How to Warm Up Your Voice in 5 Minutes Before Choir or Worship

The short answer: To warm up your voice in five minutes before choir rehearsal or a worship service, all you need is slides on a lip trill and slides on a "v." Spend about two and a half minutes sliding on a lip trill, starting small and gradually widening through your range, then do the same on a "v." These two vocal warmup exercises get your muscles and air working as one, they're easy to do in the car or a hallway, and they help your voice start steady, blend with others and last through multiple services.

I'm Ashten, a classically trained soprano with a Master of Music, a full-time vocal coach, and the founder of Sing With Ashten. I've spent years as a music director and now coach choir and worship singers one-on-one over Zoom. The singers who warm up before they walk in are almost always the ones whose voices hold up through the last song on a Sunday morning.

Last updated: October 2026

Want to follow along? Grab my free 5-minute vocal warmup and slide along on your way to rehearsal.

Why do choir and worship singers need a warmup?

Choir and worship singing ask a lot of your voice: early call times, long held phrases, harmony parts, and often two or three services in a row. A cold voice tends to start flat, crack on the first high note, and tire quickly, usually because air and muscle aren't coordinated yet. A short warmup brings them into balance, so you can blend from the very first song instead of using it to warm up.

Why slides on a lip trill and a "v"?

Lip trills and "v" sounds are semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises, meaning your mouth is partly closed while you sing. That creates gentle back pressure that helps your vocal folds vibrate efficiently with less effort, which naturally balances airflow and muscle. Lip trills only keep going when your air is steady, so they train breath and voice to cooperate. "V" slides keep that same balance while adding more of your real singing voice. And sliding, rather than jumping between notes, lets your voice adjust gradually. It's gentle on a just-woken voice and builds the stamina you need for long sets.

The 5-minute choir and worship warmup, step by step

1. Small slides on a lip trill (1 minute). Let your lips flutter while you slide gently up and down a few notes in the middle of your range. Keep the air steady and easy.
2. Wider slides on a lip trill (1.5 minutes). Gradually make the slides bigger, moving a little higher and lower each time. If the trill stops on the way up, ease off and keep the next slide smaller.
3. Small slides on a "v" (1 minute). Rest your top teeth lightly on your bottom lip and buzz on "vvv," sliding up and down a few notes. Feel the buzz on your lips.
4. Wider slides on a "v" (1.5 minutes). Widen the slides so they pass through the spot where your voice changes gears. This smooths the transition between your lower and upper voice, so high harmony notes don't flip or crack.

Warming up in the car, hallway or green room

• Slide on a lip trill in the car. Your commute is the perfect five minutes.
• Keep "v" slides soft in a hallway or green room. A quiet, steady buzz is all you need.
• Do a one-minute version if you're short on time: 30 seconds of lip trill slides, then 30 seconds of "v" slides.

How to lead a team or choir warmup

If you're a worship leader or choir director, the same warmup works as a group in two to three minutes at the start of rehearsal:

• Slide together on a lip trill, starting small and widening, so everyone's air and voice start working as one.
• Slide together on a "v," listening for one even, matched buzz across the room.
• Remind everyone to stay light. The goal is coordination, not volume.

Keeping your voice fresh through multiple services

• Sip water between services, and avoid clearing your throat hard.
• Rest your voice between services instead of chatting loudly over the crowd.
• Do a one-minute reset with lip trill and "v" slides before each service.
• Don't push volume. Let the sound system do its job, and sing at a level you could sustain all morning.
• Know when to stop. If your voice is hoarse for more than two to three weeks, see an ear, nose and throat doctor.

How warmups fit into your vocal training

A warmup prepares your voice; lessons build it. In my lessons, I focus on three things: access, healthy technique that gives you the range and stamina worship singing demands; autonomy, knowing your voice well enough to adjust it yourself in the middle of a service; and artistry, singing with expression and freedom so you can lead, not just get through the set.

For the full breakdown of each exercise, read The Complete Guide to a 5-Minute Vocal Warmup. To adjust your slides for a specific need, like high notes or a tired voice, see Daily Vocal Warmups That Fit Your Voice.

How lessons with Sing With Ashten work

• Who it's for: Worship singers, worship leaders, choir members, hobbyists and beginners
• Format: Private one-on-one lessons on Zoom, using songs from your actual set list or choir folder
• Lesson length: 30 or 45 minutes
• Pricing: Monthly plans starting at $120/month
• Approach: Science-backed technique focused on building access, autonomy and artistry, with zero shame
• First step: A free intro lesson

Learn more about voice lessons for worship and choir singers.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I warm up before a service?

Within about 30 minutes of singing is ideal. Warming up at home and then driving an hour is still better than nothing, but add a quick round of slides once you arrive.

What's the best vocal warmup for early morning services?

Small lip trill slides starting in your speaking range, then "v" slides. Your voice is stiffer after sleep, so give it a minute or two longer than usual and widen the slides gradually.

What if I can't do a lip trill?

Press lightly on your cheeks with your fingertips and use a little less air. If it still won't flutter, do the whole warmup on "v" slides; they work the same way.

How do warmups help choir blend?

Sliding together gets everyone's voices coordinated and listening to each other before the first song starts.

Should my voice feel tired after a warmup?

No. A warmup should leave your voice feeling easier. If it feels tired, you're likely pushing air or making the slides too big too soon.

Warm up with me before your next rehearsal

Get my free 5-minute vocal warmup to use on your way to church or rehearsal. When you're ready for personal feedback on your voice, book your free intro lesson.

About the author: Ashten Smith is a classically trained soprano with a Master of Music, a full-time vocal coach, and the founder of Sing With Ashten. She teaches singers online using science-backed methods, plenty of support and zero shame.