Heinrich Panofka (3/10/1807 – 18/11/1887) was a German violinist, voice teacher and composer. He became interested in the training of the voice, and with Bordogni he founded in 1842 an Académie de Chant. The aim of these exercises are to give the singing student more control over their voice, improving their breathing, working on the tone and resonance, improving their range and agility.
Although these scales are almost 200 years old, you will find that they are still used today in many voice institutions and singing lessons all around the world.
This compilation of 14 singing exercises date back to the early 19th Century when it was popular to vocalise along with piano accompaniment. They were traditionally sung wordless, but on vowel sound.
We suggest you use the vowel sounds to sing along:
Ah as in Apple
Eh as in Air
Ay as in Sky
Oh as in Orange
Ee as in Bee
Oo as in Room.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 1 – Developing Tone
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 2 – Fluency On A 3rd
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 3 – Fluency On A 5th Scale
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 4 – The Major Scale
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 5 – Developing Tone and Breathing.
The aim of this exercise is to sing the scale three times. Starting loud (forte), then a little quieter (mezzo-forte) and then quietly (piano), whilst maintaining accuracy with your note placement.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 6 – Agility and Breathing
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 7 – The Minor Scale
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 8 – Agility Scale (9th)
This scale works on your vocal agility. It is a 9th scale (an octave – 8th and an extra note) up and down the scale twice. The first time sing it loud (forte) and the second time sing it quiet (piano). This exercise will also help with your tone and breath control.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 9 – Arpeggio
This exercise is an arpeggio scale (1,3,5,8,5,3,1 interval x 2) This exercise then increases in semitones up the scale.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 10 – Arpegppio
This exercise is an arpgeggio exercise (1,3,5,8,10 – 8,5,3,1 intervals x2). This exercise then increases in semitones up the scale.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 11 – Portamento Exercise In 5ths
Portamento (Italian) means a technique of gliding from one note to another without actually defining the intermediate notes; a smooth sliding between two pitches. This exercise requires you to start the first interval of a 5th loud (forte), then repeating it quieter (piano). This exercise then increases in semitones up the scale.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 12 – Portamento exercise in octaves
Portamento (Italian) means a technique of gliding from one note to another without actually defining the intermediate notes; a smooth sliding between two pitches. This exercise requires you to sing the first octave loud (forte) and the second octave quiet (piano). The exercise then increases in semitones up the scale.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 13 – Portamento exercise on Arpeggio
Portamento (Italian) means a technique of gliding from one note to another without actually defining the intermediate notes; a smooth sliding between two pitches.
Panofka Vocal Exercise No 14 – Swell On The Tone
Start the note quietly, increasing your volume and then bring it back to quiet. The exercise will then increase in a series of semitones up the scale.