As a singing teacher and choral director I am always looking for new ways to help stimulate and encourage students and choir members. I teach in various institutions including Canterbury Christ Church University where work with undergraduate and postgraduate singers and sometimes am lucky enough to bump into Michelle as she works with her students. Michelle has a great reputation and I am always impressed by her students, so obviously as I walked past her room one day in Spring of 2019 and saw one of her students apparently singing through a straw into a bottle of water, I was intrigued to say the least. It wasn’t just the physical activity that caught my attention, it was the fact that even though I couldn’t hear anything through the door, I could see that something important was happening for this student. I waited until we both had a break later in the day and asked Michelle what was going on! 

She explained how to use the Lax Vox(c) tube and suggested I have a go myself. I ordered some tubing (Michelle told me what I needed) and cut it to the right length and then had a go. Well…. the immediate freedom and ease was enough to convince me that this was something I should try with my students. 

Since then I have used the tube with students of every age and ability, in chamber choir rehearsals, group lessons, and individual lessons from beginner to advanced. For some of these students, the device has been transformative, allowing them to sing in way they never imagined and making my job so much easier. For others, the tube helps with tone, breath control, support and intonation and even the most sceptical are now converts.

I now share the benefits of the tube with other singing teachers, singers and students as I really think it is the most useful tool to help singers and students (whatever the age and ability) discover their voice and sing with confidence.