The #1 exercise YOU NEED to strengthen your mix voice I Straw phonation 101

[@clarizamae09]

I can't afford singing lessons so here I am, stalking Hannah's vocal lesson videos because I can't belt or mix to save my life.

[@HannahBayles]

Welcome! 🤗

[@mermaidklc1390]

Same

[@valeeljaiek]

Oh same here!

[@noemi.romanelli]

Omg this is so meeee

[@lovelyjuliexo]

same same 😔

[@melina6349]

This is also great if you want a nice quiet warm-up when you're feeling uneasy with everyone in the house hearing you. I have a really loud voice so while reaching the higher register during warm-ups I always get tense just because I'm not comfortable with everyone listening to me :D

[@Abigailbooks]

I did the warm-up with a metal straw, and the low notes made the straw vibrate, and it almost made my lips tickle 🤣

[@HannahBayles]

haha yes! It's very buzzy!

[@moozie996]

@@HannahBayles is this exercise apply to all register not just mix right?

[@huss2600]

@@moozie996 yes, all registers.

[@bright5893]

Thinking of getting a singing straw as my own personal Christmas present! So excited for your upcoming holiday cover!!

[@HannahBayles]

Thank you! 5 covers coming this month!

[@mollysuke766]

hi! so i started doing these exercises on july 21st in hopes of being able to belt higher after doing them for a while. after two weeks of doing the exercises once a day, my belt went from barely a C5 to a D5! i specifically was trying to expand my range so that i could belt most of the songs in annie (as i have an audition on august 29th for annie), and now i can belt all of maybe and almost all of tomorrow! i’m going to continue to do these exercises once a day even after my audition, and i’m hoping that with another two weeks i can get up to a D#5 or maybe even an E5. so if you are wanting to expand your belting range, do this. THANK YOU, hannah. you are a LIFE SAVER!! 💗💗 update (december 18): unfortunately i didn’t into annie :( however i used it as a learning experience and started working harder than ever! i have now mostly figured out mix voice, and i can belt an E5! i’m auditioning for the same theatre company that did annie when they’re doing 13 the musical, and i’m auditioning for patrice. i have about two and a half months until the audition! i am also auditioning for xanadu jr with a different theatre company next month!

[@AngelCruz-eq7ur]

Yeah , Me Too!! I started From An E5 To An A#5!! BTW your greater than me Coz When I Was Child I Could Only Belt F4s G4s And Struggling In Belting B4 , Keep On Singing Little Girl!!

[@AngelCruz-eq7ur]

BTW , How Did It Go? I Hope You Passed The Audition!

[@AngelCruz-eq7ur]

Hello , I Have A Request!! Would You Cover HALO by BEYONCE!! THANKS 💖💖🥰

[@mollysuke766]

@@AngelCruz-eq7ur thank you!! that’s amazing!!

[@mollysuke766]

@@AngelCruz-eq7ur thank you so much! i actually didn’t get in :(

[@cactuscooel]

Please can you do a video on vibrato? I’ve been singing for years, mainly classical training when I was young, but vibrato has just never appeared. Love your style of teaching and your videos! 🤩

[@maynhia]

I dont have a strong vibrato but I built a vibrato into my voice. This practice does work but it doesnt happen over night. You will have to sing between two notes back and forth slowly. Try implementing to songs too. When you feel more comfortable, you will need to start speeding it up. Soon you will realize that you're doing it. At first it will be "fake vibrato" but thats how you build a memory muscle in your throat. I wish i can link you the video that I watched back then, but unfortunately I dont even remember which one it is anymore. Not the best explanation but hopefully you understands it.

[@dragonzlyric]

I would rather recommend you relax your throat and body and let the sound naturally vibrate since your vocal cords are already vibrating.

