Use these everyday household items as props in your singing lessons for quick results and happy, engaged students.

If you want to add a fresh, fun dimension to your singing lessons, take inspiration from vocal coach Kaya Herstad-Carney.

Kaya has “a Mary Poppins bag of weird things” that she uses for playful but productive exercises with her students.

Research shows that people of all ages learn best through play. This is because when we feel relaxed and playful, we’re more receptive to new ideas, better able to solve problems and more willing to experiment. 

So, by following Kaya’s example, you’ll not only make your students laugh but also help them explore their vocal instrument, build muscle memory and develop confidence.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on specialist items. Many of the singing props in Kaya’s bag of tricks are everyday things you probably already have lying around at home.

Here are five everyday items you can use as props in the singing studio.

Balls

Tennis ball: Students can roll a tennis ball along the side of their neck to release tension when warming up. You can also throw the ball back and forth to each other to change up the mood or create a distraction while the singer is performing a task that you don’t want them to overthink.

Exercise ball: Sitting on an exercise ball can be a great way to work on posture and activate the core.

Stress ball: Have a selection of colourful stress balls on hand for neurodiverse students to squeeze if they’re anxious or want to keep their hands busy.

Straws

Kaya has a variety of straws in her studio, including biodegradable cocktail straws, metal straws, and a thicker phonation tube. She uses them to supercharge semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises.

“A thick straw is great for recovery after illness, while a thinner straw is for more of a workout,” Kaya says.

“I get my students to try different straws to see what works for them. For some people, a very thin straw is too much for their voice.”

The student can also put the straw in a glass of water and blow bubbles or hold a tissue in front of the straw and blow. “This is a great visual tool to help the student see if the breath is flowing smoothly or if it’s more stop/start,” Kaya says.

Paper cup

A paper cup with a hole in the base can be a handy prop, especially if you’re conscious about making too much noise and irritating the neighbours. 

The student can either sing straight into the cup (which serves as a filter to reduce noise levels) or insert a straw in the hole at the base of the cup and do sirens. 

Bubble wand

Make breath-work more fun by having bubble wands on hand in your studio. 

Get students to breathe through the bubble loop; this is a great way to learn about ‘splat’ breath (otherwise known as lower abdominal diaphragmatic breath). 

Exercise resistance band

Also known as therabands, these colourful, stretchy bands can be helpful props.

Kaya says: “These are useful when you’re working on high-belt, high-intensity singing, and you want to make sure that’s activated before the note. Ask the student to stretch the band before they belt to help them get a much better balance.

“I also like putting a longer band above the door and then getting the student to pull down to help with active posture and alignment.”

Have different strength bands in your studio (some are far easier to stretch than others) so students can choose the option that works best for them.

“It shouldn’t feel like they’re working out their arms or body. The student should be at a point where they’re activated but not doing a full-on workout.”

Listen

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging singing lessons by tuning into our full-length interview with Kaya on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast.

Discover

To find out about SOVTs and how to find the best air pressures and straw configurations, listen to our interview with Oren Boder here.