Tag: phonation tube

What is a phonation tube?

Michelle HarrisLeave a comment

The phonation tube which we have used with our students uses the same dimensions as the lax vox(c); a device, named and advocated by Marketta Sihvo, a Finnish Speech Therapist. It is not a branded product.

Simply it is a length (usually around 33cm long) of food grade silicone tubing, of 1cm diameter, widely available online and in hardware shops. A receptacle or bottle of water is the only other apparatus you need. None of this is specialist equipment.

In scientific circles, using a phonation tube is a SOVTE (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise), there are a number of these out there, ranging from those which require something in the manner of a straw of smaller or differing diameters, to those which simply ask for tongue or lip trills. Our research has led us to affirm that this is a particularly effective way of assisting the vocal cords in adduction, or closing more efficiently. It can be used to warm-up, to relax the cords after a lot of use, or to help direct the singer to greater awareness of breathing techniques, relaxation of the facial muscles and also maximisation of resonance. It can also be used to help smooth over bad breaks in the voice. It is a popular therapy with Speech Therapists in the UK on the NHS.

As singing teachers who are passionate about what we do and the health of the vocal apparatus, we are sharing what we have found out, both in academic research terms, and practically. The feedback you read from users is from genuine students who have used and found the device helpful to their singing.

If you have an experience to share please send it to us.

Richard – phonation tube, the magical warm-up!

Michelle HarrisLeave a comment

If, like me, you often open a bottle of red wine, pour and drink, you may know that a wine aerator really improves the taste of the wine. As you pour the wine through the specially designed “funnel” the wine draws air down through two long holes in the funnel and aerates it. I have carried out many blind tastings with friends and every time they can distinguish between the wine straight from the bottle and the aerated wine.

Now, of course, you could be patient, uncork the wine in good time and allow it to breath naturally. Same result, wine that tastes better after breathing.

There is, however, no way to uncork the human voice. Even hours spent chattering to friends and family will not warm-up your singing voice. You have to start gently and give it time to warm-up. This is where the magic phonation tube apparatus comes in. Blowing bubbles through a piece of plastic tube into a bottle (with the right depth of water) seems to “smooth” the voice quality. Although you still need to warm up the singing voice, the process is helped EVERY TIME, by using the phonation tube technique. So simple but so effective and all you need to carry with you is the tube. A bottle and liquid can be found anywhere.

So next time I am travelling without my wine aerator, and need to enjoy a glass of red wine, perhaps I will remember to carry my phonation tubing with me, and see if blowing bubbles into the wine will speed up the aeration process!

Seriously, a phonation tube helps every time with the warm-up process. What I need to test next is whether it will help the sound quality AFTER my singing voice is warmed up, and also (and I have no idea how to achieve this) whether the tube improves not just voice quality in the warm-up process but long-term voice quality. Probably need some help from an interested university in researching this one. In return I can demonstrate the benefits of a wine aerator!

Richard