We already spoke about this topic in a previous article, but if you feel that you still need to incorporate some chromatic exercises into your daily singing routine, here are some great ones from the old Italian school of singing (because why not learn directly from the pros?).

HOW TO PRACTICE THEM:

These are the main stages your practice should follow in order to achieve clear chromaticism without unnecessary strain.

Note: Don’t move on to the next step until you’ve fully mastered the previous one.

1. Before even trying to sing these exercises, practice quietly humming the pitches and make sure they’re crystal clear in your mind.

2. Before trying to sing the whole exercise on a vowel, add a consonant to the first note of each triplet or quadruplet (e.g., “CA” or “TA”)

   Why? Adding consonants prevents lazy sliding, improves coordination, and clarifies the onset of each note.

3. Now you should be ready to sing what is written. Practice it slowly! Slide from note to note as if they were pearls on a necklace.
   (You can still add a consonant on the very first note and then keep a single vowel throughout the whole phrase.)

4. You can start adding some speed using a metronome. Don’t begin too fast - your aim now is precision, not speed. Practice shifting the accents (see figures 3 and 4)