Do Singing Straws and SOVT Vocal Trainers Work?
Singing straws and SOVT vocal trainers can be useful warm-up tools. The exercises behind them have a research basis but a device still needs you to make time to warm up.
A community member recently asked about the BetterVoice vocal trainer. They mostly sing in the car, tend to skip warming up, and wondered whether a portable device would help.
Are these tools worth buying? What about straws you sing through into water?
Here’s my take after more than two decades of teaching singers, from complete beginners to recording artists signed to major labels, including the product I’ve personally used and recommend.
What are SOVT vocal exercises?
SOVT stands for semi-occluded vocal tract. You may already know some examples:
Lip bubbles or lip trills
Tongue trills
Humming
Singing through a straw
These exercises partially narrow the opening through which you vocalize. This changes the pressure and acoustic conditions above your vocal folds, which can help you produce sound with greater ease.
A randomized clinical trial of straw-based voice therapy found improvements in participants’ self-reported voice difficulties compared with a group receiving no treatment.
Those participants had voice problems or vocal fatigue. The study supports the therapeutic approach; it doesn’t establish every commercial device’s claims.
Will a vocal trainer help you warm up?
It can definitely help, especially if having a practical tool makes you more likely to build a routine.
But my straight up answer is that the thing most likely to help you warm up… is actually warming up.
A vocal trainer sitting in your bag is about as useful as a treadmill holding your laundry. The equipment needs you to show up, too.
You still need to spend time vocalizing, listen to how your voice feels, and gradually build toward the demands of your songs.
Look for a tool you understand and will actually use, with clear instructions and guided exercises.
My experience with VoiceStraw and BetterVoice
I haven’t personally used BetterVoice, so I can’t recommend that particular device from experience. Some of the other trainers look interesting too, but I’d want to try them before offering a verdict.
One product I have used and love is VoiceStraw.
Its founder, Mindy Pack, and I were colleagues at Speech Level Singing back in the day. She’s an incredible voice expert, and I appreciate the research and thoughtfulness behind her products.
VoiceStraw offers downloadable workout tracks, giving you something practical to sing along with. These are currently listed separately from the kits, so check what your purchase includes.
I also like their Voice Cups, which let you work with words and song phrases alongside sustained sounds and exercises.
If you’d like to try VoiceStraw, use CHORUSSTUDIO for 10% off.
What about singing straws in water?
Personally, I love singing through a straw into water! It’s my preferred SOVT exercise because it feels so good on my voice.
You make a gentle vocal sound through a straw or tube into water, producing bubbles while the water adds resistance.
The setup matters. Straw diameter, length, and depth in the water affect resistance. More bubbles or more effort aren’t automatically better.
You should be vocalizing through the straw, not simply blowing air. Follow the instructions for your tool, and ask a knowledgeable teacher to help you find a comfortable setup.
A simple warm-up before singing
You don’t need to buy a device to begin. Gentle humming, lip bubbles, or tongue trills can be useful starting points.
Before a rehearsal, performance, recording session, or your next car singalong, try this progression:
Check in. Rate how your voice feels from 1–10, with 10 being your best. If you feel like a 7, give yourself a 7. Don’t force a 10.
Start comfortably. Use a gentle SOVT exercise in an easy part of your range.
Build gradually. Explore comfortable slides or simple patterns before reaching for bigger sounds.
Move into your song. Begin with an easy phrase and gradually work toward what the music requires.
Save handheld devices and water exercises for when you’re safely parked.
Give yourself time to build gently. Listen and honour where your body is at that day.
Can SOVT exercises help after singing?
I like using SOVT exercises for cool-downs and gentle vocal resets, too. They’re also used in clinical voice therapy, with exercises tailored to the individual.
A purchased device isn’t a substitute for professional care for an injured voice. If singing hurts or hoarseness persists, get assessed by an ENT. Ideally, consult a laryngologist who specializes in voice.
Find a warm-up that suits your voice
A useful warm-up should fit your voice, your goals, and the music you want to sing. A device can be part of that routine, but you don’t need an expensive purchase to get started.
Our teachers at Chorus Studio offer personalized singing lessons in Vancouver and online. We can help you choose exercises, use your tools comfortably, and apply the work to songs you love.
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