Vocals for Square Dance Callers

By Lisa Lincoln, Vocal Coach and SD Caller

BASIC TIPS:

• Pick songs that you feel good singing and you like.
• Find a key that works for you on the low and high notes in the song.
• Find the “sweet spot” in your voice (close to your speaking voice) when picking the key for your
song.
• Always warm up, even if you have to do it in the car or in the bathroom before singing.

LISA’S QUICKIE WARM UPS:

a. Breath: 1) panting like a dog with diaphragm breath; 2) deep breath in thru the nose and fill the
diaphragm until you have a big belly and then quickly exhale thru the mouth with force.
b. Sirens up and down the scale with lip trills or on “eeee” or hum.
c. Do some breathy scales on ha or ho. The scales don’t have to be perfect; they are just to give your
range some elasticity work.
d. Sing the word “Zing” with a big belly breath using high to low notes.
e. Chew and “moo.”
f. Do some tongue twisters to get your lips/mouth warmed up. Do them on one pitch and then try to
do them on different pitches. Try “the lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue.” Or try “Red leather,
yellow leather.”
g. Sing “Pick a Little” from “Music Man” fast and slow, choppy and smooth (staccato and legato).
Make the sound nasal and articulate.

SINGING YOUR SINGING CALLS:

• Practice singing your songs with breath control before you perform them. Use big belly breaths.
Nerves can affect your breath during performances. But, if you practice often, good breathing will
become second nature.
• Open your mouth and enunciate your consonants and words.
• Sing with pure vowels, nice and open sounds-aaa, eee, ah, oh, uh.
• Try not to stress the ending “r” in words. “R” is the ugliest sound in English to sing when it is at the
ends of words.
• Use strong posture! Stand with both feet firmly on the ground, back straight and head right on top
of your neck (no jutting out your neck). If you have posture problems, study Alexander Technique,
Feldenkrais Method, or other postural techniques. Your voice relies on the whole body to produce
sound! Remember: “sighing, smiling dinosaur with a ponytail.”
• Understand the text of your song and try to portray the emotion or fun in the text of the song.
• If notes are too high or low in the song, it is ok to speak those words. This can give emotional
oomph too. If you keep practicing with sirens and scales (see vocal warm ups), your range will grow.
• Have fun singing your song!

CARE OF YOUR VOICE:

• Protect your voice:

 a) Avoid smoky places and do not smoke.
b) Avoid talking over loud noise (crowds of people, traffic, loud music, car engines).
c) Drink lots of water (lukewarm is best)
d) Don’t scream or yell.
e) Never push your voice where you are uncomfortable.
f) Try not to talk or sing if you are hoarse.

• If you feel pain, scratchy, or are hoarse after calling a dance or doing a song(s), you are using your
voice wrong and could cause long term damage.

• Avoid singing and talking when you are physically ill. If you must talk or sing when you are sick:
a) Do NOT use antihistamines unless absolutely necessary
b) Do NOT use lozenges that contain menthol or alcohol, as they will dry out the throat and vocal
chords.
c) DO use lozenges that are glycerin based for throat lubrication (Pastilles, Pine Brothers) or use
Throat Coat Tea.
d) Drink a lot of water!

• Things that will affect your vocal sound: milk, chocolate, dairy products, hormones alcohol, smoking.

You only have one voice, so take good care of it!