[@Doing_Time]

I'm always ultra vibrato when I'm on stage, and never vibrato during practice...quite the challenge

[@gemmsp441]

I did it with a normal straw and bottle of water. It was nice how if i got thirsty during the exercise i could just take a sip lol. (also AMAZING. I really needed this, I've finally found my mix and needed to find a way to strengthen it :))

[@jordangilpin7803]

THIS SAVED MY MIXING VOICE!!!!!!!! 🥰Also could you react to Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs.Lovett? Her voice is very unique!

[@HannahBayles]

Yay!! Go you! And that is a great idea!!

[@antoniareidsmusic]

Hi!! Just wanted to thank you wholeheartedly for your videos which have been an invaluable resource over the past year for my vocal development, and as a result I have finally gained the confidence to release my first ever original song onto my channel! Thank you so much for everything!

[@thriftTDvelvette]

so encouraging and inspiring as a fellow singer/songwriter! where can we listen?!

[@antoniareidsmusic]

@@thriftTDvelvette thank you so much! My song is available to listen to on my KZbin channel! 😊

[@dougaker5433]

Hi Hannah. What I especially liked about your video was that it included a very comprehensive full straw warm-up, including comments like, "I'm focusing on keeping my throat muscles relaxed." It's always more fun to sing along with someone, even if it's someone in a video. Your full warm-up covered all the bases. Thank you.

[@camerynesperanza1849]

Love how this has zero dislikes

[@unclep3759]

2 moths later and still none

[@sarahchandler9488]

@@unclep3759 there is one now 😭

[@gabrielcardoso5461]

2 stupid people disliked this amazing video

[@joel6052]

Damn you jinxed it

[@santsantsant]

Now 4 styuuuupid people

[@guinevere3522]

Oh my GOD Hannah THANK YOU. I haven't been able to book a voice lesson in SO LONG and I could feel my technique and my strength slipping. I NEEDED this.

[@darksidessj25]

Singing straws really work and you need to remember how it feels. Take the straw out of your mouth and then try to re-create that back pressure by breathing in and phonating and bam you got Bel canto. So for vibrato you use the same sensation but your letting go of the back pressure and then adding it again. It's kind of like laughing or panting.

[@adoragrayskull]

Please react to the Tangled the series songs! Jeremy Jordan, Eden Espinosa, Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi together? It's amazing!!! Some of the best songs are: - Nothing left to lose - let me make you proud(and its reprise) - Crossing the line - The view from up here - Ready as I'll ever be Anyway love you and your tips and I'm excited for the covers!

[@gutenmorgan2063]

I tried a straw for a little bit tonight - I love singing and want to get better but quarentine has thrown me off a bit because I do not want to disturb the people I live with... I really liked it thought, and the singing straws look really interesting - I just used a straw at home. Thank you so much, Hannah!!!

[@ramibu239]

I have been a singer my whole life. I was even a vocal major in college & had 5 years of classical training. In 2004 I suffered a severe neck injury while at work. Because it was a workers comp situation (& I didn't have the money to pay out of pocket myself) I had to wait 4 years before finally being allowed to have surgery to fuse my C5/6 (it was one of the worst herniated disc the surgeon had ever seen & it had been severely been compressing my spine for years. Thus this many years later has still left me w/ partial paralysis in my right had [I had to reteach myself to write in that time]). Anyway, when I found out to repair the disc they had to go thru the front of the neck instead of the back to do the surgery I informed the surgeon I was a singer & to please avoid my vocal cords at all cost! Of course come surgery he "forgot". So after surgery, every time I tried to sing my vocal cords would litterally vibrate off each other - & I don't mean in the way they should. It was like they would do this clapping/flapping sound. It was so traumatizing. It took nearly 4 year before my voice came back - or at least as close to what was my normal. I lost a few notes off my high register. I used to be able to hit an F6 quite comfortably (used to have about a 4 octave range, now it's around a 3😕). Anyway to get to my point. Even though I know/remember the exercises & techniques to singing, I have still found my throat to feel quite tight & I don't get that resonance in my mask like I used to. I have been listening to your warm up/technique videos & for the 1st time in about 14 years I am finally feeling that vibrating in my mask & my throat did not feel so tight. Though I gotta admit the straw one was a little more pf a challenge to this!😅 So I just wanted to say thank you!!!💓

[@jamiewagner7066]

Today was my first day singing through a straw before practicing before a voice lesson later, and these exercises were amazing! I usually get pretty tense with higher notes, but this practice really helped me to relax, allowing those notes to really shine! Thank you so much for this!

