How To Use Voice Straws & Voice Cups—SOVT Vocal Training

We believe vocalizing should feel easy.

Welcome to your Voice Straw™ journey. Whether you’re a singer, voice actor, professional speaker, or just want to learn how to vocalize better, the Voice Straw™ is here to help you get your voice in top shape to eliminate strain, cracking, flipping, and discomfort.

Check out the Quick-Start Guide below, or head to our Youtube channel for How-To videos.

Watch & Learn!

Getting Started: Original Voice Straw™

Our Original Voice Straw™ system, offering you the flexibility to select between two distinct straw diameters: 3mm and 6mm. Tailored to accommodate varying vocal needs, patterns, and ranges, these different sizes can be seamlessly combined or used individually. Optimal vocal fold health and performance are at your fingertips as you choose the ideal diameter for your unique requirements. Pair the smaller diameters with the Black Voice Cups and the larger diameters with the white cups, ensuring a personalized and effective vocal training experience tailored to your specific needs

close up image of woman using voice straw

Step 1: Wash Your Tools

Put a dab of the Voice Straw™ Cleaning Soap or dish soap on the cleaning brush. Scrub the inside and outside of each straw and cup end-to-end. Rinse tools thoroughly with hot water. Let straws and cups air dry in a ventilated place. Do not put tools away wet. Clean and rinse cleaning brush regularly.

Step 2: Find Your Resting Larynx Position

Place your hand on your larynx, where your Adam’s apple is (or would be). Pant like a small dog. The larynx should rise. Now, pant like a big dog. The larynx should lower. The resting position of your larynx should be between these two extremes.

Step 3: Finding the Correct Straw Diameter

Start with the biggest straw first, making sure your larynx is in its resting position. Wrap your lips tight around the straw, making sure no air is escaping through your mouth or nose. Blow air into the straw in a steady stream. Now, give a gentle whoop, like you’re starting a cold car.

If you feel like you’re blowing air into the straw with no resistance, choose a smaller size.

Repeat the above exercises with smaller straws. If you feel tension or squeezing in your throat, choose a larger size.

When you have the correct size, you should feel a gentle expansion in the throat when you blow into the straw. There should be no pain or tension.

The right straw size for you may vary day-to-day. You may need to use a larger size after a difficult vocal session or if your voice is tired. Repeat this process every time you practice with the straw to ensure the right fit.

Still have questions? Check out the diagram below called "Choosing Your Resistance"

Step 4: Start Your Exercises

Once you’ve found the correct straw size, start with some gentle low-to high pitch glides into the straw. Experiment with dynamics.

When you feel comfortable vocalizing into the straw, you’re ready to begin the Voice Straw exercises!

Step 5: Adding the Cup

When you’ve moved through the straw-only exercises included in this kit, you’re ready to add the cup. The cup allows you to add vowels and consonants while maintaining comfortable pressure in the throat.

Choosing the Right Cup Size

If you’re using the largest straw size (6mm), fit the straw into the White Cup. If you’re using any of the smaller straw sizes (3mm), use the Black Cup.

Add the Cup to the Straw

Insert the straw into the cup. Form a tight seal around your lips with the cup. Make sure no air is escaping. The straw should not be inside your mouth. Start doing warm-ups, sing through a song, yell, or shout!

Getting Started: Voice Straw H20™

Our Voice Straw H2O™ system offers a range of diameters to suit your vocal needs. The larger 10.5mm diameter is perfect for removing tension, rehabilitation, warm-ups, and cooldowns, while the smaller diameters (3.5mm and 2.5mm) can be used individually or in combination with the two 1.5mm straws for a fully customizable experience. These different sizes cater to your vocal fold health, patterns, and range. For optimal use with our Blue Voice Cups, we recommend removing the mouth pillows when combining the straws.

Step 1: Wash Your Tools

Remove your lip cushion, and add a dab of the Voice Straw™ Cleaning Soap or dish soap on the cleaning brush. Scrub the inside and outside of each straw, lip cushion, and cup end-to-end. Rinse tools thoroughly with hot water. Let straws and cups air dry in a ventilated place. Do not put tools away wet. Clean and rinse cleaning brush regularly.

Do not put your kit in the dishwasher.

