The Little Books of Singing Exercises are two books of little songs which aim to gently stretch your voice, build your musical abilities and improve your performances.
Singing Exercises
The Food Songs
The original recipe! Simple songs about food. Click on the cover above to get the whole book in pdf form.
The Adult Songs
Adult because they are settings of words by Shakespeare and other great poets of the past. Click on the cover above to get the whole book in pdf form.
Food songs soundtracks
Tomato Soup
Keep the top notes of each set nice and clear. Don't forget the slurs - where you have more than one note per syllable. And a 'P' on the end of 'soup', please
Sausages
If you don't like sausages (and don't forget that the song does mention vegetarian ones) then you can sing about something else, or add the words "but I don't like them" on the last note!
Apple Pie
Make sure that you get the ending right - especially that note on "and" in "and I'll eat the whole lot up". Big breath!
Pizza
Like the start of 'Twinkle, Twinkle'. Substitute your favourite pizza topping instead of Margherita if you want!
Breakfast
Groups of notes on the same syllable (melismata or runs) are a feature of this song. Remember to group them properly. Don't forget the last syllable of the word "sausages" has two notes!
Burgers
Learn how to cook a burger. Use your insides to support the notes as they go up and down, and make sure that you join it all together. Practise by sliding between the notes!
Some Honey :)
A song in which the intervals increase as you go through. And then, at the end, they fall again... And a strange meal as well! Don't forget the repeated note at the start of the second half
My Honey :(
The same as the last one, but this time in the minor key.
Energy Drinks
The good type of energy drink! Sevenths are difficult - make sure you get down to the low notes and the way up to the high ones (head voice if necessary).
Salad Leaves
Octaves is another way of saying 'eighths', but also remember that they are the same note, one register higher. However, they're a long way apart and tiring to sing, so support with your body. Get quieter, smoother and a bit slower at the end (for the 'salad dressing'.
Jelly and Ice Cream
Make sure of the tuning. It has to be dead accurate. Try it unaccompanied and see how well you manage to keep pitch.
Colours of Food
Distinguish between tones and semitones, keeping the tuning. Another song which is difficult when unaccompanied, but try it and see how you do
Curries!
If you don't like curries, use the alternative words at the end. Louds, softs, staccato and legato. Explore those musical textures!
Meatballs and spaghetti
Keep the phrases smooth - see how much you can do in one breath! Starts on a fairly high note: do a little hum instead of the 'M'
Sandwiches!
A patter song! It's fast - make sure you keep up, but also make sure that you hold that long note for its full length!
Trifle!
Triads and thirds (and seventh chords) are what this is about. Make sure you're accurate about all those notes. And keep a nice pulse going
Cookies
Make sure that you're singing the right notes in the 'chocolate chip...' section. And follow the dynamics. Work at it - this isn't an easy song!
Sweetcorn and peas
This one IS difficult! We've given you the first few notes of the tune to remind you, as the piano doesn't play most of the tune. There are two sets of words: the set above the stave is the more challenging!
Bake a Cake
How to bake a cake (if you can get to the flour (! a lockdown joke)). It's a recitative: you, the singer, are pretty much on your own and have to make the words and notes work with the accompaniment.
Five a Day
5/4 will try to trip you up: make sure that you count carefully!
Potatoes
Most of this song is off the beat! And it's also a study in the many ways to cook potatoes!
Mushrooms
Mushrooms grow in unlit spaces - that's what this song says. It's a bit gloomy, so as well as sixths expect some chromatics
Adult songs soundtracks
On Either Side the River
A Tennyson excerpt. Sing it smoothly, and make sure that you count the right number of beats on the long top note!
Over hill, over dale
Accurate pitching is essential, as are clear words - especially articulate the 'L' in 'hill' and 'dale'
Some are born great
Take a breath in the middle - unless (and until) you don't need to! A good vowel on the first note (think 'sum' rather than 'some') is essential
If music be the food of love
Make sure you count the correct number of beats between phrases, and jump accurately on the intervals
Full Fathom Five
As well as accurate pitching, make sure that you get the rhythms right - short-long and long-short.
This Above All
Big breaths will help the support in this song; try to connect the notes as you move up and down the leaps
All the World's a Stage
While the start is comparatively easy, make sure that the second phrase ('They have...' gets up to the top note!
There is nothing
... either good or bad. The last phrase is just a repeat of the previous one, but keep concentrating, because it often feels different
The Smallest Worm
A creepy number for a creepy creature! Accuracy of pitching is everything - see if you can do it equally well unaccompanied!
Under the Greenwood Tree
Ninths are pretty rare in any song, but you want to be ready when you do find one. This study has loads of them, both major and minor
One Equal Temper
A longer study in arpeggios, with words by Tennyson. Make sure that you really pitch (and lighten) the top notes. The song starts immediately, so we've given you the first two notes of the vocal part
Who Is Sylvia?
There's a two-bar intro to this one (which isn't necessarily in the book) so you'll have a chance to get the tempo. Rememeber to keep counting!