[@christinesattler909]

My voice was feeling hoarse and tired and this helped. We’ll have to see if I can sing for my gig tomorrow.

[@reginamercado4869]

how was it?

[@jermainejohnson8924]

Just bought mine. Thank you for this demo, before every gig I'll be pulling up this video and doing my scales with you!

[@J3NNLCH]

I've been trying to do this once or twice a day and I notice that for a little while it really works! I just wish it had more of a lasting effect. It really helps strengthen my voice and be able to belt notes where my voice usually cracks. My choir director actually recommended me to try this when I told him I was having trouble hitting one of the long belting notes and after doing this I hit it with ease so now I do this right before going to choir. This will also come in handy when I perform at an open mic. Thank you so much for this life changing vocal exercise!

[@G..G..]

What do you mean by lasting affect? Like working out the body it has to be done consistently or are you referring to something else? I do it once a day.

[@VanCityGal]

I absolutely love straw warmups. Its my favorite way to warm up!!!!

[@TheDollPlace]

I’m so glad you made this! I’m still trying to get all the sounds and registers figured out, I am planning on recording myself doing each Disney Princess song and they can be tough haha, I always find myself sounding sort of annoying and I guess....ugly? Not pretty to hear kinda hurts your ears sometimes. I’ve definitely improved trying to use my mixed voice! I just need to work on control of it and pronunciation in it!

[@moniquekirton25]

wow I got the S/S and followed Hannah while watching this clip and afterwards I sang Don't cry for me Argentina and my voice sounded very clear. I am very glad to have come across this. I never even heard of straw phonation before. Thank you very much.

[@orfeassiozos1575]

Oh heyy!! Incredibly early haha. One of my goals when I move out to uni next year (hopefully!) is to work on my voice, so this seems incredibly helpful

[@breegwendolyn7892]

Okay so I don’t have a singing straw (yet, I want one eventually) but I tried this with just a straw I have at home after struggling with a mix heavy belting song and when I tried this song again it definitely wasn’t perfect I still need more practice but it was WAY EASIER and WAY BETTER! Like what????? Definitely going to keep up with this exercise frequently

[@sophiaredwood5825]

Yoooo I was just wondering about mixing and I got a singing straw that came today, then opened up KZbin and found this! How did you know?!?

[@HannahBayles]

😏

[@sewmanyhobbies942]

Always have had difficulties with transitions from chest to headvoice and a bunch of squeek up top, and was always told to 'push' more while that was hurting my voice.. Ho gee! Was this an adventure. Had a hard time letting go of that tension I've always relied on. Long way to go, but this is a nice tool to keep in one's pocket!

[@candelaria8928]

Thank you!! My voice teacher are going to start using straws to warm up next class and this helped me learn what straw phonation is about 🥰🥰🥰

[@hobistinyheartbag]

I love singing for fun I have zero vocal education plus I have asthma that exercise sounds perfect fit for me thank you 🥰💜

[@AnnaItem]

you bet the singing straw is number one on my christmas list this year!!

[@HannahBayles]

I hope you love it!

[@kathrynlouiseberman7919]

I love straw phonation. Thank you for this video. I keep a clear plastic cup with 1" of water and a straight stainless steel smoothie straw in my car cup holder at all times so I can phone while at traffic lights or stuck in traffic.

[@Delaney.N]

I tried these warm ups and they worked ! My voice sounds better ! Don’t feel as much tension ! 💖💖💖

[@trin9310]

2:28 excersises!! (just for personal markings, love the video!)

