Run the Show: 6 Tips to Crush Your Vocal Runs and Steal the Stage

Hey there, it's your vocal sensei, your singing Yoda, your melody magician, your tone tamer (okay the last two were lame, agreed) - it's me, Eternal Ramblings, your friendly neighbourhood vocal coach who will try to convince you to do more crazy things than a religious cult. Today, I’ve got 6 ways for you to practice those runs and embellish your performances like a Christmas tree. You ready?

TIP 1: Lip Trills - The Perfect Warmup

”Let’s start at the begining, a very good place to start”, as said in Sound of Music, we will start by doing lip trills to warm up your vocal cords. If you have interacted, studied or even tried to insult me, you have probably gotten the answer in the form of me rolling the lips at you. Begin by exhaling through your lips and making a buzzing sound. This exercise helps to loosen up the muscles in your lips and tongue, which can help you to sing smoother and more accurate runs. If you are struggling with lip rolls then I have a perfect guide coming up soon to break it down for once and for all. Just blow some silly raspberries before you try to hypnotise your audience with silky smooth runs and trills.

TIP 2: Scale Runs - Be water my friend Practice singing scales in a fluid manner. Sing the scales up and down, focusing on keeping your tone consistent and your voice steady. Try to make the notes sound seamless, as if you are gliding from one note to the next. You can always start with simple scales like major, minor. Pentatonic scales are great for runs. You can also explore more scales for developing runs unique to you. I have always been obsessed with arabic tales and so you might hear me practicing some Phrygian modes, Double Harmonic Minors and more. Choose a variety of scales from around the world and practice them till you can create melodies and just improvise easlity in them. (if you need names of the scales from around the world that you can practice, I have a detailed database that you can get, reach out to me on instagram)

TIP 3: Arpeggio Runs - Mastering Chordal Flow First thing first, let’s get the terminology right. An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes of a chord are played or sung one after the other. They are the vocal equivalent of playing hopscotch (I had a brilliant video to demonstrate it but believe me I lost it while cleaning my phone). Each note of the chord is sung in sequence, creating a beautiful, flowing sound, one after the another. Focus on making those transitions smoother than a cat burglar on roller skates (Now, you can’t stop imagining it). Mix it up with different combinations, speeds, and note sequences. It’s like vocal origami – fold those notes into something beautifully complex, yet effortlessly smooth.

TIP 4: Slide Runs - Get that pitch right This exercise involves sliding your voice up and down the scale. Start by sliding from the bottom to the top of the scale and then back down again. This exercise helps to improve your pitch accuracy and helps to train your vocal muscles to move quickly and smoothly. One of my favourites and a go to for my students who struggle with singing on pitch. This fun exercise improves pitch accuracy and agility, making your runs as precise as a Swiss watch. It’s like the vocal equivalent of surfing – ride those waves, baby!

TIP 5: Interval Runs - It’s Parkour Time Interval runs are like musical parkour - This exercise involves jumping between different intervals, such as a third, fourth, fifth, sevenths, ninths and other many possible intervals. Start with smaller intervals (think baby steps) and gradually tackle larger jumps (go full kangaroo). Practice moving between intervals smoothly and accurately. Before you know it, you’ll be the ninja warrior of vocal runs, effortlessly leaping through musical landscapes. There’s also a neat trick to remember any interval that I learned at The Berklee India Exchange. It allows me to magically produce any interval with accuracy. Alas! Secret techniques need to be guarded and so is only available to my students. Do you have what it takes to be the disciple of The Eternal Ramblings?

TIP 6: Sing Along with Songs - Application >>>

Ah, the joy of singing along to your favorite tunes! Pick songs that feature impressive runs and sing along like you’re the star of your own concert. Pay close attention to the melody and rhythm, trying to replicate those runs with laser-like precision. It’s like karaoke night, but with a purpose! And who knows? You might just discover your inner diva or rock god in the process. Want a list of songs to practice? Hit me up

BONUS TIP: Develop your library - Your Vocal Alexandria

Every time you nail a new run, record it and add it to your personal collection. Always keep a recording app on your phone handy, record anywhere and I mean anywhere. The ideas will come to you at the most weird and embarrassing moments. DO NOT ASK. This treasure trove of vocal goodies will make you sound unique and fabulous. My vocal mentor, the legendary Vasundhra Vee, swears by this method. Over time, you’ll amass a library of runs that’s more valuable than a dragon’s hoard. Revisit and refine these runs regularly to keep your vocal toolkit sharp and shiny.

Consistency is Key

Remember, the key to improving your vocal runs like all the other things is consistent practice. Set aside time each day to work on your runs, and over time, you will notice an improvement in your technique and fluidity with a massive library providing you countless possibilities. So, keep running, stay fabulous, and may your vocal adventures be as thrilling as a high-speed chase in a musical!

Happy Running!