Step 2: Find Your Resting Larync Position

Place your hand on your larynx, where your Adam’s apple is (or would be). Pant like a small dog. The larynx should rise. Now, pant like a big dog. The larynx should lower. The resting position of your larynx should be between these two extremes.

Step 3: Add Water and Find Your Diameter

Grab your water bottle and fill it with 3-4 inches of water (taller the better as to avoid being in the splash zone)! Hot or cold water— it doesn't matter!

Making sure your larynx is in its resting position, you're going to start with the 10.5 mm "Big Kahuna" straw. Wrap your lips tight around the lip cushion, making sure no air is escaping through your mouth or nose.

Blow air into the straw in a steady stream. Now, give a gentle whoop, like you’re starting a cold car.

If you feel like you’re blowing air into the straw with no resistance, choose a smaller size.

Repeat the above exercises with smaller straws. If you feel tension or squeezing in your throat, choose a larger size.

When you have the correct size, you should feel a gentle expansion in the throat when you blow into the straw. There should be no pain or tension.

The right straw size for you may vary day-to-day. You may need to use a larger size after a difficult vocal session or if your voice is tired. Repeat this process every time you practice with the straw to ensure the right fit.

Still have questions? Check out the diagram below called "Choosing Your Resistance"

Step 4: Start Your Exercises

Once you’ve found the correct straw size, start with some gentle low-to high pitch glides into the straw. Experiment with dynamics.

When you feel comfortable vocalizing into the straw, you’re ready to begin the Voice Straw exercises!

Whether you're using the Voice Straw or Voice Straw H20™, the workouts will be the same!

Step 5: Adding the Cup

When you’ve moved through the straw-only exercises, you’re ready to add the cup. The cup allows you to add vowels and consonants while maintaining comfortable pressure in the throat.

The Voice Straw H2O™ kit comes with one cup size that works for 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm, and 1.5mm diameters. Please note, the largest 10.5mm diameter straw (AKA: "The Big Kahuna") is meant to be used by itself and not with the Voice Cup; it is primarily for recovery purposes.

Add the Cup to the Straw

Insert the straw into the cup. Form a tight seal around your lips with the cup. Make sure no air is escaping. The straw should not be inside your mouth. Start doing warm-ups, sing through a song, yell, or shout!

Choose Your Resistance Level

When it comes to vocal training with the Voice Straw™, understanding when to adjust your resistance is key to optimizing your practice and progress. Here's a breakdown to help you decide when to switch to a bigger or smaller straw and how to interchange them for maximum benefit.

When to Go Bigger
If you experience any of the following, switch or add straws to get a bigger diameter.
• Squeezing in the throat
• Unnecessary tension or strain
• Inability to reach high notes
• Head pressure
• When recoving from a cold
• After a heavy voice demand (long day of speaking or singing)
—
(Note: Try using the bigger straw or using both small straws at the same time.)
When to Go Smaller
If you feel the following, switch to a straw with a smaller diameter:
• It feels easy
• You are running out of air
• Too much breath is flowing through the straw
• You don't feel the back pressure in your throat
• You don't feel the openness in your throat
Interchanging Sizes
If any of the following apply to you, you may need to interchange straw sizes more frequently:
• The voice is tired
• Menstruation
• Change in medication
• Lack of sleep
• Allergies
• Post surgery
• When rehabing vocal injury
—
(Note: When you are expanding your vocal range, you may need to add a second straw the higher you go.)

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How to use the Straw & Cup
Move through each step of training as demonstrated in this video to improve your vocal projection, tone, endurance, and to project the longevity of your voice.
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Voice Straw Tips and FAQ's
Have more questions? Email us at Support@voicestraw.com
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What Does Straw Phonation Look Like?
This system gets your vocal tract and vocal folds in in their correct position so you can reach vocal freedom.
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Learn More:

What is Voice Straw™?

The complete straw phonation system for vocal training — Watch Now.

Why choose th Voice Straw system? — Watch Now.

Who is Voice Straw for? — Watch Now.

Getting Started with Voice Straw™

How to place your larynx when using your voice — Watch Now.

How to choose your straw size — Watch Now.

Why use the Voice Straw training system? Watch Now.

Length Matters — Watch Now.