Professional Documents
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Appoggio singing retains the inspiratory posture of the sternum and ribcage, retarding the
ascent of the diaphragm, by far the most important ingredient of the breath management mix.
Control over the muscles of the side abdominal walls can be learned.
This is support.
Here are Millers masterful discussions of other breathing systems, with some additions by
me.
1. Bear in mind that the cords are apart for inhalation and closed for singing. Some
teachers encourage a sighing technique (high air flow), in which the breath issues fast. Some
teachers encourage what might be called a grunting technique (glottal closure), in which the
larynx holds back the air. When the breath is let go, one hears a grunt. In the international
professional singing world, sighing, minimal breath, or grunting maneuvers do not play an
acceptable role in balanced voice production.
2. As for the efforts commonly made by some singers to increase the amount of breath
that can be inhaled or exhaled, Miller has this to say, It is not the job of the singer to see how
large a volume of air can be inhaled and expelled during the singing of a phrase, nor is it
advisable to conceive of the diaphragm as a piston that drives air upward to the larynx.
3. Disparaging those attempts to push the air out with the diaphragm, Miller uses one
explicit sentence: It should be emphasized that there is no way in which a singer can
consciously exercise direct mechanical control over the diaphragm [my emphasis].
4. Miller dispenses a forceful demurer to those who believe in belly breathing. The lungs
supply the larynx with breath; the column of exiting air does not have its origins in the pelvic or
abdominal areas from whence it is directed upward by the lower abdomen to feed the larynx.
Air is already present in the trachea, ready for immediate use. It does not occupy spaces below
the lungs; ?belly breathing is an unachievable aim.
5. For those who work assiduously at holding the breath for a long time, thinking that it will
extend their air duration, Miller says, Breath management is not improved by attempting to
hold the breath for long periods of time, by sustaining isolated long notes and phrases.
Enough of the negatives. Now for the positives of the appoggio maintenance. It is my
experience that acquiring the appoggio as a reliable technique gives:
a longer and more reliable air supply,
greater stability in the tone,
easier execution of large skips,
improved agility passages with regard to clarity, accuracy, and speed,
far better management of pianissimo tasks,
thus--true confidence in the vocal skills.
Let us now get down to the nitty-gritty of how to find the appoggio and maintain it. As ever,
what should be done is the easiest to explain. How to do what should be done is much harder. I
pride myself on being the most pragmatic of teachers. Although I scrupulously give credit to
the author, I do shamelessly listen to and copy anyones ideas if they are useful. By the same
token, I then always create my own method of passing on the ideas. I create my own regimes
based on the knowledge of the scientist-teachers. Richard Miller is one of them, together with
William Vennard, Ralph Appelman, always the incomparable Berton Coffin, and others.
At the cost of much repetition, I have tried to convince you that the most important part of your
breath management is the appoggio. If I have succeeded and you wish to try it, you must first
learn the physical position of the appoggio, and then you must learn how to maintain it.
The position:
Your effort should be focused on finding a high sternum position, without relying on inhaling for
help. If you discover that lifting your sternum without inhaling is difficult for you, try this. Lift
both arms above your head, pointing to the sky. Then, careful to leave the chest where the high
arms put it, lower your arms. You will find your chest much higher than it was originally, your
ribs expanded farther than they were originally, and you will be highly conscious of your back
muscles. This high-chest, ribs-expanded, shoulders-relaxed position is the one you want to
maintain at all times.