Straw Phonation for Singers

Straw phonation seems to be all the rage right now! Singers bring their straws to class, auditions, rehearsals, and keep them backstage at shows. But why? What does straw phonation do for the singer?

Straw phonation is part of a group of vocal exercises using a semi-occluded vocal tract, or SOVT. Simply put, in SOVT exercises the mouth is partially closed. Students of mine will remember warming up on lip trills, which are also part of the SOVT family. Straw phonation allows air pressure to be redirected backward from the lips, providing ease to the vocal fold vibrations and allowing them to use less muscular effort. This helps the singer learn to sing with more efficiency at the vocal fold level, have more power without straining, and can be used therapeutically to recover tired voices.

Straw length and diameter change how athletic or therapeutic your straw phonation exercises will be. Longer, thinner straws require more effort and shorter, wider straws will offer a more therapeutic affect. You may have to mix and match a bit to find the size straw that works best for you. I use a long, somewhat narrow bamboo straw that my mother gave me for Christmas one year. I’m sure I’m not using it the way she intended, but it’s become a staple in my singing and teaching, so thanks, Mom!

You can perform straw phonation using the straw alone or into a glass of water. The water adds an internal massage effect that is really nice, although it can be strange the first time one experiences it. When you start out with straw phonation exercises it’s a good idea to hold your finger under your nose the first time to ensure you’re not letting your air out that way! Then you can use combinations of voiced and unvoiced exhales through the straw into the air or water. If you come to class with me there is a good chance we will use straw phonation at some point and we can explore the different ways in which it can be used personally as a tool for you!

-Georgia S.