Semi-Occluded What?

In order to help coordinate breathing, phonation, and forward-focused resonance, various types of semi-occluded vocal tract exercises are implemented into your therapy program. 

So what are semi-occluded vocal tract exercises? 

They are a set of voice exercises (e.g., voicing through a straw, humming, lip trills) that create a narrowing in the front of the mouth. This narrowing reflects air pressure back at the vocal folds, creating optimal conditions for vocal fold vibration. This causes the vocal folds to vibrate in a slightly abducted (open) position, reducing the impact collision on the vocal folds. 

Below is an example of a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise that you can start practicing!

Lip Trills Going Up and Down on a 5-Note Scale 

First, download a piano app on your phone to help monitor your pitch. Make sure the piano app contains the note letters on the piano keys. Try doing a lip trill, attempting to match the pitch at D3. Next, do lip trills going up the scale on the following notes: 

E3, F3, G3, A3 

Now work your way back down 

A3, G3, F3, E3, D3 

If the notes that I suggested are too high or low for you, it’s ok to adjust! 

Please make sure while doing these exercises your muscles are relaxed and you are using enough breath support. 

Don’t forget to have fun! :)

References

Behrman, A., & Haskell, J. (2020). Exercises for voice therapy (3rd ed.). San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing, Inc.

Titze, I. R., (2006). Voice training and therapy with semi-occluded vocal tract: Rationale and scientific underpinnings. Journal of Speech-Language and Hearing Research, 49, 448-459.