You can start on a low pitch and then gradually move up through your vocal range, trying to keep the sound smooth and even. Lip trills can be a useful tool for singers of any level, so give them a try and add them to your daily singing practice.

Sirens

Sirens are a type of vocal exercise that involves singing a sustained, sweeping glissando, or slide, through the vocal range. This exercise is named after the sound of a police or fire engine siren, which rises and falls in pitch. Sirens can help you to develop vocal agility, range, and control, as well as improve breath support and tone.

To do a siren, take a deep breath and slowly exhale while sliding up or down through your vocal range, using a smooth and even glissando. Start on a low pitch and move up, or vice versa, depending on your vocal range and abilities. Sirens can be a fun and challenging way to warm up your voice and improve your vocal technique.

Vowel Glide

A vowel glide is a smooth, continuous transition from one vowel sound to another. This can happen within a single word or between two words, and it is often used to add expression and fluidity to a melody. For example, you might use a vowel glide to smoothly transition from the “ee” sound in the word “key” to the “ah” sound in the word “heart,” creating a more natural and musical-sounding phrase. Vowel glides are an important aspect of vocal technique and can help improve the clarity and expression in your performance.

Simple Vocalises to Get You Started

These are just a few examples of the various vocalises you can use to get started. The specific exercises will vary depending on your range and skill level, so adapt accordingly to suit your voice.

“Mmmmm” on a sustained middle C
“Ahhhhh” on a descending scale from middle C to low G
“Eeeee” on a sustained high G, followed by a crescendo and decrescendo
“Ooooo” on a sustained high C, followed by a slow glissando down to low C
“Ohhhh” on a sustained low F, followed by a slow glissando up to high F
“Ooooo” on a sustained middle C, followed by a slow crescendo to high C and a decrescendo back to middle C
“Mmmmm” on a sustained low G, followed by a quick staccato repetition of the same note

Using Vocalises to improve vibrato

Some vocalises are useful for developing vibrato to add warmth and expressiveness to the voice. To practice vibrato, you might sing a sustained vowel sound, such as “Ahhhh,” and slowly vary the pitch of the note up and down, using your breath and vocal cords to create a pulsing, vibrating effect.

“Ahhhh” on a sustained middle C, with a slow, gentle vibrato
“Eeeee” on a sustained high G, with a faster, wider vibrato
“Ooooo” on a sustained low F, with a slow, tight vibrato

Vocalises to improve agility

Other vocalises are helpful to improve the agility of the voice, or the ability to quickly and accurately move between different pitches and vowel sounds. To practice agility, you can sing a series of short, staccato notes on different vowel sounds, moving quickly and smoothly from one note to the next.

“Ta-ka-ta-ka” on an ascending scale from middle C to high C
“La-la-la-la” on a descending scale from high C to low C
“Ma-ma-ma-ma” on a zig-zag pattern of ascending and descending notes between middle C and high C

Vocalising is an important part of a singer’s training, it helps to improve the control over your voice, develop greater range and flexibility, and build strength in your vocal muscles. And did we mention it can also be a lot of fun!

Vocalise Books & Audio Books

A selection of vocalise for singers are listed below for your convenience. Clicking on the links under the book’s description will take you to the affiliate site, where you can read more information and/or purchase the item. Using our affiliates to purchase helps to support this site – thank you.

Vocalize! Book/CD (SheetMusicPlus) 45 Accompanied Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. Each exercise in this invaluable resource is designed to reinforce fundamental vocal concepts for choral and solo singers of any age. Organized in 11 focused categories, the purpose of every warm-up is evident, and clearly-stated directions optimize growth. Supportive piano accompaniments, including progressive modulations, are lightly-orchestrated on the enclosed recording—perfect for ensemble rehearsals, studio lessons, or at-home practice. As an added bonus, PDF files on the enhanced CD provide extracted vocal lines on reproducible singer pages. An instructional book you will use again and again! Topics include: beginning warm-ups, posture, vowels, breath support, tone quality, diction, dynamics, articulations, diphthongs, blend, scales, intervals, harmony, and more. The comb binding creates a lay-flat book that is perfect for study and performance.
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2 Vocalises – Voice/Guitar
Vocalise / Etude en Forme de Habanera.

Composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff / Maurice Ravel. Arranged by Colette Mourey
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Baritone Voice at SheetMusicPlus
Bass Voice at SheetMusicPlus
Mezzo Soprano Voice at SheetMusicPlus
Soprano Voice at SheetMusicPlus
Tenor Voice at SheetMusicPlus

12 Vocalises Melodiques
Edition a Avec Accompagnement with accompaniment By Henri Busser. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511002250)
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20 Elementary and Progressive Vocalises, Op. 15
Medium Voice. By Salvatore Marchesi. Vocal Method. Size 7.7×11 inches. 44 pages. Published by Schirmer. (50255600)
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24 Progressive Vocalises, Op. 85 – Book 1
Voice Technique. By H.P. Panofka. Vocal Method. Size 6.7×10.5 inches. 24 pages. Published by Schirmer. (50255620)
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30 Vocalises, Op. 32
High or Medium Voice. By Mathilde Marchesi. Arranged by Estelle Liebling. Vocal Method. Size 7.5×11 inches. 68 pages. Published by Schirmer. (50252880)
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50 Lecons Op.9 (Low Voice/Piano)
50 Vocal Exercises/Lessons composed by Giuseppe Concone For low voice, piano.
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50 Lecons Op.9 (Medium Voice/Piano)
50 Vocal Exercises/Lessons composed by Giuseppe Concone For medium voice, piano.
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Andre Previn: Vocalise for Soprano, Cello & Piano
Written on 18 July 1995 for Sylvia McNair and Yo Yo Ma, Vocalise was first recorded by these artists, with the composer playing the piano, at 6am on 19 July in the Ozawa Hall, Tanglewod, USA
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Barcarola (Vocalise)
By Britain, Radie. For Soprano voice, piano accompaniment or Vc8. Score and parts. Published by Seesaw Music Corp.
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Contemporary Art Songs: 28 by British and American Composers
Voice and Piano. By Various. Contents: Barber: Must the Winter Come so Soon?, John Ness Beck: Song of Devotion, Bernstein: Two Love Songs (Extinguish My Eyes, When My Soul Touches Yours), Bowles: Heavenly Grass, Carpenter: When I Bring to You Colour’d Toys, Chavez: Segador, Chenoweth: Vocalise, Corigliano: Christmas at the Cloisters, The Unicorn, Dougherty: Sound the Flute!, Duke: Peggy Mitchell, Dunhill: To the Queen of Heaven, Gibbs: When I was One-and-Twenty, Hoiby: An Immorality, Kingsford: Down Harly Street, Menotti: Lullaby (The Consul), Moore: The Dove Song (The Wings of the Dove), Sargent: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, W. Schuman: Holiday Song, Shaw: Easter Carol, Symons: A Sight in Camp, Thiman: I Love all Graceful Things, Thomson: English Usage, The Tiger, Toye: The Inn, Vaughan Williams: Hugh’s Song of the Road, Wells: Everyone Sang.
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Diack Vocal Exercises: Studies for Singers
Studies on Tone colour and Interpretation
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Diack Vocal Exercises: High Voices
On Tone Placing and Enunciation. The objective through these exercises is to help the pupil produce a pure resonant tone on clearly enunciated words.
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Diack Vocal Exercises: Low & Medium Voices
On Tone Placing and Enunciation. The objective through these exercises is to help the pupil produce a pure resonant tone on clearly enunciated words.
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Emile-Jacques Dalcroze: 3 Vocalises (high) (Voice solo)

