How to do a vocal warm-up

Just because you have a good voice doesn't mean it will always be with you. Vocal health is incredibly important and a good warm-up is essential. Your vocal chords are just like any other muscle. If you don't take care of your voice you will lose it.

A good warm-up should take approximately 15 - 30 minutes and will cover the chest, mix and head voice. Start off gently and make sure you never force your voice.
If you feel tightness, pain or any irritation, STOP.

Vocal warm-up excercises

Breathing
This seems like a strange thing to but breathing and connecting the body is an incredibly important part of singing. Concentrate on your breathing.
Breathe in as deep as you can and breathe out slowly making a zzzz sound. Start off four 4 counts. Increase the count each time. See you how long you can last.

Gentle Hum
With your mouth closed gently hum. Start off low and very quietly. Then move to gentle descending sirens. Move up through your range. Make sure you never push it.

Lip Rolls
Lip rolls are a great way to increase your range and smooth out any breaks.
For a complete warm up work through your range on a 5-note scale, octave arpeggios and then a 12-note arpeggio scale.

Lip rolls also work well to relax the voice if anything gets too much.

Mum & Buh

Start off in the middle of your chest voice and sing mummm on a 5 note scale. Move through your chest range.
Keep the larynx neutral. It is easy to let the larynx sink down on lower ranges.

Then move on to Buh on the same 5 notes. Really focus on the B sound. Make it punchy and resonating without force.

Nay

This is a very nasal whiny sound that if done correctly should be effortless and somewhat loud. You may need to look do some research on youtube on how this exercise should sound.
Once you have figured out the correct sound, sing the nay on a octave arpeggio.

There are so many vocal exercises that you can add to this warm-up to help your voice. Stick with these exercises in the correct order to start and then begin to focus on any concerns.
Never push your voice and try to avoid singing when your voice is tired or you feel ill.