Tuning the strings…

COLERATURACOLEMAN JAMES VOCAL COACH
Coleman James, vocal coach

Coleratura

Let's begin.

Piano, chords and a beat to sing along with. What would you like to do today?

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Before you start: make sure your phone isn’t on silent, and turn the volume up. On iPhone, silent mode mutes the piano.

1Step 1 of 4

Pick a pattern

Pick a pattern to see its notes.

Got a pattern number from me? Pick that one. New here? Try 2. Five-note scale.

2Step 2 of 4

Pick your voice

Not sure of your voice type? I'll find it in your first lesson.

3Step 3 of 4

Pick a speed

More options

Breathing time between scales

Backing

My voice

4Step 4 of 4

Press play

Tap one to change it.

Ready when you are

Choose one vowel and stick with it for the whole exercise, or change vowel at the halfway point (or wherever I've told you to). The 5 main vowels

Can’t hear anything? Make sure your phone isn’t on silent, and turn the volume up. On iPhone, silent mode mutes the piano.

Want a full warm-up instead? There are longer ones below.

SCROLL

Full warm-up

Warm up with me

Experimental These full warm-ups are new and I'm still testing them. Found an issue? Let me know.

Before you start 2-minute prep

    Which vowel?

    One vowel per exercise, changing each time. Start closed (EE, OO) and finish open (AH). Then try the challenges in the guide.

    Open the vowel guide All free materials

    1Pick a warm-up

    2Pick your voice

    Your voice type sets where every exercise sits.

    Not sure of your voice type? I'll find it in your first lesson.

    3Press start

    More options

    Pace

    My voice

    Can’t hear anything? Make sure your phone isn’t on silent, and turn the volume up. On iPhone, silent mode mutes the piano.

    Free materials

    Worksheets to keep

    Start here · 2 pages
    The 5 main vowelsEE, EH, AH, OH and OO: why they matter, how to shape them, and a 7-day tracker.
    Open
    For the full warm-ups · 2 pages
    Vowels in your warm-upsOne vowel per exercise, closed to open, plus three challenges to take it further.
    Open
    In depth · 21 pages
    The Vowel WorkbookTongue, jaw, lips and soft palate for 20 vowels, with practice words for each.
    Open
    Consonants · 2 pages
    Don't let the consonants get in your wayVoiced and unvoiced consonants, and how to keep your singing smooth.
    Open

    Each one opens here in the app, with a PDF to download if you’d like to print it or keep it. More coming soon.

    Want to go further?

    Lessons with me

    I coach singers in person in central London, and online wherever you are.

    Lessons in London Online lessons and all my coaching

    Like singing with others? Join my free singing community for questions, events and other singers.

    New to singing? Take my free 60-second Singing Readiness Check.

    Serious about progress? Coleratura comes in full with The Singing Intensive, my 12-week one-to-one programme.

    I've worked and performed with Paul McCartney, Stephen Sondheim, Danny Elfman and Tim Burton, Barry Manilow, Kelly Clarkson and the Royal Albert Hall. Watch me teach on TikTok.

    Enjoying it? Leave me a Google review

    Piano recordings: Salamander Grand Piano by Alexander Holm, CC BY 3.0.