[@ethalinia]

This is one of the most amazing vocal exercise videos I have ever seen... thank you so much!! I do have one question: I assume that by "first passage" you mean the transition from chest to head voice, but what is a "second passage"? Also, your hair is gorgeous, had to mention that :P

[@JOJOJOJJJJJ]

First passage is the break where the chest voice becomes lighter and enters mix voice. Second passage is when the chest/mix flips into head voice.

[@ingmarmarsman3343]

I normally don't pay attention to the paid promotions in videos, but I've had a tube before which I lost somehow. Thought I'd make the jump and ordered it anyway. Got high expectations now, thanks to you. And please keep doing what you're doing, Hannah. Your expressions ease my soul and your explanations are very helpful. 😊

[@lenaschneider549]

Thank you SO much for this Video! Especially the exercises are such a big help ❤️

[@abigailnoe1064]

This was such a great exercise! I didn't buy the actual singing straw because I was skeptical but I went to the store and but small straws. My voice feels so warmed up and my mix is so much stronger!

[@donsmith9081]

I just did this wonderful exercise for the first time using a dismantled ball point pen! I have sleep apnea and have been searching for good exercises to strengthen/stiffen my soft palate. Thank You so much!

[@PoLenChos]

Just went to a coffee shop and they has those cute coffee straws so I took too because I can’t get a singing straw but wow, there is such a difference between using one straw and switching back to two. It’s a great exercise, thank you!

[@artbyaerin]

Eep! You’re so positive when you talk, Hannah, it’s really fun to watch you :D

[@G..G..]

This workout really warms my voice up in such a short time. Thx. I do it everyday.

[@elileonard4493]

Warm up starts: 2:28

[@musicalfan2633]

This is amazing. You should consider reacting to Anna’s new cover. It’s a cover and animatic of The Ballad Of Sara Berry. It’s her and some of her friends.

[@aprilf00ls]

Thank u so much i appreciate this kind of videos because i like to sing but im really new and i have no idea about vocal techniques or a lot of terms and you are so good explaining ♡♡

[@emilyjaggie9485]

I tried it with a straw and I really liked it. It really helped me a lot .

[@orchidsarepretty1422]

Oh I think I’m first! I’m definitely asking for one for my birthday! I tried using a bent straw (I don’t think it really worked😂😂)

[@orchidsarepretty1422]

This is just for me:

[@orchidsarepretty1422]

2:28

[@lexilynch7265]

It is actually very interesting it was actually very neat being able to feel my straw vibrate so I can tell when I’m in my low voice, my mixed, and when I go to my head voice!

[@luliormachea8874]

this video saved my life

[@TerryMPendleton]

So, I did try the a straw for the first time today, and it feels so nice. I’m gonna have to actually sing some stuff and keep up these exercises but I’m excited. I may even order myself a singing straw for Christmas 🎄 thanks for being awesome Hannah. 💚

[@willywonkussy649]

I just tried this today with straws from my kitchen while I’m making pasta and I honestly really liked this!

[@johnpaul3019]

So listen how was the pasta my dear ?

[@willywonkussy649]

@@johnpaul3019 it was amazing, as it always is

[@johnpaul3019]

@@willywonkussy649 lol glad to hear!

[@soph-ia-]

This video is my new nighttime routine! Before I go to bed, I do my straw phonetion along with you! Thank you for the information :)

[@philllyp]

Have been using laxvox (basically a plastic tube with water) until now. But as soon as singing straw on your video I bought myself some because I find it kind of magic how well straw phonation works. And being able to do it without the need of having a bottle of water nearby is just cool

[@DonnaJulia]

I just tried this for the first time before my vocal lesson! I liked it, but all that resistance/airflow in my mouth(>) felt so strange and different!! I did notice I had an easier time hitting some of the higher notes and I wasn't straining/pulling as much!

[@angeliquemariel2916]

Same girl!!

