Sooo true!I've been using a straw for 10 minutes a day for a month. It works. It relaxed my..not sure what but my voice is more resonant...fuller throughout my range.
Hey Ronja, my cool substitution was an "bombilla" for "yerba mate", which is just a metallic straw used for drinking this traditional tea, very common in south american countries, like mine, Chile. Cheers, and thanks for another super useful video!
Hi fredericovandiest. Thanks so much for sharing. It’s so cool to hear about your nationality and how it affects the straw substitution you chose. I love getting to know you guys through these comments. Thanks for watching😊
hello Ronja, it's quite amazing why other online singing instructors have never mentioned this method i learned this like 40 something years ago, oh cr-p I just give my age away, strangely the straw is maybe the best tool, and the fermentation device to use later when you have expanded on breathing, I absolutely back you up, anyone reading this, it is amazing for the resonance one creates as well as the other things you mention, and actually it also has other benefits, like if you suffer headaches migraine try it you might actually be very surprised, I'm glad I came across you Ronja, clever girl,
Overtone flute? There's a form of throat singing in western Mongolia and Tuva where you combine it with playing a tsuur, not that throat singing translates well to regular one >
I use plastic coffee stirrers, which are essentially really skinny straws. What’s great about them is you need to hold/tape multiple together because of their size, meaning you can essentially adjust the resistance by adding or removing stirrers. :)
Nonsense. Straws are meant for overworked or overly stressed voice. They are NOT for improvement of singing. Why not you ask? Because the straw cannot simulate real world singing in any capacity. You are not phonating with an open vocal tract, are not enunciating and not using the articulators. And the biggest of all - you are not using enough core pressure. Straw exercises are meant to relax the voice. Singing is an athletic event. It requires pressure and physicality. Too much emphasis has been put on straw exercises who don't know any better because 98% of all "voice teachers" or "voice coaches" don't actively perform or have NEVER performed in any significant way.
Several years ago, after a neck surgery on my left-hand side, I was told some hoarseness would be a normal side effect of the surgery. This was supposed to go away after a few weeks. It didn't! An Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor told me that during the surgery they must have bumped the nerve to the muscle that controls that side of my larynx causing a muscle spasm which prevented the left side of my larynx from closing completely. The cure... ...Straw singing. She sent me to a speech therapist who had me do two variations of straw singing. The first involved gently blowing into a straw inserted into a cup with a few centimeters of water in it. The trick was to keep very steady blowing pressure by listening to the bubbles. The other technique was to then do straw singing also listening to the bubbles to keep the pressure the same. It too several months f doing this multiple times throughout the day for the hoarseness to go away.
This might be helpful for beginners, but folks can also get stuck with a crotch, if they don't understand how to hold back the air without the straw. My experience: Rather than creating a back-pressure through a straw in order to combat the air-pressure from the lungs, we could just diminish the initial air-pressure through opening our rib cage and relaxing the belly, holding back the air in the lungs that way when we sing and practice. I feel like that goes more directly to the source of the problem and is a more long-term sustainable solution.
Hi vobavocal, great geek out 😃 I agree. this definitely should not become a crutch. But I’ve found that using it as a practice tool to get a feeling for how to steadily release the tension of the diaphragm when the rib cage is open helps my students get a feeling for the balanced breath support that you mention. That is why I find it so cool, because it helps the student reach their goals 😊
@@oceans6515 😄 is that because i misspelled crutch and said crotch (i think thats something very different in the english language😂), or because of the concept of not being able to let go of the help of the straw?
I used to be a singer in a small band when I was younger. Now my voice cracks and I always feel like I have Phlegm in the back of my throat. Am I just to old, I'm 72, or is it something I can overcome? I really enjoy singing even if I am alone on a country road.
I think I am a baritone. When singing higher notes through the straw my vocal folds colapse and lose control. I try backing off the air steam to correct it. That works sometimes.
