Comments on: What do you think of the “appoggio” technique?

By: admin

admin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:21:57 +0000

Thanks Rachel for your note. I do own and have read Stark’s book and find it informative, as you have. Thanks for your contribution.

I appreciate the networking possibilities of like-minded teachers and singers – and those connections.

Best wishes.

Ken

By: rachelvelarde

rachelvelarde — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:45:45 +0000

I have recently been reading James Stark’s book “Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy.” It has a great overview of how/why breathing techniques/terminology have changed throughout the centuries of teaching. It’s a great read – very informational & looks at all the great pedagogues in history. I found this book because my teacher asked me about the history of the messa di voce. But, there’s also a great deal about breath & how the pedagogues have viewed it (Chapter 4 is entitled “Appoggio: The Breath Be Damned!”). I HIGHLY recommend it as a pedagogical resource & a great point to delve into further research (it’s very well annotated).
Thanks for this blog! You might also want to read http://susan-oncemorewithfeeling.blogspot.com/, Susan Eichhorn Young’s blog about teaching/performing. I also blog about my singing life & my studio (www.rachelvelarde.com/blog). You’re now on my reading list!!

By: admin

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:47:03 +0000

Good questions!! The SORT of thing you describe CAN be of use, depending upon the needs of the student – especially if the student’s phonation is inefficient. As you guessed, any such exercise – lifting or pushing – can be overdone and become the cause of unwanted tension – and therefore requires the presence of a teacher to identify the “balance” that the student needs to memorize and learn. So, use it with care only for as long as the student needs in “learning the feelings” of balance – “appoggio” – leaning on the respiratory system to “support” efficient and free phonation.

By: JIlderton

JIlderton — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:57:07 +0000

Have you found it helpful to ask a student to imagine the air in the lungs pressing against the sternum? Or have you ever tried having a student pull on an elastic band or dishtowel vertically, pulling up and down at the same time? (Both of these exercises are supposed to help increase the “feeling of ‘appoggio’.”)

Is it possible to push too hard from the chest? Can these exercises cause bad tension rather than relaxed energy or balanced tension?