practice tracks for straw phonation exercises

If you're unfamiliar with straw phonation exercises, take a minute to review our How & Why page to learn how to exercise your voice with a straw and why it works. Understanding the fundamentals will help you use these practice tracks like a pro!

Each track is long enough to constitute a single vocal warm up session, or you can combine tracks for an extended practice session. 

Please experiment with the amount of time you prefer for your own practice.

Each track is designed to practice specific intervals, or distance between notes. For example, minor 3rds, major 4ths, and major 7ths. Each interval (up to one full octave) has two tracks: slow and fast. 

Not only are these tracks a great way to guide your straw practice, but they are also a means for learning note intervals. 

The human voice must learn the muscle memory required to move from note to note, so these tracks are designed to aid in both physical training of the body and ear training.

When first using these tracks, start with the lower numbered tracks first. If you are just beginning a practice session, lower number tracks are also recommended. If your voice doesn’t feel good, or even just a little “off”, please stop what you are doing and pick an easier track, or go back to an easy, resonant vocal exercise, such as light humming that feels good to you. 

You should not strain with any straw exercise. In fact, keep in mind Ingo Titze’s two favorite words for straw exercise: stretch and unpress.

Use these tracks to stretch and unpress the vocal folds.

Follow along with the pitches and take your time moving from note to note. 

For the tracks marked “fast” you will need to get to each pitch a little quicker. 

A note about breathing and range...

Use these tracks to practice breathing as you wish. Just make sure you keep a steady stream of bubbles going. There are no prescribed places to breathe, just keep bubbles going so you know your airflow is turned on.

If the notes go beyond what your voice is capable of or feels comfortable doing, drop out and come back in when the pitches are again in a comfortable range.

Have fun, experiment, and free up your voice using a straw!