Essential Singing Exercises

Lip Roll

Lip Roll is one of the most popular vocal exercises in the world. Celine Dion does it, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, and many more!

What is the lip roll?

The lip roll exercise involves humming a sustained note or sound while rolling the lips in a circular motion. The vibration of the lips is caused by the air passing through them.

It is one of the Semi Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) exercises, where the mouth is partially closed. SOVT exercises create a narrowing at some point along the vocal tract, creating a resistance that generates “oral pressure that interacts with the lung pressure in such a way that optimal vocal fold vibration can be achieved” (Scearce, 2016)

The exercise balances the pressure above and below the vocal folds. Increased back pressure reflects at the lips back to the vocal folds to help the vocal folds vibrate with more ease and less effort. Lip rolls serve as a training tool for various vocal technique areas, preparing the voice to perform optimally in any situation. Additionally in order to do a proper lip roll all the face muscles, cheeks and jaw need to be relaxed, so you can easily spot any unwanted tension. Other names for lip rolls are lip trills or lip buzz.

Objectives:

When to use:

Stretching of vocal folds
Warming up the muscles of the pharynx, oral cavity, cheeks, and respiratory system
Balancing the airflow
Improving mastery of vocal fold function
Achieving smooth transitions between vocal registers
Maintaining a neutral position of the larynx to reduce tension
Balancing the pressure above and below the vocal folds
Preventing vocal fold tension and strain during singing
Improving pitch range without straining the voice

As a warm-up before singing
As a gentle exercise in the morning or after intense singing
As a cool-down at the end of the day
For maintaining healthy vocal folds or aiding in the recovery of injured vocal folds
To familiarize yourself with a new melody
To work on extending your range

Don’t use:

In general, lip rolls are a safe and beneficial exercise for most people.
However, if you have a serious respiratory infection or vocal injury, it’s best to avoid lip rolls until you have recovered.
Once you are ready to resume singing, lip rolls can be a helpful exercise to include in your vocal warm-up routine.

As with any vocal exercise, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid practicing if you’re experiencing any discomfort or vocal fatigue.

How to make a proper lip roll?

In the beginning it can be a bit of a challenge to get the lip roll started. To make it easier, let’s go step by step:

1.Find a comfortable position. You can stand or sit, it doesn’t matter as long as you stay relaxed.

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Hi! I’m Justine Sounds, a singer, songwriter, and the proud founder of Open Minded Singing. If you enjoyed reading this article, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share it with your friends. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or inquiries. Also, don’t forget to follow @openmindedsinging on social media for more exciting updates and content.
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References:

Scearce, L. Manual of Singing Voice Rehabilitation: A Practical Approach to Vocal Health and Wellness. 1st edition. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing Inc; 2016 Opera Carolina | https://operacarolina.org/news/how-voicing-through-a-straw-can-save-your-vocal-folds-2/ Vocals on Stage | https://www.vocalsonstage.com/vocals-on-stage-blog/lip-roll-exercise CUH NHS | https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/lip-trills-exercises/ Voice Science Works | https://www.voicescienceworks.org/sovt-exercises.html

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