Vowels in Vocal Training / Warmups

Wherever possible, use short vowel forms in your vocal development program (sometimes passed over as warmups). When singing short vowels (IH EH UH OH OOZE) placement of the sound is naturally further forward, in the mask (a desirable outcome), and is generally a brighter, more lifted sound. The musical leader should ensure that the same height/depth of sound is striven for at the same time, but by teaching your singers to hear and feel the shorter, brighter vowels, you will have less trouble with pitch dropping, and will produce, in general, more overtones.