What Happens to Your Voice as You Get Older? (And What You Can Actually Do About It)

OK, singer. 

Let’s talk about what really happens to your voice as you get older. 

Not in a womp-womp, eulogy-for-your-high-notes kind of way. But in an honest, hopeful, let’s-do-something-about-it way.

So, Your Range Isn’t What It Used to Be?

Back in college, maybe you could belt to the rafters, flip into a floaty falsetto, or power through a whole performance without a second thought. 

Now? 

You try to hit that same F#4 and suddenly you're in an existential crisis and a chiropractor's office.

Here’s the deal: Aging does change your voice. 

Just like aging changes your knees, your back, your ability to understand TikTok trends.

But aging isn’t a death sentence for your voice nor does it mean you won’t ever be able to “get your range back”.  

It just means you have to get more intentional about how you train. 

You know, kind of like how you can’t just wing it at the gym anymore without throwing out your back (RIP spontaneous barre class).

Why Your Voice Changes Over Time

As we get older, our vocal folds lose some elasticity. 

Muscle tone decreases. 

Recovery takes longer. 

And for many singers, especially those who took a break from consistent vocal training, the voice just doesn’t feel as reliable as it once did.

Add in chronic issues like Chiari, cervical instability, or hypermobility , and suddenly certain frequencies feel like a migraine waiting to happen.

So What Do You Do If Certain Notes Trigger Vertigo or Headaches?

First, you don’t throw the whole voice out the window and resign yourself to Gregorian chant.

You get curious.

 You get scientific. 

You get gentle.

This is where semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTs), like straw phonation, come in.

Why Straw Phonation Is a Game-Changer for Older or Sensitive Voices

Straw exercises help you:

• Reduce vocal fold collision (great if your folds are feeling cranky or inflamed)

• Promote better coordination without brute force

• Reset tension and alignment in your system, which can help avoid triggering those headache/vertigo responses

We’re not saying it’ll solve Chiari or cure your C1 instability, but it can help create more ease in your vocal tract, which just might make certain pitches a little less aggravating.

Tips for the Range-Rebuilding, Chiari-Navigating, Slightly Older Singer

1. Warm up like your voice is a 2002 Honda Civic in Minnesota. Gentle. Gradual. No sudden revving.

2. Try vocal glides through a straw in water to rebalance pressure and vibration.

3. Avoid white-knuckling your technique. Forcing sound out of a fatigued or sensitive voice won’t win you any trophies.

4. Work with a voice teacher who gets the nuance of both classical and contemporary technique, and who respects your neurological flags. (By the way, when you download the official Singing / Straw Studio App, you can work with me directly wherever and whenever you’re ready to train. We also meet once a month for a live group coaching session, and our next one is Tuesday, 12/11! Right now, we’re running a special on our annual plan: lock in $99 forever using this link.

TL;DR

Aging voices can still sing brilliantly.

You might need to sing differently. 

Train differently. 

Warm up differently.

But your voice is still very much worth investing in.

So if you're feeling like the high notes are farther away than they used to be, or your voice feels like a stranger on certain days:

Don’t panic.

Pick up a straw.

And while you’re at it, take advantage of our annual holiday shopping event: 20% off all three of our Singing / Straw sets, digital warm-up bundles, journals, and more! All the way through December 26th.

And know you’re not alone.

We're singing right there with you.