Partner Warm-Up #4

This piece is the fourth in a series of warm-ups. It is a partner song for the first two vocal parts, but not the third. The third part is continuous (optionally) and is written in bass clef for your lower, changing, or changed voices. The warm-up focuses on enunciation and getting the mouth muscles warmed up and moving. Part 2 also puts a bit of emphasis on intervals and could be sung entirely in a head voice. Part 1 could be sung entirely in a chest voice, though not necessarily.

Parts 1 and 2 are both melodies. To help students learn them, we have isolated each one and put them on our web site for rehearsal purposes. (See note following.) We have also done this with part 3, though it is not a melodic line. In fact, part 3 is optional. Its line is covered by several instruments, including the piano. This is on purpose so that your shy young men will feel reinforced. If they can only sing some of the line, it's still covered. Also, their part is very easy and hopefully, not too intimidating. It is not one of the partners, so it's never as exposed. And just to make it more appealing to them, all they ever sing about is "mo munny" (more money). If that doesn't get them interested, nothing will.

Substitute other consonants besides M for an extended warm-up. (Think them through first, watching for "rude" words.) The letter B is a good one. (Bee by bunny bunny bo bo...)

If you play it live on piano, you could loop the eight bar theme. Play it faster or slower. Modulate. Use one and/or both or all parts variably, not as partners. Mix, match, and vary it however you like.

Online extras - The free, downloadable extras mentioned can be found under the "Graphics and Extras" for Volume 17, No. 1 at MusicK8.com