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Ferdinand Sieber: Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Vocalises For Alto Op.94
Thirty-six eight-measure vocalises for elementary vocal teaching, arranged for alto.
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Ferdinand Sieber: Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Vocalises For Baritone Op.96
Thirty-six eight-measure vocalises for elementary vocal teaching, arranged for Baritone.
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Ferdinand Sieber: Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Vocalises For Bass Op.97
Thirty-six eight-measure vocalises for elementary vocal teaching, arranged for Bass.
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Ferdinand Sieber: Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Vocalises For Mezzo-Soprano Op.93
Thirty-six eight-measure vocalises for elementary vocal teaching, arranged for mezzo-soprano.
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Ferdinand Sieber: Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Vocalises For Soprano Op.92
Thirty-six eight-measure vocalises for elementary vocal teaching, arranged for Soprano.
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Ferdinand Sieber: Thirty-Six Eight-Measure Vocalises For Tenor Op.95
Thirty-six eight-measure vocalises for elementary vocal teaching, arranged for Tenor.
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Georges Migot: 3 Chants suivis d’un Air Ãƒ Vocalises (Voice & Piano)
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Georges Migot:
Suite pour Piano et Choeurs en Vocalises (Choral-Mixed accompanied
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Great Art Songs of 3 Centuries
Contents: Non Poso Disperar (S. De Lyca), Lascuatemi Morire! (C.Monteverdi), Nymphs and Shepherds (H.Purcell), Le Violette (A. Scarlatti), Per La Gloria D’Adorarvi (G. B. Bononcini), Dank Sei Dir Herr (G. F. Handel), Si, Tra I Ceppi (G. F. Handel), Leave Me, Loanesome Night! (G.F. Handel), Dove Sei, Amato Bene? (G. F. Hadel), She Never Told Her Love (J. Haydn), Das Leben Ist Ein Traum (J. Hayden), Freudvoll Und Leidvoll (Beethoven), Neue Liebe, Neus Leben (Beethoven), An Die Leier (F. Schubert), Bei Dir! (F. Schubert), Der Schmetterling (F. Schubert), Ungeduld (F. Schubert), La Partida (F. M. Alverez), Absence (H. Berlioz), Stille Thranen (R. Schumann), Intermezzo (R. Schumann), Auftrage (R. Schumann), Sonntags Am Rhein (R.Schumann), Die Mainacht (Brahms), Meine Lieder (Brahms), DER JAGER (BRAHMS) Botschaft (Brahms), The Song of Khiviria (M. P. Moussorgsky), The Seminarian (M. P. Moussorgsky), Separazione (G. Sgambati), Non E Ver (T. Mattei), Vaaren (E. Grieg), Eros (E. Grieg), Aurore (G. Faure), Dans Les Ruines D’une Abbaye (G. Faure), Ici-Bas! (G. Faure), Les Papillons (E. Chausson), Mattinata (R. Leaoncavallo), Lebe Woh! (H. Wolf), Nimmersatte Liebe (H. Wolf), Auf Dem Grunen Balscon (H. Wolf), Nun Wandre, Maria (H. Wolf), Nuit D’Etoiles (Debussy), Clair De Lune (Debussy), Fleur Des Bles (Debussy), En Barque (Pierne), Chere Nuit (A. Bachelet), Heimkehr (R. Strauss), Mit Deinen Blauen Augen (R. Strauss), Le Miroir (Ferrari), To the Children (S. Rachmaninoff), Vocalise (S. Rachmaninoff), Forsake Me Not, My Love, I Pray (S. Rachmaninoff), D’Une Prison (R. Hahn), Offrande (R. Hahn), Sin Tu Amor (M. Sandoval), Serenata Gitana (M. Sandoval).
High Voice at SheetMusicPlus
Low Voice at SheetMusicPlus