I'm taking singing lessons and a singing (vocal) straw came up in conversation so I've been researching. Isn't it important that the straw be narrow enough to create some back pressure? Some of what you are using or recommending doesn't look like it is narrow enough. There are singing straws for sale on the internet and are 2mm up to 9mm. Educate me on this.
Does this mean that you have to regularly do the exercise? not only before singing? then eventually you will have some kind of muscle memory even if singing without straw?
I'ma try this 1 hour a day, I hope it will being back my voice & enhance it further, there r songs I cannot complete coz one line requires a highest note but I can't reach it + I don't wanna remove the line😅.
Hi anjanapradeep, do you mean your speaking voice? That does effect your singing as well so that is very good to be aware of. I’ve made two videos that might help you with that. One on speech habits to avoid and one to help you find your speech pitch. You can find them in the video section if my channel. Hope it helps 😊
It's this an April fool's gag? I paid a professional singing coach £££ for lessons and this"slipped" past his radar? Now I know why the straw man in the wizard of oz has such a good voice.
Thank you for your tutorial. It is definitely something I need to improve my voice. How long each day should the straw method be used for. Also, do you recommend a steamer before singing to clear congestion? Thank you.
Thank you for this! I have a few of questions: - How wide should be straw be? does it matter if i use a skinny straw or a big bubble tea one? - Does it matter if the straw has a curve to it, or should it be straight? - I've been told to do this into a cup half-full of water. Does that make any difference?
Hi, and thanks for your great questions. They all have the same theme in common which is the resistance created when singing through the straw. In my experience a bubble tea straw is too wide to create enough resistance. The curve is ok in the straw. If it has a kink though it could create too much resistance but that should not happen with the regular straw curve. The water also adds resistance but in my experience it is not needed and it can even take focus away from the singing. Hope it helps 😊
(I'm a high BARITONE)my vocal range has decreased a little bit and it's harder for me to reach the high notes?How do I get my vocal range back the way it used to be?????Don't get me wrong my voice isn't horsey I can still practice but should I practice or do I rest.Or can I practice regularly but avoid the higher notes till my higher notes come back????😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
You’ve taken an exercise for real problems and made it fun with your upbeat personality Thanks I’m gonna get a Kazoo and join in singing 3 stooges theme song and maybe put together a song book for the Kazoo and Straw singing 😂
Unfair not to add a comment, watched some other straw video and just didn't explain this, some didn't even show any exercise, they didn't even care or realize people hate when TH-camr rarely ever get to the main point and early enough. Thank for being wise
Imagine being in conversation with someone about singing or some other important and interesting subject and they talked at you without breathing/comprehension pauses. How nice would that be? It's not nice to get your brain to reinsert the natural pauses and so the strain becomes too much and you click the off button.....Bye now!
Creating a small opening with thumb and index finger like a tiny o. Then hold it on your lips like the mouse peace of a trumpet. While humming like singing let the lips buzz a bit like playing a trumpet. This way its maybe even better as a straw or other small tube solutions for back pressure .
I’ve got myself a really cheap, plastic kazoo. I’m very pleased with it, it plays very easily, with a pleasant tone! Now to try it with ‘Nail the Pitch’
I will get backlash for pointing this out, but the Vader theme here has one wrong note, the next to last tonic, which is lower (to the leading tone); tougher to sing, yes, but so cool!
I do lip trills and tongue trills as well as humming and then with tip of the tongue touching just behind my upper teeth on the hard palette (I do slides and also do the C major scale up and down my range, from lowest to highest notes, chest and transitioning to head voice), and, for me at least, serves a similar function as the straw. I also do other exercises that have helped me with other aspects of the voice and singing, but as it relates to the straw, the above have worked for me incredibly well.
This exercise is to practise the resistance you need to not release all air at once 😃 at least as far as I know 🙈 it’s basically a breath management technique ❤️
@@singgeek He he, synes godt jeg kunne høre en dansker bag den ellers næsten perfekte accent :). Det var dog først da jeg så dit navn, at jeg kunne lægge to og to sammen:). Tak for nogle super gode og informative videoer!!
