When Your Voice Feels “Stuck”: How the Singing / Straw Helps Older Singers Regain Lost Range

I just wrapped up our monthly live stream inside the Singing / Straw Studio Community and two questions came in that I know sooo many of you are dealing with right now. 

So I wanted to turn them into a proper blog post because they’re super common… and honestly, SUPER fixable.

The first one came from a professional singer struggling with LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux). They asked: 

What exercises should they be focusing on?

The second came from the same singer, who is 66 and still performing but has noticed they’ve lost some range. They asked: 

Do I address aging voices at all?

Well, how about we talk about both!

Whether It’s LPR or Other Age-Related Changes

First, I want to say this out loud because it matters SO much: 

Your voice isn’t failing you.

And yes, I KNOW I’ve said this million times, but… 

That’s because I really need you to know your voice is NOT giving up. 

It’s simply going through something! 

Whether it’s reflux irritation, hormonal shifts (like perimenopause or menopause), recovery from surgery or illness, or the natural changes that happen as we get older.

I hear from so many singers who feel frustrated because their voice used to feel “easy”, “reliable”, or “strong”… and now it feels: 

Unpredictable, tired, limited, or just “off.” 

And that frustration is completely valid. 

But here’s the truth I want you to hold onto…

This. Is. Normal. 

You can actively support your voice through these changes so it can feel strong and free again.

And here’s a few ways how… 

For the singer with LPR, the answer almost always starts the same way: go back to BASICS.

That means extra hydration (both systemic and topical), more rest, and healthy phonation exercises so you’re not adding strain on top of inflammation. 

Singing with a straw is CLUTCH here because it gives you gentle, consistent resistance without letting you over-push… 

Same thing goes for the 66-year-old singer (and really any of us who are noticing our voice isn’t responding quite the same way it used to). 

I have vast experience working with older singers of all ranges, shapes, sounds, and sizes. 

So I’ve pretty much heard it all… 

Range can shift. 

Power can feel a little less predictable than when you were fronting that Queen Cover Band. 

Again, that’s TOTALLY normal. 

The key is to keep using your voice in a healthy way instead of going silent and letting it sit idle.

Use it or lose it really applies here.

How the Singing / Straw Helps in Both Situations

Straw phonation is one of the simplest, most effective tools I can recommend for both LPR and age-related voice changes because:

- It encourages healthy, balanced phonation without letting you over-push or strain.  

- It helps rebuild coordination and strength in the lower and mid-range.  

- It smooths out those tricky passages between your lower and middle registers.  

- It’s gentle enough to use even when your voice feels “puffy”, tired, or inflamed.

SO…

For the professional singer with LPR… 

Start with shorter, gentler sessions focused on steady airflow and easy resonance. 

And for anyone noticing a loss in range... 

Consistent straw slides from the bottom to the top of your current range act like a daily “walk” for your voice: keeping it flexible, strong, and responsive.

You don’t have to sound like you did at 27. 

You just need to sound like you (right now) and keep the joy in singing alive!

The Most Important Thing

The biggest gift you can give any singer going through a voice change (whether they’re 13 like Walter from last week or 63) is reassurance: this is normal, they did nothing wrong, and their voice isn’t broken… it’s just changing. 

With the right support, the right tool, and time, they’ll come out the other side with a new, strong instrument and (hopefully) even more love for singing.

If you or someone you care about is going through a change in their voice and you’re wondering how to support them, the Singing / Straw can be one of the simplest and most effective tools in the toolbox.

Have you tried our straws while going through a change in your voice? I want to hear all about it and hear what’s worked for you!

In the meantime, if you’re ready to find the right straw for your voice (or your singer’s voice), I highly recommend taking our Perfect Straw Match Quiz >>>