Operatic soprano Laura Claycomb explains breathing and support for operatic singing in this video, with exercises to develop singing support or "appoggio."
I have played the trombone in my youth and had lessons for about 10 years, but never learned to engage the pelvic floor like that. This has immediately improved my tone.
Thank you Laura! I play French horn ( 14 years ) and since coronavirus staying home I watched a ton of videos about vocal technique, Belcanto , breathing , appogio and there are few professional singers who mention pelvic floor in singing ( I heard you , Cappucine Chiaudani) . And what is strange that only females mention this ,I didn't hear any men to mention pelvic floor , not even the best tenors. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this secrets that you share with us , we really want to sing / play better! And yes, even if you play an instrument , you really should sing with your voice first , then with your instrument. The great Arnold Jacobs said that and the best players say that ( Herman Baumann , Luca Benucci )
Hells teeth! For a non musical person I can't believe how physical these singers have to be. I just used to revel in the sounds. I now look on singers/ brass type musicians as more of an athlete. Very impressive!
Laura, you are a genius! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with a confused and frustrated undergrad voice major, hehe. Going to use this exercise in the practice rooms tomorrow!
hi. thank you so very much for your generosity in imparting this instruction. My teacher is tekking me to pull in the muscles around the ribs and the solarplexus. My ribcage wants to naturally expand so this technique is goung counter to my body which in turn is placing undue strain throughout. Your technique is what my first Opera teacher taught years ago. Due to illness I stopped singing many tears ago and now with this new teacher, who is a mezzo soprano hereself, I am being instructed to "support" in a very unatural way. Expanding my ribs from bellow and using my lower muscles pulled inwards causes my ribcage to naturally stay supported. So I need to give you a big thank you for confirming what I had learned so many years ago. For those new to classucal singing who may read this I want to confirm wholeheartedly that this professor is 100% correct.
Thank you. I watched and practised with this video repeatedly and the benefits have been enormous. My amazing teacher keeps telling me the same things , however, the visual of this video "hit the spot" (because unfortunately, I cannot see my teacher every day all year long :) )
I do this too. I just imagine breathing into my lower back like the great singers of old said to do while keeping the chest high i.e not collapsing. The back focus stops you putting air solely in your belly or thorax. I stay so relaxed yet engaged. Appogio is AWESOME but increasing capacity takes time.
Hello Laura! Excellent lesson in breathing! You must have had a good teacher too! 😀. After I began yoga and meditation, my breath control (and stamina!) increased and I developed a greater understanding of just what you are describing! I hope you post more videos and impart more of your experience and wisdom. Thank you!!!
Hello Laura! I still remember your Hamlet Thomas at Teatro Verdi in Trieste. all moved and in tears for your Ophelia! Amazing! When we have the honor to even listen to you in Italy?
Grazie mille! Per il momento, sono in maternità, aspettando il nostro primo figlio... Quindi, non so quando torno a cantare qui. (Vivo in Italia da anni...) Spero che sia presto, ma nel frattempo, puoi tenerti aggiornato sul mio sito, lauraclaycomb.com A presto, e bravo a Moka! :-)
Davvero? Augurissimi per la tua carriera di Mamma! Appena deciderai di tornare sulle scene farò di tutto per esserci. e se capiti a Venezia contattami, facciamo una visita in scuderia per il tuo bimbo! Un abbraccio ti auguro ogni bene!
Sehr genaue Beschreibung und auch nachvollziehbar. Die Sache mit dem Beckenboden hat mir noch keiner erklärt. Warum eigentlich nicht? Da wird immer mit dem Bauch herumgedoktert, was bei dieser Beschreibung völlig wegfällt. Übringens das mit dem Bauch funktioniert auch nicht.
Dear Laura, I find your advise and your singing very enlighting to my personal practice. I would like to know if you offer private lessons. I would also love to see you perform on stage soon!
Hi, Esteban, I'm so happy that my videos have helped! Sorry to take so long to respond... I do teach privately from my home in northern Italy, when I'm home in between engagements. Sometimes I am able to see students near my engagements' locations, as well. I usually ask prospective students to send me via email a biography, a video with their singing, and their goals, to see if I think I can actually help them reach those goals. I'm on maternity leave at the moment, so I'm not performing until this fall, and not teaching since my baby is due in a few days! All my best, Laura
Dear Laura: Thanks for taking the time to answer my message, I really appreciate that. It is good to hear that there is a possibility to take part of your teaching! I will keep this in mind and of course will come back to you when the time is right. I wish you the best with your leave and of course, a very enjoyable return to the stage! Best, Esteban.
Thanks a lot ! It did change a large amount in the energy spent during my concerts since that day, and in the quality of the sound too :) I need to practice on a more regular basis now :) I sing for a living but I am very far from being any close to your talent and skill :-)
Hello! I am a huge fan of yours and your voice is AMAZING! I was wondering if possible, could we see one of your voice lessons just to see what things you do for vocalises, warm ups, placement of the voice, breath support pressure, how you work around challenges in repitoire and what you do when learning new repitoire and how you bring all the musical component together.
+Christopher Williams Thanks so much! But, hey, that's a heck of a lot to ask for in one video! ;-) I'm going to try and pick the subjects apart, making different videos of different exercises to try and explain and work on these different kinds of concepts. (...This next month when I'm home again from my travels.) But it's good to know what you think would be helpful to know, so I will keep all of this in mind when choosing subjects for the next videos. All my best, and happy studies!
Yep, I'm not quite sure a better way to explain it, but this has become the best way I know to get people to "feel" it. But then again, I'm dealing with adult students, and if they can't hack talking body parts by their 20's, then they may need to seek a different career! :-)
Hello Laura.Thanks for the video .You are amazing.Laura I want to ask if we must breath from the nose or from the mouth while we are singing classic songs? What s your opinion.
Hello Laura!! Your video was so helpfull but i have some questions...My teachers is always saying i should feel the back of my ribs like wings and expanding but everytime i breathe i dont feel them and i feel my belly or stomach expanding..not my chest ...I also dont quite understand if when we´re suppose to engage our pelvic area if we´re suppose to feel the air going down to that area...from the stomach down to the ovary zone and contracting..what should i do? XX
Hi, Leonor - your teacher has a great image but it obviously doesn't get through to your physicality. You should ask for him/her to explain it to you in another way. I really like the wing image, but if it doesn't work for you, that's ok! I think you may want to bend over to the front to breathe in, with your thumbs and forefingers open on each side of your ribs, so you can feel your back ribs expand. Then, with your hands still there and your ribs still expanded, stand up straight. (Slowly, so you don't faint!) You may need to do some exercises staying bent over like that to become aware of the expansion of your ribs in the back, and do a few vocal exercises bent over like this. It will make it impossible to distend your belly too much, and force you to concentrate on your back muscles. Singing is all about balance, and sometimes we engage or feel the muscles on one side more than the other (front vs. back, etc...) so it's important to engage and become aware of the "opposite" muscles, as well.