Hi lozreeve, I’m so sorry to hear that you find the tone condescending. That is never my intention. I’m so inspired by all the singers practicing and working everyday to improve their voices. I try to make the tutorials simple, step-by-step and also a little fun by referring to myself as the student who once had the same questions. Thanks for your feedback. I wish you happy singing 😊
@@singgeek I honestly did not find your manner condescending in the least. You have to gear these videos to a wide audience, so there will always be some who don't like it. Nevertheless, you are in danger of not really appearing like a geek. Maybe some really big, thick glasses, uncombed hair and a lab coat would help... 🤓
Sooo true!I've been using a straw for 10 minutes a day for a month. It works. It relaxed my..not sure what but my voice is more resonant...fuller throughout my range.
That back pressure probably stretches those cords out better than anything. So if you compare it to an athlete, it’s like stretching
Hey Ronja, my cool substitution was an "bombilla" for "yerba mate", which is just a metallic straw used for drinking this traditional tea, very common in south american countries, like mine, Chile. Cheers, and thanks for another super useful video!
Hi fredericovandiest. Thanks so much for sharing. It’s so cool to hear about your nationality and how it affects the straw substitution you chose. I love getting to know you guys through these comments. Thanks for watching😊
hello Ronja, it's quite amazing why other online singing instructors have never mentioned this method i learned this like 40 something years ago, oh cr-p I just give my age away, strangely the straw is maybe the best tool, and the fermentation device to use later when you have expanded on breathing, I absolutely back you up, anyone reading this, it is amazing for the resonance one creates as well as the other things you mention, and actually it also has other benefits, like if you suffer headaches migraine try it you might actually be very surprised, I'm glad I came across you Ronja, clever girl,
Any fun straw substitution ideas?
Overtone flute? There's a form of throat singing in western Mongolia and Tuva where you combine it with playing a tsuur, not that throat singing translates well to regular one >
The "buzzing" makes me think brass mouthpiece, may be useful for music school students who play these instruments, I'm actually gonna try it now ^^
I use plastic coffee stirrers, which are essentially really skinny straws. What’s great about them is you need to hold/tape multiple together because of their size, meaning you can essentially adjust the resistance by adding or removing stirrers. :)
An open rib cage 😉😁
I just hold in my mouth so I can play guitar at the same time.
(Perhaps this adds tension when holding it unsupported.)
Nonsense. Straws are meant for overworked or overly stressed voice. They are NOT for improvement of singing.
Why not you ask? Because the straw cannot simulate real world singing in any capacity. You are not phonating with an open vocal tract, are not enunciating and not using the articulators. And the biggest of all - you are not using enough core pressure.
Straw exercises are meant to relax the voice. Singing is an athletic event. It requires pressure and physicality. Too much emphasis has been put on straw exercises who don't know any better because 98% of all "voice teachers" or "voice coaches" don't actively perform or have NEVER performed in any significant way.
Several years ago, after a neck surgery on my left-hand side, I was told some hoarseness would be a normal side effect of the surgery. This was supposed to go away after a few weeks. It didn't! An Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor told me that during the surgery they must have bumped the nerve to the muscle that controls that side of my larynx causing a muscle spasm which prevented the left side of my larynx from closing completely. The cure...
...Straw singing.
She sent me to a speech therapist who had me do two variations of straw singing. The first involved gently blowing into a straw inserted into a cup with a few centimeters of water in it. The trick was to keep very steady blowing pressure by listening to the bubbles. The other technique was to then do straw singing also listening to the bubbles to keep the pressure the same. It too several months f doing this multiple times throughout the day for the hoarseness to go away.
This might be helpful for beginners, but folks can also get stuck with a crotch, if they don't understand how to hold back the air without the straw. My experience: Rather than creating a back-pressure through a straw in order to combat the air-pressure from the lungs, we could just diminish the initial air-pressure through opening our rib cage and relaxing the belly, holding back the air in the lungs that way when we sing and practice. I feel like that goes more directly to the source of the problem and is a more long-term sustainable solution.
