Vocal and physical warm-up before performing at Sanremo: the ideal routine to sing at your best
- Valentina Carlile DO
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Ariston night comes after hours of waiting, rehearsals, interviews, and emotional tension. When it’s finally time to step on stage, the body is full of adrenaline, the mind is overloaded, the voice has “cooled down,” and tensions may have built up.
That’s why vocal and physical warm-up is crucial: it’s not just about “warming up the voice,” but about regulating the entire body–mind system.
A good routine leads to:
a stable voice
a free larynx
expansive breathing
centered emotional presence
reduced risk of vocal fatigue or overload
1. Physical warm-up: preparing the body before the voice
Physical warm-up should come before vocal warm-up. The body is the “first instrument” and determines the quality of sound production.
A. Releasing the respiratory chains
Gentle rib mobility: lateral–posterior breathing waves
Cervical stretching with wide breathing
Sternal opening with slow circular shoulder movements
B. Release of the hyoid complex
Gentle self-massage under the chin and along the suprahyoid chain
Controlled jaw mobility (slow openings, small lateral deviations)
C. Grounding and centering
Standing support with evenly distributed weight
Small rebounds to release tension and activate the body’s elastic fascia
Slow diaphragmatic breathing, eyes closed
The body needs to become elastic, alive, and grounded.
2. Respiratory warm-up: activating the breath system
Breath is the bridge between body and voice. The goal is to reactivate:
diaphragmatic mobility
abdominal control
thoracic expansion
Recommended exercises
Controlled hiss (s → sh): 10–15 seconds at medium intensity
Bilateral rib expansion with hands on the ribs
Costal vibrations: short, rapid breaths to “wake up” the nervous system
This phase lasts only 2–3 minutes but makes a huge difference in vocal output.
3. Vocal warm-up: precision, not quantity
Pre-performance vocal warm-up should not tire the voice; it should activate it.
A. Gentle vocalises
Semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT): tube, lip trill, straw phonation (perfect for releasing the larynx)
Light glissandi over a fifth
Quick but soft mordents to activate agility
B. Soft vocal onset
Emissions on m, n, ng to stimulate frontal vibration and release the pre-laryngeal area
C. Activating the critical parts of the song
Never rehearse the entire song at full voice. Only focus on:
the climax
difficult onsets
register transitions
All in “energy-saving” mode.
An effective warm-up never exhausts—it energizes.
4. Emotional regulation: preparing the mind as you prepare the voice
Sanremo amplifies every emotional state. Proper nervous system regulation is part of the warm-up.
Useful techniques
4–2–6 breathing to lower heart rate
Visualization of stepping onto the stage
Body anchoring (foot pressure, contact with the ground)
Brief moments of silence and breath focus
When the nervous system stabilizes, the larynx responds better, breathing becomes fuller, and intonation more secure.
5. Quick routine for limited time situations
Sanremo is unpredictable: sometimes you may have only 5–7 minutes before going on stage.
“Fast” routine
10 seconds of slow breathing
20 seconds of lip trills or straw phonation
20 seconds of gentle glissandi
15 seconds of key song phrases at reduced volume
Grounding before stepping on stage
In less than a minute, the voice is ready.
6. After the performance: vocal cool-down
Just as essential as warm-up:
SOVT with straw for 10–15 seconds
Downregulation breathing
Gentle cervical mobility
Constant hydration
Cool-down helps the voice recover for the following day.
Pre-performance warm-up is an integrated process involving body, breath, voice, mind, and emotion.
It is a scientific, structured, and repeatable preparation that allows the singer to face the Ariston stage with control, power, and freedom.
Valentina Carlile - Osteopath specializing in Osteopathy for Voice and Speech Disorders since 2002. For information and bookings, visit the Contact page.
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