[@gnemec768]

You should react to In Case You Don't Live Forever by Ben Platt, or any of his other songs, that's just my personal favorite.

[@HannahBayles]

omg I LOVE that song!!

[@yehan5132]

I was just expecting a drawn out video with the answer at the end, not a whole workout! Thank you so much.

[@thesacredgates3079]

Hannah excellent video! I really appreciate being able to observe how you train this exercise and your side notes appearing on the screen have been really helpful! Thank you so much - Illura

[@atthis-age8469]

I've been injured for months! using these videos to hopefully build strength and tone

[@elizabethreeves6056]

I'm so happy that you made this video! I bought the straws after seeing you slangin them but then I had no idea how to do it. I struggle with it!

[@bacte7641]

When its the first time your early: *praise baby jesus*

[@HannahBayles]

🎉

[@Patri_P_P]

First time using a straw and it feels really good! I don't know anything about singing except the stuff I see online from voice teachers, but I'm hoping to continue to improve my voice! Definitely gonna be doing these exercises more often 😊😊

[@rebeccahillerud2303]

Hi Hannah! I tried the straw for the first time today. It feels really good afterwards. But my voice tends to crack in my first passage. Is it common? Do you have any tips on how to make the change between my vioces smoother? Maybe I should keep on practicing with the straw? I'm learning so much from you - thank you! ❤ /Rebecca

[@SavannaBanana205]

Thank you! This is the most helpful video I have found as a person who's new to straw phonation!!

[@Mira-nc6no]

Aaahh another Hannah cover!!🎉😄

[@aneriskiyoko1181]

I love these videos. I am in a choir so these videos are helping me find more ways to help me Improve my voice.

[@evangeliavavouraki7590]

Fantastic method! You make voice technique look easy! Thank you so much!

[@Eclectifying]

Thank you!

[@biologynerd3]

So I understand the benefits you've described but it's not clear to me how this helps when not singing with the straw. Is it strengthening muscles, finding sensations that are desirable so you can replicate them, or something else?

[@orchidsarepretty1422]

It strengthens the muscles in your throat! I believe it helps them to learn what to do when going up higher, it also helps relax the throat :)

[@mistyonbayard]

Love your video and have incorporated it into my regular practice. Thank you and for your beautiful cheerfulness too!

[@angeliquemariel2916]

Thank you so much for this video Hannah, this technique has definitely helped improve my voice and over all tone!!!😊❤️

[@abbyjanejames]

Not my first time with a straw, but something I'm definitely new to & I am LOVING it, really saving me from tensing up my voice when i sing

[@SoraiaLMotta]

thank you

[@reignrelic]

I’ve wrote some songs, debating if I should sing/rap my songs. I know I have a squeaky noise if I pitch to high, hopefully this helps. When you criticize others and compare the piano tones with the sound of the voice is new to me. Thats like some hidden knowledge, I’m amazed.

[@quixciii9466]

these are voice lesson videos on youtube that i actually enjoy thanks to Hannah’s amazing personality and aura! 😂

[@adoragrayskull]

I'm early and I don't what to say! HELP HANNAH I LOVE YOU

[@carriefingsolomon]

I’m new to your channel and I love it so much! Thank you for this awesome warmup and your review of Taylor Swift’s live singing especially ❤

[@petefeltman]

Love this! It's also a perfect warm up for harmonica playing :)

[@CarolineCirone]

My first time using vocal straws and I really like the effect it had on my voice after warmup

[@celesterrose9402]

This felt AMAZING. Thank you so much

[@AlizAlcala]

i wanna hear you sing, like a cover or something

[@mariferpena4537]

She said she would upload one cover this week!

[@HannahBayles]

5 covers coming this month!!

[@AlizAlcala]

@@HannahBayles wow that's a lot!!! i can't wait to hear it all

[@parrothead7028]

This helped heal my throat thank you

[@demidiphoorn5894]

Wow I really like these excercises! And my dog was sitting beside me and she looked at me as if I lost my mind😂

[@adrianaravalli]

Love this! When you move into your first passage are you staying in your chest, or are you moving into mix/head?