Hi vobavocal, great geek out 😃 I agree. this definitely should not become a crutch. But I’ve found that using it as a practice tool to get a feeling for how to steadily release the tension of the diaphragm when the rib cage is open helps my students get a feeling for the balanced breath support that you mention. That is why I find it so cool, because it helps the student reach their goals 😊
@@singgeek Yeeeesss! 🙌🏾💜
*crutch
Getting stuck with a crotch sounds simply dreadful.
@@oceans6515 😄 is that because i misspelled crutch and said crotch (i think thats something very different in the english language😂), or because of the concept of not being able to let go of the help of the straw?
I love the clear concise and useful way you present. I find the tone very positive and approachable. Your videos really are great!!
I love the new backdrop! ❤
I will now go hunt down some straw substitutes in my home! 😂
Thanks Nanna ❤️ I thought the plane gray background could use an update 😉 and nice! I hope you find some good ones 😃
I used to be a singer in a small band when I was younger. Now my voice cracks and I always feel like I have Phlegm in the back of my throat. Am I just to old, I'm 72, or is it something I can overcome? I really enjoy singing even if I am alone on a country road.
Thank you for the video - I have a question.
Is the straw necessary, or could I just purse my lips as if I had a straw there and do the exercise?
I think I am a baritone. When singing higher notes through the straw my vocal folds colapse and lose control. I try backing off the air steam to correct it.
That works sometimes.
Video starts at marker 3:12 :I
I always enjoy your teachings ❤. Thank you very much coach
Watching you from Ghana,west Africa
That makes me so happy to hear k.sketchesmedia 😊 and greetings to Ghana from Denmark!
What a great idea. If only I could sing the words at the same time, but still love the straw affect.
Love your videos! (from Brazil)
I’ve realized I’m here for the kazoo sound effect.
Haha, it was fun to make too😃
I'm taking singing lessons and a singing (vocal) straw came up in conversation so I've been researching. Isn't it important that the straw be narrow enough to create some back pressure? Some of what you are using or recommending doesn't look like it is narrow enough. There are singing straws for sale on the internet and are 2mm up to 9mm. Educate me on this.
Will it help my singing voice by playing a harmonica?
Does this mean that you have to regularly do the exercise? not only before singing? then eventually you will have some kind of muscle memory even if singing without straw?
I saw Jungkook doing it in his latest music Vlog ;)
I'ma try this 1 hour a day, I hope it will being back my voice & enhance it further, there r songs I cannot complete coz one line requires a highest note but I can't reach it + I don't wanna remove the line😅.
Do you have proper warm up techniques for weak vocal cords?
I'm struggling with my Sustainability, especially on high notes. my voice shake a lot on high notes. Any help?
Thankyou soo much for always uploading such helpful videos ❤.....Can u please tell me how to improve our voice as well as vocals,pls....
Do riyaz it's more effective than Western exercise
Okk... thankyou ☺️❤️🦋
Hi anjanapradeep, do you mean your speaking voice? That does effect your singing as well so that is very good to be aware of. I’ve made two videos that might help you with that. One on speech habits to avoid and one to help you find your speech pitch. You can find them in the video section if my channel. Hope it helps 😊
@@singgeek Thankyou so much❤️...I actually meant our voice while singing...
I love the Kazoo! 🙌🏻🙏🏻🎉🎶It is SO funny!😄 Thanks Ronja for this new video!
Me too I always wondered what it true purpose is; to make a funner version of straw voice exercises
are you singing or humming through the straw?
Yes, I'm wondering if much air is going through straw?
I don’t really feel any buzzing in my face or lips? I guess too much air through my nose.?
It's this an April fool's gag?
I paid a professional singing coach £££ for lessons and this"slipped" past his radar?
Now I know why the straw man in the wizard of oz has such a good voice.
