titze-straw.mp2

[NCVS456]

The NCVS had a mini conference on the this and related techniques this last summer. There are also several academic papers on how and why it works. Email anyone at the NCVS and we can answer your questions or get you in touch with Ingo Titze himself...

[sgmrmp]

(cont.)...increased Bernoulli effect, and thus a cleaner sound, with less air leakage along the midline. It is this that I conjecture is responsible for the feeling of "higher placement" (an acousic phenomenon from a better mucosal wave = restored formants).

[sgmrmp]

(continued) The increased backpressure, logically, should decrease subglottic pressure during phonation, allowing the vocal folds to achieve maximum stretch more easily. I note how it encourages low laryngeal position and predominantly cricothyroid stretch (forward lean) as opposed to stretching just the ligament and edge with the cricoarytenoids. This coordinated muscle stretch minimizes any register change "bumps" and gives a smooth glide to the highest pitches. It also seems to encourage ....

[sgmrmp]

Very helpful. If I don't have a straw, I find I can get similar backpressure and results by puckering out the lips and buzzing through a very tiny opening in the center of the lips, just enough for a tiny amount of air to escape. I have a student undergoing chemotherapy and dealing with resulting vocal fatigue, so will see if the straw technique helps his stamina.

I am still curious as to how and why the technique works, biomechanically and acoustically.

[bustamove2222]

my studio teacher (Western Washington Unviersity) used this method with me and I saw amazing improvements in my voice. I now use straws everyday to warm up and especially before performances and auditions.

[jennifermorrison]

the method works..

[pussnjax]

@jennifermorrison thanks for posting, from one vocologist to another. :)

[pussnjax]

@piggyq10 when I or my students use this I haven't noticed any undue constriction around the jaw or lips.