Here's my 2nd vocal tutorial. This one covers breathing and supporting the voice using the lower abdominal and lower back muscles. There will be more videos on this topic, for sure. It's a big subject.
Paul Austin Kelly So helpful and eloquent! Thank you! When's the next video? If you place your hand on the lower abdomen, what do you feel as you sing up the scale? Does it pull in or push out? Does it feel like laughter, coughing, etc? Do your abs ever get tired when you sing? Can you make 100 more of these? :)
Hi Spencer, Thanks for your comments! To answer your questions: I have another series of video tutorials in mind to begin soon so stay tuned. When you place your hand on your abdomen and sing you should feel your slightly tensed lower abs slowly pulling inward. There are, however two theories about how this can be accomplished--one is by consciously pulling the abs in to expel the air and the other is by trying to holds the abs out. I use the former but some feel that the latter works better for them. Either method accomplishes the same thing--you're using the lower abs and back muscles to expel air in a controlled fashion. The abs will inevitably pull in anyway no matter how hard you try and hold them out, but I think concentrating on holding them out helps some people keep the tension in the muscles while they are singing. If you are really using the lower muscles to support your voice that is where you may feel tired after a while. But not in your throat! Good luck!
Good for you! Exactly the response I would hope for. It's daily diligence that gets the kind of results you're after. My wife and I are just reworking the Hermit Songs for a recital coming up in January. We'll be doing those complete this time along with Britten's Winter Words, a set of Copland songs and a set of E.J. Moeran songs. I'm hoping to get a recording to upload.
+leonidas theodoropoulos Yes, 'appoggio' (from appoggiare, meaning 'to lean or support') in this sense means breath support. However, as a technique it also means allowing the ribcage to stay open to allow for the maximum flow of breath in a controlled manner by use of the lower abdominal and lower back muscles, as well as the core muscles.
Here's my 2nd vocal tutorial. This one covers breathing and supporting the voice using the lower abdominal and lower back muscles. There will be more videos on this topic, for sure. It's a big subject.
Paul Austin Kelly So helpful and eloquent! Thank you! When's the next video? If you place your hand on the lower abdomen, what do you feel as you sing up the scale? Does it pull in or push out? Does it feel like laughter, coughing, etc? Do your abs ever get tired when you sing? Can you make 100 more of these? :)
Hi Spencer, Thanks for your comments! To answer your questions: I have another series of video tutorials in mind to begin soon so stay tuned.
When you place your hand on your abdomen and sing you should feel your slightly tensed lower abs slowly pulling inward. There are, however two theories about how this can be accomplished--one is by consciously pulling the abs in to expel the air and the other is by trying to holds the abs out. I use the former but some feel that the latter works better for them. Either method accomplishes the same thing--you're using the lower abs and back muscles to expel air in a controlled fashion. The abs will inevitably pull in anyway no matter how hard you try and hold them out, but I think concentrating on holding them out helps some people keep the tension in the muscles while they are singing.
If you are really using the lower muscles to support your voice that is where you may feel tired after a while. But not in your throat!
Good luck!
***** Well, it certainly works for you. I just listened to your Hermit Songs...twice. Such a beautiful, even voice! I'm gonna go practice.
Good for you! Exactly the response I would hope for. It's daily diligence that gets the kind of results you're after.
My wife and I are just reworking the Hermit Songs for a recital coming up in January. We'll be doing those complete this time along with Britten's Winter Words, a set of Copland songs and a set of E.J. Moeran songs. I'm hoping to get a recording to upload.
Is "breath support" and appoggio the same thing?
+leonidas theodoropoulos Yes, 'appoggio' (from appoggiare, meaning 'to lean or support') in this sense means breath support. However, as a technique it also means allowing the ribcage to stay open to allow for the maximum flow of breath in a controlled manner by use of the lower abdominal and lower back muscles, as well as the core muscles.
+Paul Kelly thank you. there is a lot of confusion around the net regarding the "breath support".
+leonidas theodoropoulos There's always confusion about breath support and all areas of singing, on the web and off. Finding a good teacher is key.