Harry Cox: 16 Vocalises for Voice (Voice solo)
Seize Vocalises – Pour Voix Elevees
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Henri BÃƒÂ¼sser:
12 Vocalises-Etudes – Edition A (sop/ten) (Voice & Piano)
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Heinrich Panofka: Twenty-Four Progressive Vocalises Op.85 (Book 1)
All voices except Bass. Expertly arranged Vocal Method by Heinrich Panofka from the Kalmus Edition series. This is from the Romantic era.
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Heinrich Panofka: The Art Of Singing 24 Vocalises Op.81
24 exercises for elementary vocal teaching arranged for Alto, Baritone, and Bass, composed by Heinrich Panofka
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Heinrich Panofka: The Art Of Singing 24 Vocalises Op.81
This work presents 24 studies in The Art Of Singing and is suitable for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, or Tenor.
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Lutgen Vocalises Book 1 – 20 Daily Exercises (High Voice)
The aim of these Vocalises is to render the voice sufficiently flexible and mellow to execute easily and elegantly the colorature and embellishments found in the works of our great composers.
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Lutgen Vocalises Book 1 – 20 Daily Exercises (Medium Voice)
The aim of these Vocalises is to render the voice sufficiently flexible and mellow to execute easily and elegantly the colorature and embellishments found in the works of our great composers.
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Lutgen Vocalises Book 1 – 20 Daily Exercises (Low Voice)
The aim of these Vocalises is to render the voice sufficiently flexible and mellow to execute easily and elegantly the colorature and embellishments found in the works of our great composers.
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Mathilde Marchesi: Bel Canto
A theoretical and practical vocal method. Basic instructions, exercises and vocalises from the renowned singing teacher of the late 19th century. Introduction discusses breathing, attack, registers, etc.
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Mathilde Marchesi: Elementary Progressive Exercises Op.1
102 exercises for the mechanism of the voice and twelve exercises for the execution.
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Mathilde Marchesi: Vocal Method Op.31 (Complete)
Part I: Elementary and progressive exercises. Part II: Development of the exercises in the form of Vocalises.
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Mathilde Marchesi: Twenty Four Vocalises Op.2
A collection of vocal exercises arranged for Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano voice, composed by Mathilde Castrone Marchesi.
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Mathilde Marchesi: Thirty Vocalises Op.32
for High or Medium Voice with piano accompaniment
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Nicola Vaccai: Metodo Pratico (Medium Voice)
This excellent singing tutor presents 15 lessons, all designed to teach the singer both vocal exercises and the use of the Italian language.
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Nicola Vaccai: Metodo Pratico (High Voice)
Vaccai’s Metodo Pratico (Practical Method) for High Voice focuses on the art of the Italian language in performance.
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Nicola Vaccai: Metodo Pratico (Low Voice)
Vaccai’s Metodo Pratico (Practical Method) for Low Voice focuses on the art of the Italian language in performance.
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Resonance :Vocalises Grades 5-7
For Voice Composed by The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. A distinctive, comprehensive graded series for the developing singer. Published by Frederick Harris Music Company. Resonance: A Comprehensive Voice Series serves as the official resource for voice assessments of the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. Featuring an outstanding selection of voice literature and supporting materials, this series offers a truly enriched learning experience to help ensure student success.
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Salvatore Marchesi:
Twenty Elementary and Progressive Vocalises Op.15 for Alto/Mezzo Voice & Piano
Japanese language version of Marchesi’s 20 Vocalises from Opus 15 for Medium Voice and Piano accompaniment.
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Salvatore Marchesi:
Twenty Elementary And Progressive Vocalises Op.15 For Medium Voice
As a composer Salvatore Marchesi has published a number of settings of French, German and Italian songs, distiguished for graceful inspiration.
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Salvatore Marchesi:
Twenty Elementary And Progressive Vocalises Op.15 For Low Voice
The Vocalises may, in particular, be recommended for developing breadth and suavity of tone, together with clearness and elegance in phrasing.
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Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vocalise Op. 34, No. 14
Rachmaninoff composed his collection of 13 songs Op. 34 in 1912, but it was only three years later that he added a little closing piece without any text: the Vocalise, which soon outshone the other songs in terms of popularity and renown. Since its first performance in 1916 this expressive, melancholy piece has circulated in countless arrangements by others. Rachmaninoff himself made an arrangement for orchestra and voice, as well as one for orchestra alone. Henle’s Urtext edition contains the original version for high voice and piano, and is based on the autograph sources in the Glinka Museum in Moscow. A particular highlight is the separate vocal part that not only serves singers well but also all those instrumentalists who wish to play this wonderful piece using the original solo part.
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Vocalise
By Cowell. For voice, flute, piano. Photoprint edition – publisher prints this title after order is received. Duration 8′. Published by C.F. Peters.
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Vocalise-Etude #1-H.Voice/Piano
By Gabriel Faure. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511012090)
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Vocalise-Etude #20-Medium Voice/Piano
By Maurice Ravel. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511007180)
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Vocalise-Etude #88 High Voice
By Darius Milhaud. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511012350)
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Vocalise-Etude #89-High Voice/Piano
By Francis Poulenc. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511012360)
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Vocalise-Etude #112-Medium Voice/Piano
By Bohuslav Martinu. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511005440)
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Vocalise-Etude #142-Low Voice/Piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) and A.L. Hettich
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Vocalise (Etude #151)-H.Voice/Piano
By Olivier Messiaen. Published by Editions Alphonse Leduc. (511012340)
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Vocalise (Ninth Gate)-Voice/Piano
By W. Kilar. Published by Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne. (511029470)
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Vocalise, Op. 34/14, C-sharp minor [composers arrangement]
full score
By Rachmaninov, Sergei Vassilievich (1873-1943). For vocal solo, orchestra: 2, 2, 2, 2 – 2, 0, 0, 0, strings, solo [voice]. This edition: full score. Songs with Orch, Romantic. Composed 1915. Duration 4 minutes. Published by Edwin F. Kalmus.
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Vocalise, Op. 34/14, C-sharp minor [composers arrangement]
set of parts (Set C)
By Rachmaninov, Sergei Vassilievich (1873-1943). For vocal solo, orchestra: 2, 2, 2, 2 – 2, 0, 0, 0, strings, solo [voice]. This edition: set of parts (Set C). Songs with Orch, Romantic. Composed 1915. Duration 4 minutes. Published by Edwin F. Kalmus.
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Vocalizzi
High Voice. By Various. Vocal Collection. Size 9×12 inches. 36 pages. Published by Ricordi. (50483081)
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