These exercises will allow you, in stages, to become familiar with the six-step sequence. We’re starting here with the simplest version, using just two notes at each step, but later exercises will involve more.

Aim to do each step on a single breath. Repeat each step three or four times.

Remember: You want to keep same bright head-focused sound throughout all the steps.

Exercise 2: Steps 1 to 3 of the six-step sequence

Step 1: Hum each note

•  Visualise your horizontal line of notes stretching in front of your forehead.
•  Pick a note you can hum comfortably (we’ll call it note 1) at some point on the line.
• Think of the next-door note (we’ll call it note 2) slightly higher in pitch than note 1, so slightly further away on the line.
• Switch on note 1 in the usual way to produce a quiet hum.
• Slide gently and slowly along the line until you are humming note 2, then back in the same way to note 1. (Remember: Whenever you move from a higher to a lower note keep some of the brighter tone of the higher note in the lower one.)
• Switch off note 1.

Step 2: Hum then aah on each note

• Using the same notes 1 and 2, start each note on an mmmm or nnnn then allow your jaw to drop open onto an aah.

Step 3: Friendly phrases

• Using the same notes 1 and 2, sing e.g. ‘Many’ on note 1, ‘Many’ on note 2 and ‘Women’ on note 1. (Remember: Just sketch in the consonants.)

Once you are confident with steps 1 to 3 individually:

• Practise the three steps in sequence one after the other.

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Then:

• Practise steps 1 to 3 using different mid-range starting notes, both types of hum and different friendly phrases.

Exercise 3: Steps 4 to 6 of the six-step sequence

Step 4: Initial hum then continuous aah

• Using the same or similar notes 1 and 2 to the previous exercise, visualise them on a horizontal line stretching out from your forehead, with note 2 further away from you than note 1.
• Switch on note 1 to produce a quiet hum then allow your jaw to drop open on an aah.
• Staying on the aah, glide gently and slowly along to note 2 then back to note 1.
• Switch off note 1 while your mouth is still open.

Step 5: Continuous aah

• After imagining but not voicing a hum, allow your jaw to drop to produce an aah on note 1.
• Staying on the aah, glide gently and slowly to note 2 then back to note 1.
• Switch off note 1 while your mouth is still open.

Step 6: Separate aah on each note

• After imagining but not voicing a hum, allow your jaw to drop to produce an aah on note 1. Switch off note 1 while keeping your mouth open.
• In the same way, and in the same breath, switch note 2 on and off, then note 1 again.
• Switch off note 1 while your mouth is still open. 

Each switch on should feel effortless, with no hint of notes starting in, or being pumped from, your throat.

Exactly as before, once you are confident with the individual steps:

• Practise the three steps in sequence one after the other.

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Then:

• Practise steps 4 to 6 using different mid-range starting notes, both types of hum and different friendly phrases.

Exercise 4: The complete six-step sequence

Unsurprisingly you are now going to put Exercises 2 and 3 together to form the complete six-step sequence, i.e.:

Step 1: Hum each note
Step 2: Hum then aah on each note
Step 3: Friendly phrases
Step 4: Initial hum then continuous aah
Step 5: Continuous aah
Step 6: Separate aah on each note

Practise until you feel familiar with the sequence. You will most probably still be just sketching in the friendly phrases in step 3.