This is a fun call and response warm-up to really get you going! It’s also good for getting a class’ attention. It’s a physical warm up that energises the body and lifts the soft palate. It also encourages deep breathing and works the mouth.
Listen to and then learn the call-and-response chorus together
This warm-up requires good breath and support technique, so concentrate on this.
First verse – hot potato: pant as if with hot food in your mouth, waving your hand to cool your mouth!
Second verse – mashed potato: breathe deeply, without raising the shoulders, mashing imaginary potatoes in time with your breathing.
Third verse – chipped potato: say the following, really working on the mouth and keeping in time. Invent a chopping action with your hands to accompany it! ‘Chip and chop and chip and chop and …’ etc.
Fourth verse – baked potato: make the following appreciative noises ‘yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy…’ etc. Why not rub your tummy whilst you sing?!
Why not write your own verses?
Can you repeat this exercise, developing the warm up for other foods?
You could make the warm up into a cumulative song (i.e. chorus 1, verse 1, chorus 2, verse 2, verse 1, chorus 3, verse 3 then 2 then 1, chorus 4, verse 4 then 3 then 2 then 1)
Or, you could split the group and layer the verses together!
Audio information
The audio tracks were created specially for the Sing Up programme by Fulham Prep School, mixed and mastered by Ron Knights at mediagrove.com.
Copyright information
All copyright music in the Sing Up programme is used by permission. The songwriters and/or copyright holders have been remunerated under due licensing arrangements. Find out more about copyright by visiting the UK Music and Sound Rights websites.