They were gonna show you this after $100,000 worth of tuition 😂
Thank you for your tutorial. It is definitely something I need to improve my voice. How long each day should the straw method be used for. Also, do you recommend a steamer before singing to clear congestion? Thank you.
Thank you for this! I have a few of questions:
- How wide should be straw be? does it matter if i use a skinny straw or a big bubble tea one?
- Does it matter if the straw has a curve to it, or should it be straight?
- I've been told to do this into a cup half-full of water. Does that make any difference?
Hi, and thanks for your great questions. They all have the same theme in common which is the resistance created when singing through the straw. In my experience a bubble tea straw is too wide to create enough resistance. The curve is ok in the straw. If it has a kink though it could create too much resistance but that should not happen with the regular straw curve. The water also adds resistance but in my experience it is not needed and it can even take focus away from the singing. Hope it helps 😊
@@singgeek thank you!
(I'm a high BARITONE)my vocal range has decreased a little bit and it's harder for me to reach the high notes?How do I get my vocal range back the way it used to be?????Don't get me wrong my voice isn't horsey I can still practice but should I practice or do I rest.Or can I practice regularly but avoid the higher notes till my higher notes come back????😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Now you’re singing. With out speaking.
Do we supposed to push air out through the straw when singing?
You’ve taken an exercise for real problems and made it fun with your upbeat personality Thanks I’m gonna get a Kazoo and join in singing 3 stooges theme song and maybe put together a song book for the Kazoo and Straw singing 😂
Unfair not to add a comment, watched some other straw video and just didn't explain this, some didn't even show any exercise, they didn't even care or realize people hate when TH-camr rarely ever get to the main point and early enough. Thank for being wise
Imagine being in conversation with someone about singing or some other important and interesting subject and they talked at you without breathing/comprehension pauses. How nice would that be? It's not nice to get your brain to reinsert the natural pauses and so the strain becomes too much and you click the off button.....Bye now!
A great lesson but the TWO MINUTE advertisement at the start will have scared off a lot of viewers. Damn you, TH-cam
Compression resistance must ultimately be ONLY at the closed glottis.
Hmmmmm, It seems a bit hard to say the words, let me know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Gib
I'm trying to guess what other language you speak. The way you said "tsee" for "see", I'd say German?
😎👍👍👍very interesting. I've never heard of this technique. I'm a Loveless I was born singing. Auto sub, share, and like! ❤❤❤
What is your opinion on doctor vox?
Thank you for the tips and thanks for not getting into the business of selling $50 straws.
Why do you need you need an object? Can't you just make the shape with your mouth without it?
Mam you techniques are amazing and practical also...some techniques fell weired but very effective..from India
Very good lesson! Thank you!.. you are quite attractive by the way!
Creating a small opening with thumb and index finger like a tiny o. Then hold it on your lips like the mouse peace of a trumpet. While humming like singing let the lips buzz a bit like playing a trumpet. This way its maybe even better as a straw or other small tube solutions for back pressure .
Would that be similar to singing through my teeth?
Please can you put up a video on how to sing on a steady key. Thank you. Also how can someone know and identify his comfortable key
These are great video suggestions. Thank you Evelynkong😊 Could you clarify what you mean with “a steady key”?
@@singgeek you know sometimes, someone goes off key. Fluctuates from one key to another.
Is there any harm in doing this exercise months after Thyroid Surgery?
I’m sorry but I didn’t get the free lesson link… Can you help out?
I use old vapes I have, I'd hollow it out and clean it and it worked fine
I love this. THANK YOU so much!!!
Hi Ronja-the straw exercise works brilliantly for me at first,but after 2 minutes my voice returns to normal. how do i make it stay! thanks paul
Interesting and easily explained. Thank you.
I used a (red) penne pasta, it really worked well!
How can i breath
I’ve got myself a really cheap, plastic kazoo. I’m very pleased with it, it plays very easily, with a pleasant tone! Now to try it with ‘Nail the Pitch’
first!
