Vocal Advice

I remember reading about it in Miller and I’ve come across it again in recent study for my students. It seems extremely helpful but I don’t remember talking very much about it in vocal pedagogy class or using it in my own study. What do you think of it and have you found it useful?

My answer is that the “appoggio” technique is sound. However, all of this is described – without identifying it as “appoggio” or with any unnecessary verbiage in McKinney’s book as he describes the “breathing for singing” process, and is captured especially in the step of “suspension” which is the “set up” for phonatory onset or attack. “Appoggio” literally means “leaning upon” – and in vocal technique is applied to – the respiratory support of the sound.  On pages 24 and 25 of The Structure of Singing, what Miller describes is a) the sense of expansion, b) high posture maintained, c) upper abdomen stays free to move, d) suspension and expansion maintained in balance, e) the lower abdomen is tucked in slightly, e) with inhalation expansion occurs in every direction including the ribs outwardly, f) and the concept of maintaining the small of the back “straightened” or the “hips swiveled” with lower abdomen tucked, g) and inhaling fully without “tanking up” or “crowding” the breath, h) high posture is maintained throughout the singing process, i) inhalation is quick and quiet.  (It almost sounds like he’s quoting McKinney–whose writing came first.)  All of this McKinney writes so clearly in his well organized systematic volume: The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults. The bottom line is that “appoggio” refers to the coordinated balance of muscle tension between respiration and glottal closure/resistance to the breath. If a student can understand all the ramifications, as she should, “appoggio” is wonderful. In any case all the aspects need to be taught in such a way that each segment is mastered – until all can be coordinated – which is what McKinney accomplishes so well, systematically and wisely without much unnecessary jargon and Italian – perhaps reflecting his mentor, William Vennard.
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