straw phonation faq
Straw phonation is simply blowing air through a straw while making sound (phonating).
You can do straw phonation with or without water, but we recommend using water (at first) so you can see the airflow.
Imagine being a kid at the dinner table blowing bubbles in your cup and making sound. Only now you’re grown and you won’t get in trouble.
The effects of singing or vocalizing through a straw can be startling. In our experience, people often feel and produce "better" sound. Straw phonation helps boost frequencies in the voice that change the way the voice resonates. (Titze & Laukkanen, 2007)
These changes in resonance, or sound, happen all by themselves after singing through a straw.
Research is yet inconclusive about how long the effects of the straw last on the voice. This is why we encourage people to do gentle straw phonation every day, even several times a day, to see how it improves their voices over time. We get to experiment on ourselves, and over time research will provide more complete evidence.
No. Some people feel no effect with the straw, and we've even heard voice teachers complain about its overuse in the studio. We all need to be logical about how we approach straw exercises. The straw is one tool in the vocal toolbox, and does NOT work for all voice issues.
We recommend starting with a typical restaurant size straw, or boba tea straw. This allows the body to get used to the sensation of straw phonation without excess "back pressure" in the vocal tract (mouth and throat).
As time goes on try different size straws to find one that feels best to you.
Think of coffee stirrer sized straws as the most challenging because you can't get as much air and sound through, which causes more build up of back pressure. When the back pressure is too high, it can be more difficult to vocalize.
Vocalizing through the straw into water is a way to directly experience your airflow. Good vocal health is predicated on consistent airflow at just the right rate and volume.
It is easy to subtly hold your breath or pulse your breath while singing or using the straw. The water lets you know if a good, steady stream of air is present while you phonate (vocalize).
No. In fact, we recommend using ordinary reusable straw products. Or, if you like gear, buy it all. Totally up to you. A straw is just a straw in the end.
Researchers are still debating this question, but we have found that 90 seconds to 2 minutes is a good amount of time to hear a difference in the voice, or to feel "warmed up."
One trick is to sing the Star Spangled Banner through from beginning to end of the straw. This typically takes about 90 seconds.
We have also found through our own experience that repeated use over time (days and months) makes a difference in overall tone production. In other words, small doses of straw exercise everyday adds up!
This depends greatly on your needs. If you are using your voice all day long, short straw vocalization breaks throughout the day may be necessary to keep your voice refreshed and functional. (Teachers, do you hear us? :)
Sometimes singers use the straw before a bigger, stronger vocal workout, or as a quick warm up right before a gig.
Sometimes we tell people to keep straws handy in the car, bathroom, and office so they remember to do a few minutes of vocal work here and there.
At one time we promoted something called The September Straw Challenge. The idea was to use a straw every day for 30 days. Make a game out of it, see what happens!
1) Not enough airflow through the straw
2) Letting air leak out around the lips
3) Lack of patience with the process - it might take your body a minute to figure this out!
4) Thinking "this is too simple to actually work," then not trying it
5) Pulsing airflow as you change notes
Yes, we are very serious about the straw. If it doesn't work at first, consider that this is a subtle practice that may require more time and patience.
We have a term around here: the strawphiphany. Sometimes the straw just seems dumb until it doesn't anymore. This can take years in some cases. The strawpiphany is when you feel like someone just worked magic on your voice, but all you did was sing through a straw.
Straw phonation is simply blowing air through a straw while making sound (phonating).
You can do straw phonation with or without water, but we recommend using water (at first) so you can see the airflow.
Imagine being a kid at the dinner table blowing bubbles in your cup and making sound. Only now you’re grown and you won’t get in trouble.
The effects of singing or vocalizing through a straw can be startling. In our experience, people often feel and produce "better" sound. Straw phonation helps boost frequencies in the voice that change the way the voice resonates. (Titze & Laukkanen, 2007)
These changes in resonance, or sound, happen all by themselves after singing through a straw.
Research is yet inconclusive about how long the effects of the straw last on the voice. This is why we encourage people to do gentle straw phonation every day, even several times a day, to see how it improves their voices over time. We get to experiment on ourselves, and over time research will provide more complete evidence.
No. Some people feel no effect with the straw, and we've even heard voice teachers complain about its overuse in the studio. We all need to be logical about how we approach straw exercises. The straw is one tool in the vocal toolbox, and does NOT work for all voice issues.
We recommend starting with a typical restaurant size straw, or boba tea straw. This allows the body to get used to the sensation of straw phonation without excess "back pressure" in the vocal tract (mouth and throat).
As time goes on try different size straws to find one that feels best to you.
Think of coffee stirrer sized straws as the most challenging because you can't get as much air and sound through, which causes more build up of back pressure. When the back pressure is too high, it can be more difficult to vocalize.
Vocalizing through the straw into water is a way to directly experience your airflow. Good vocal health is predicated on consistent airflow at just the right rate and volume.
It is easy to subtly hold your breath or pulse your breath while singing or using the straw. The water lets you know if a good, steady stream of air is present while you phonate (vocalize).
No. In fact, we recommend using ordinary reusable straw products. Or, if you like gear, buy it all. Totally up to you. A straw is just a straw in the end.
Researchers are still debating this question, but we have found that 90 seconds to 2 minutes is a good amount of time to hear a difference in the voice, or to feel "warmed up."
One trick is to sing the Star Spangled Banner through from beginning to end of the straw. This typically takes about 90 seconds.
We have also found through our own experience that repeated use over time (days and months) makes a difference in overall tone production. In other words, small doses of straw exercise everyday adds up!
This depends greatly on your needs. If you are using your voice all day long, short straw vocalization breaks throughout the day may be necessary to keep your voice refreshed and functional. (Teachers, do you hear us? :)
Sometimes singers use the straw before a bigger, stronger vocal workout, or as a quick warm up right before a gig.
Sometimes we tell people to keep straws handy in the car, bathroom, and office so they remember to do a few minutes of vocal work here and there.
At one time we promoted something called The September Straw Challenge. The idea was to use a straw every day for 30 days. Make a game out of it, see what happens!
1) Not enough airflow through the straw
2) Letting air leak out around the lips
3) Lack of patience with the process - it might take your body a minute to figure this out!
4) Thinking "this is too simple to actually work," then not trying it
5) Pulsing airflow as you change notes
Yes, we are very serious about the straw. If it doesn't work at first, consider that this is a subtle practice that may require more time and patience.
We have a term around here: the strawphiphany. Sometimes the straw just seems dumb until it doesn't anymore. This can take years in some cases. The strawpiphany is when you feel like someone just worked magic on your voice, but all you did was sing through a straw.
If you have an unanswered question, please let us know. Send us your straw phonation questions by completing the secure form below or by sending an email.
If we think your question might be useful to other straw users, we'll add it to the FAQ list on this page. We want to keep this FAQ list updated and relevant to help vocal athletes find useful information.
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