Start Strengthening: Vocal Function Exercises

Welcome to Lesson 5.
This is where we begin the real process of strengthening your head voice—slowly, steadily, and sustainably.

If you’ve already been practicing one of these Function Exercises since the foundational 35-day series—great. You’re ahead of the curve. But even if this is your first time, this lesson will walk you through it step by step.

Today’s focus is on Vocal Function Exercises, also known as VFEs. These are one of the most effective tools we have in voice training—used in both pedagogy and clinical voice therapy to improve range, clarity, endurance, and balance across registers.

And here’s what makes them special:
They don’t require you to sing loudly, do crazy scales, or power through discomfort.
They feel… surprisingly easy.
And that’s exactly the point.

What Are Vocal Function Exercises?
Vocal Function Exercises were originally developed by Dr. Joseph Stemple and his team. They’re designed to strengthen and rebalance the vocal mechanism using light, semi-sustained patterns that engage the CT muscles while minimizing strain.

Think of these like isometric exercises for your vocal folds—the way planks work your core more than crunches.
They’re precise.
They’re simple.
And they’re only effective if you do them consistently—ideally every day, over a period of several weeks.
That’s not a suggestion. That’s the science.

Why They Work for Head Voice

Vocal Function Exercises work especially well for building head voice because they encourage:

  • Thin vocal fold vibration (CT-dominant coordination)
  • Clear tone without excess effort
  • Improved breath management and sustain
  • Increased control at the top of your range

These exercises gently target exactly the muscles we need for head voice—without pushing or forcing. And because they emphasize balance over power, they help prevent tension or compensatory behaviors that can sneak in during traditional scales.

So if these exercises feel a little boring or “too easy”…
Good. That means you’re doing them right.

What NOT To Do
Before we walk through the exercises, I want to be clear:

  • Don’t try to make them harder.
  • Don’t add volume.
  • Don’t push for more range.

These exercises work because they are efficient, not flashy.
If you feel like “this can’t be doing anything,” remember:
This is the vocal equivalent of physical therapy, not weightlifting.
You won’t notice results overnight. Expect meaningful change after at least 3–4 weeks of consistent daily practice—sometimes longer.

Consistency beats intensity every time.

The Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs)
Now let’s walk through the full Vocal Function Exercise protocol—four targeted exercises, completed twice daily, that gently and effectively strengthen your vocal system, especially your head voice coordination.

Practice Parameters

  • Frequency: Twice daily, every day
  • Duration: A minimum of one month to build strength; then once daily to maintain
  • Session Length: About 15–20 minutes for all four exercises
  • Dynamics: All exercises should be performed as softly as possible with a stable, consistent tone—no pushing, no straining.

Exercise 1: Sustained Comfortable Phonation

  • Inhale fully (maximal inhalation).
  • Sustain the vowel /i/ as in “ee” on a comfortable pitch for as long as possible.
  • Keep the sound soft, clear, and steady. Don’t try to make it pretty—focus on control and consistency.
  • Repeat a second time.
  • This engages your breath support and balance in a thin vocal fold posture—without excess pressure.

Exercise 2: Low to High Glide

  • Inhale fully.
  • Glide gently from your lowest physiological note to your highest—this is about your physical range, not your best-sounding range.
  • Use the vowel /o/ as in “oh,” or substitute with a lip trill, tongue trill, or voiced fricative like /v/ if that’s easier.
  • Repeat a second time.
  • Keep the glide smooth and light. If your voice flips—great. That means you’re letting it move naturally into CT-dominant function.

Exercise 3: High to Low Glide

  • Inhale fully.
  • Glide from your highest physiological pitch down to your lowest—again, focus on function, not beauty.
  • Use /o/ or a trill, whichever gives you the most ease.
  • Repeat a second time.
  • This downward glide helps you maintain thin fold engagement through your entire descending range, especially valuable for singers who tend to drop back into thick coordination as they descend.

Exercise 4: Sustained Pentascale

  • Inhale fully.
  • Round your lips slightly more than usual on /o/—you should feel or hear a sympathetic buzz on the lips.
  • Sustain each pitch in your 5-note scale for as long as possible, focusing on clarity and steadiness.
  • Do each of the five pitches twice.

Use your classification as a guide for starting pitches:

Voice Type

Starting Pitches

Soprano

C4, D4, E4, F4, G4

Mezzo/Alto

B3, C4, D4, E4, F4

Tenor

E3, F#3, G#3, A3, B3

Baritone/Bass

C3, D3, E3, F3, G3


Important: Don’t try to “work up” to higher notes. The goal is not pitch expansion, but longer and more stable phonation. Your focus should be on extending the duration and maintaining a consistent, balanced tone across all five notes.

Optional Reflection Prompt: After you finish your VFE practice, jot down your durations for each note. Were your sustain times increasing? Did any notes feel smoother or more stable today than last time? This should feel easy. You’re looking for small, consistent improvements—not dramatic change.

Quick Recap

  • Do this full sequence twice daily, ideally at the same time each day.
  • Stay relaxed. Stay light.
  • If you’re doing it right, it might feel “too easy.” Don’t let that fool you—this is precision work that rewires vocal coordination over time.

Most singers won’t notice immediate changes. Results often appear gradually—usually after three to four weeks of consistent practice, sometimes longer. This is normal and expected.

So how long should you stay with these exercises before continuing?

These exercises should become a part of your daily practice habits for some time. That means: doing the full Vocal Function Exercise sequence twice a day, every day, for a solid stretch of time before moving on. These exercises work by building subtle, deep coordination—and that takes repetition. Not just practice, but smart, consistent practice.

How You’ll Know You’re Ready for Lesson 6:

  • You can access head voice consistently, without flipping or strain
  • You can sustain a light tone like “oo” or “ee” for 6–10 seconds without tension or breath collapse
  • Your glides from low to high (and back) feel smooth and connected
  • You can complete the full VFE sequence twice daily without fatigue
  • You’re able to stay in a thin, CT-dominant posture in your upper range—without pulling in thickness or trying to muscle your way through

If that’s not quite happening yet—that’s totally fine. Stay here, keep working, and give your voice the time it needs to develop this coordination. You’re building deep strength, and it’s absolutely worth the time.

Everyone’s voice adapts on its own timeline. Many singers need four to six weeks of consistent work before they’re ready to move forward. Others may take longer. That’s not just okay—it’s expected.

So, before moving on to Lesson 6, stay with this.
Commit to the process.
Trust the reps.
You’ll get stronger with each one.

When you’re ready, Lesson 6 will help you build on this foundation—applying what you’ve gained to descending patterns and sustained tones for even more control and clarity.

I’ll see you there.