[@kittyangelzzz6512]

Thank you! Your videos are literally my lifesavers. I'll make sure to buy some straws this holiday! Could you please react to Red Velvet (I swear I'm not just a crazy kpop fan), they have great vocals. I suggest Psycho, Hit that Drum, and RBB. One of the members did a collaboration with John Legend, it's called written in the stars.

[@brittneymay4477]

Mine just came in the mail. Can't wait to use it 😁

[@euphrasiepolly5575]

Can you react to Emily Robinson here on youtube? She's an amazing singer and she also loves you!

[@saharsayam7919]

This better stay with 0 dislikes

[@jessicadockrill2728]

four weeks later still has 0 :)

[@orchidsarepretty1422]

6 weeks after 0 dislikes:)

[@raenasoler3562]

2 months later no 0 s

[@luliormachea8874]

3 months later, still 0 :)

[@sarahchandler9488]

@@luliormachea8874 there is one now 😔

[@francescagrignon5049]

Out of curiosity, what’s the difference between a regular straw and the singing straw? What makes the singing straw better for singing?

[@clarestrode6672]

i had this same question!

[@oliviamanning-richardson6677]

The diameter...a singing straw is specifically made vocal warmups because of the resistance. You could try to use a regular and put it in a cup of water but it may not be as effective

[@heyitsjustmejj]

I use coffee stirrers for extra difficulty (Joking)

[@savannahcorwin-hall3829]

I loved this I think I’m gonna make this a daily thing even if I don’t plan on doing any hard core singing I think it’s good to just make sure that I’m doing something so that my vocal cords don’t get all weak on me haha have a great day or night Miss Hannah ❤️

[@emilaineco]

Tried this for the 1st time and I am hooked lol

[@morganlockhart5628]

Off topic question - im a mezzo soprano and i was wondering if its possible to train the voice to sing alto songs? Theres a few notes in 'flowers' from hadestown that i can't hit 😂

[@perez5482]

I LOVE YOU HANNAH THANK YOU SOO MUCH !!!!!

[@blueangelsama]

Oh my goodness... those 1.5 notes seem so difficult. Gotta learn and get used to it now!

[@drmartinyoung3761]

Great exercise - thank you.

[@Andrie85]

I was drawn into your channel because the Julie and the Phantoms video was in my feed. Don’t worry about showing your age I know Jess McCarthy and I know the songs for Julie! Anyway, I wish I understood all this voice training sounds pretty neat.

[@1953boomer]

Will this help a voice that has gotten wobbly, wavy with reduced use during the pandemic?

[@blacktittan4829]

Soy de las personas que ve todo este tipo de videos deseado cantar asi per canto como foca 😂😂😂

[@heidilizjohnson]

Hi Hannah! I'm still fairly new to straw phonation, but I can definitely feel a difference when I use it with my warmups; it relaxes me when I have a lot of singing / a long day of performance. I just want to make sure I'm doing the exercises correctly? How much air is supposed to pass through the straw? Should it vary as you get higher and through different passages? Also, what am I feeling for? Just that it doesn't feel squeezy, or are you going for an open feeling? Thank you so much!

[@a-mb9373]

I hate it when people post videos and then don't answer questions. I liked your question.

[@KiaHarperTV]

I have the same question

[@mgellings21]

ugh this looks super beneficial but im broke *cries*

[@HannahBayles]

You can use any straw! Metal, plastic, paper- anything you have around!

[@luciac7734]

@@HannahBayles I found out about straw phonation YESTERDAY and also didn’t have any straws, but using a paper cup with the rim around your lips and a hole poked in the bottom also helps if I’m correct?

[@Liz-iu5lx]

@@luciac7734 you can press a finger on your lips like a shush, my teacher does that since I also dont have a straw

[@BPMusic06]

This looks like an awesome tool. Gonna check it out!