Singing through tubes has a miraculous effect on the voice and is part of what is known as “SOVT Training”. If you are already a bit familiar with the world of voice, you know that there are different methods. Some sing through a tube in a bottle of water, others sing through straws, and still others sing through the SOVT Trainer, developed by Mind The Voice!
Why is SOVT Training so healthy for the voice?
SOVT training is an important part of the voice world and it really works, provided you use the various available tools correctly. Therefore, it is important to understand what it actually does for your voice.
SOVT is an abbreviation of “semi-occluded vocal tract”, which means that you partially close off your speech channel (or vocal tract) during voice exercises.
It actually works very simply:
One of the biggest causes of voice problems in speakers and singers is the use of too much lung pressure (read: pressure that is pushed from your chest towards your throat). This can lead to throat tension, hoarseness, poor conversion of air to sound, limited breath support and breath control. By partially closing off your speech channel during voice exercises, the lung pressure is reduced and an opposite pressure or resistance is created. This creates a balance of air pressure both below and above your vocal cords, allowing the vocal cords to vibrate healthily. Therefore, you will notice that after doing SOVT exercises, you always sound less hoarse and speaking or singing feels easier.
Better vibration of the vocal cords leads to a better closure of the vocal cords, and that in turn leads to a clear voice!
Benefits
Lax vox literally means = relaxation of the voice. Bubbling gives your internal throat muscles and your vocal cords a massage. Your throat literally opens and closes a little during the exercises, your muscles are loosened, which is somewhat reminiscent of your body vibrating in a hot tub. By loosening the muscles, any mucus is also shaken loose, making this an extra good exercise to do when you have a cold.
When do you use LAX VOX?
- When you have overstrained your voice and are fatigued. (as a cooling down or when you should not use your voice too intensively)
- When you have a cold to help you cough up your mucus.
- When you are experiencing a lot of throat tension or muscle tension dysphonia. (hoarseness due to muscle tension)
- When you have more serious voice problems such as vocal cord nodules or a reduced vocal fold closure to help you relearn the basic vocal fold vibration.
- As a cooling down after an intensive speaking day or concert.
When not?
- Since lax vox vibrates your mucus loose, it is not a good exercise to do just before a presentation or concert, as the mucus may get in the way when you need to perform.
- A second reason not to do it just before a performance or presentation is because your voice is in 'relaxation mode', rather than in 'activation mode'. An important nuance.
More about bubbling or lax vox can be found in this blog!
When do you use the SVOT Trainer?
- Always.
- Always start with level 1 and build up slowly if you have voice problems.
- If you are a trained singer: start with level 1, and build up slightly stronger by alternating to levels 6, 12 and then 15. Always end back at level 1. (follow the free online vocal course at www.mindthevoiceonline.com)
- Take it with you and do this for a 5-minute period before you need to speak or sing intensively to your healthy setting and muscle memory to activate. Practice in between for longer poses on glissandos on thirds (speakers), fifths and octaves (singers) on the audio exercises from www.sovttrainer.com. Not enough yet? Also do the other audio exercises on the website.
- In case of a cold or overuse of the voice and then having an intensive speaking/singing session (as a teacher, speaker, singer). In this case, do lax vox in the morning and switch to the SOVT-Trainer after 10 minutes to stimulate your vocal fold closure. Do this every time on such a day when you feel hoarseness or vocal fatigue returning.
- Also, as an experienced singer or speaker, continue to alternate the higher levels with the lower levels. This is to practice your different laryngeal positions.
When not?
There is no contraindication.
You can always restart from level 1.
Feel free to sing daily with your SOVT-Trainer and activate your voice with it just before you are going to use your voice intensively.