I've found that singers generally have three methods
of support -- "in and up," "down and out," or
"appoggio" as defined by Dr. Hanson (since, like "bel
canto," most teachers call their method appoggio,
whatever it happens to be).
It seems to me, just from talking to people and
reading, that more women use "in and up" and more men
use "down and out," and that the appoggio technique is
spread evenly across the board. I have heard fabulous
singers who do all three -- some started out with
appoggio but found it too "still," or found the
inhalation feeling carried too much tension, and
improved tremendously by applying abdominal support
one way or another. Some get into the habit of
abusing the first two ways in rigorous, punchy ways,
and so find freedom when they switch to the appoggio.
How to define them? From my own experience and
experimentation, I feel like "in and up" involves
pulling the lower abs in, then breathing down low and
expanding the ribs and back out in all directions,
then singing -- keeping the abs firm and pulled in
(almost like you're wringing a towel) and (this is the
hard part) keeping the ribs expanded as you sing. I
feel like "down and out" is when you breath deeply
(relaxed), belly expands with breath, and then you
feel a steady push outward of the lower abs as you
sing. I feel like the appoggio method is about taking
a moderately-full breath, then concentrating on the
stillness of the position (not moving the muscles
either in or out), and feeling like you're sucking the
air back in, as you sing. It does feel remarkably
like a soft, moist breath.
I personally, at this stage in my development, find
the appoggio method works best in my middle range, and
the "in and up" method gives me the needed breath
pressure in forte top notes.
Maybe as I develop more, I will switch around. But
good singers use all three approaches (and I'm sure
there are combinations and other ideas), so I wouldn't
say that one is definitive and the others will serve
you less.
Isabelle B.
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Isabelle Bracamonte
San Francisco, CA
ibracamonte@y...
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