Yes you are! Thanks for watching 😊
Excellent video, so smart, a great help to learn better how to feel singing!!! Love it veeeeery much!!! ❤
I’m so glad you find it helpful! Thanks for letting me know. I wish you happy singing😊
@@singgeek Thank you very much! Now I'm sure I will have better times with my voice! A big hug!!!
I've never been a great singer but I think I've gotten better as a side benifit of learning the didgeridoo. This video supports my theory!
bigger straws from boba tea shops
If Karine Jean-Pierre were a vocal coach . . .
3:11
❤❤❤❤
Tank's,i am from indonesia
Use a twizzler red or black
You had me at the imperial march... lol
round pasta noodle
Nibbling on your little ears will be good for my voice 😝
How creepy. You must think her husband punching you in the nose would improve your tone.
You’re a sweetie pie.😊
emptied a stylo, works well
Hva! Er du dansker? Took me long enough.... hahah
What about a metal straw? Love this technique, thanks!🌻
perfect
My substitution is really freeeee and easy to get its "pens refill"
Nice! Free and easy. Now that’s a straw substitution that I think many will find useful. Thanks for sharing aspherxnews6169 😃
i use an unlit cigarette but, same effect
Every singer / homebrewer here, now thinks you're super cool!
Thanks teemlee51😊, now I’m curious. Are you a home brewer too?😃
@@singgeek I am. Cheers!!🍻🥂
I will get backlash for pointing this out, but the Vader theme here has one wrong note, the next to last tonic, which is lower (to the leading tone); tougher to sing, yes, but so cool!
glad i see this video
Well done
nah kalo pake sedotan suaraku cuma sampe C ...
Could I just do lip trills and hum instead or does this add something that those exercises do not?
Anybody know?
I do lip trills and tongue trills as well as humming and then with tip of the tongue touching just behind my upper teeth on the hard palette (I do slides and also do the C major scale up and down my range, from lowest to highest notes, chest and transitioning to head voice), and, for me at least, serves a similar function as the straw. I also do other exercises that have helped me with other aspects of the voice and singing, but as it relates to the straw, the above have worked for me incredibly well.
@@tomasandrew9354 Thank you for the reply.
I appreciate that information.
I do most of what you do so I’ll probably just stick to that.
@@pstephens__ still try the straw and see if/how it works for you, though!
🥰😍😘
Love legato singing, great stuff!
Me too! Thanks for watching dralithi😊
I am so confused. In Indian classical style and even some western teacher ask to open mouth more rather than less.
This exercise is to practise the resistance you need to not release all air at once 😃 at least as far as I know 🙈 it’s basically a breath management technique ❤️
@@Voca-thusiastic I see that makes sense. thank for clarification
Wth is a fermentation valve and why would I have that but not a straw 😂
😂 some ppl do. It’s used, e.g. for brewing beer or fermenting to make hot sauce.
@@singgeek touché!
Er du dansker?😊
Ja😊
@@singgeek He he, synes godt jeg kunne høre en dansker bag den ellers næsten perfekte accent :). Det var dog først da jeg så dit navn, at jeg kunne lægge to og to sammen:). Tak for nogle super gode og informative videoer!!
Det er altid dejligt at møde andre danskere her på kanalen 😊 og velbekomme, jeg bliver så glad når jeg høre at videoerne kan bruges!
Singgeek provides good tutorials, but the condescending tone of the tutor puts me off a bit.....
Hi lozreeve, I’m so sorry to hear that you find the tone condescending. That is never my intention. I’m so inspired by all the singers practicing and working everyday to improve their voices. I try to make the tutorials simple, step-by-step and also a little fun by referring to myself as the student who once had the same questions. Thanks for your feedback. I wish you happy singing 😊
@@singgeek I honestly did not find your manner condescending in the least. You have to gear these videos to a wide audience, so there will always be some who don't like it.
Nevertheless, you are in danger of not really appearing like a geek. Maybe some really big, thick glasses, uncombed hair and a lab coat would help... 🤓
I want my coach to use star wars melodies when we warm-up.
this sounds like gobbledygook