The concept of support in the context of singing is a
controversial one. With many singing teachers/methods either explaining
it incorrectly, not at all, or basically saying that it is no longer
relevant, I would like to take the opportunity to explain the concept
simply, and then explore how it can be used to improve a singer's voice
and allow them to avoid vocal damage, permanent or other wise.
Let's begin shall we.
So, what is support
...
Simply put, support is the collision of the inhalation and exhalation muscles. You can think of it as trying to breathe out while holding your breath at the same time.
The real kicker is that when the inhalation and exhalation muscles collide, the vocal chords close by reflex and you can then make some sound.
This then begs the question, if I don't support the voice, how then can I still sing or talk?
This question leads to other way that the vocal chords can be brought together to make sound - the swallowing muscles. Basically, if you are not using support to close your vocal chords, then the swallowing muscles will take over so the vocal chords can remain closed.
You may of heard it said that support is "pushing out". This actually does the opposite - it disengages the correct support muscles and as a result the swallowing muscles come into play, as mentioned above.
Now - using the swallowing muscles to close the vocal chords while talking is something that nearly everyone does, as talking is generally nowhere near as demanding as singing. When the swallowing muscles are used to close the vocal chords while singing, then vocal damage can result if this practice is continued over a long period of time, as the swallowing muscles were never designed to keep the vocal chords closed with the consistency that singing requires.
So, how does a sing support the voice? The singer quite simply, "pulls up" or "lifts" the abdominal bulk up towards the diaphragm. The answer is surprisingly simple in theory, but can be a little more difficult to master in practice.
The lifting of the abdominal bulk up against the diaphragm, causes the collision of the breathing muscles mentioned earlier, and this action closes the vocal chords by reflex. This collision is then sustained while the note is sung, and then the singer exhales and lifts again to sing the next line.
Now we know the basics of support, how can we use it to sing better and improve our voice?
Two main ways a singer's voice can be improved by using support is an increase in range and a fatter vocal tone.
Once a singer starts using support to sing, they should no longer need to "drive" the voice to sing higher notes as the correct resonance chambers should now be available to reinforce the notes. as the larynx is in a downward position, free to make its own adjustments based on the pitch of the note, and the soft palate is away from the back wall of the throat.
The larynx being down, also produces another benefit - room. One of the ways to achieve a "fat" vocal tone is by creating room in the throat. If a singer is using the swallowing muscles to sing, then the larynx is usually in a high position and other interference muscles can come into play (such as the jaw), all cutting off room in the throat, resulting in a weaker, thinner tone.
Even though a singer's voice can be improved in the shorter term by using support, the main benefit by far is sustainable singing, i.e. being able to sing for a lifetime. I know this because my singing teacher is well into his seventies and can still sing high C's effortlessly. His singing teacher was still giving my singing teacher a run for his money and he was in his eighties.
There is no reason that a singer has to lose their voice as they age, and through proper use of support, a singer should be able to successfully avoid the vocal problems that can lead to expensive surgeries or even permanent vocal damage.
Well, I hope this article was informative and as a result you got something out of it. I wish you success in all your singing endeavours.
Andy Barnes
Let's begin shall we.
So, what is support
...
Simply put, support is the collision of the inhalation and exhalation muscles. You can think of it as trying to breathe out while holding your breath at the same time.
The real kicker is that when the inhalation and exhalation muscles collide, the vocal chords close by reflex and you can then make some sound.
This then begs the question, if I don't support the voice, how then can I still sing or talk?
This question leads to other way that the vocal chords can be brought together to make sound - the swallowing muscles. Basically, if you are not using support to close your vocal chords, then the swallowing muscles will take over so the vocal chords can remain closed.
You may of heard it said that support is "pushing out". This actually does the opposite - it disengages the correct support muscles and as a result the swallowing muscles come into play, as mentioned above.
Now - using the swallowing muscles to close the vocal chords while talking is something that nearly everyone does, as talking is generally nowhere near as demanding as singing. When the swallowing muscles are used to close the vocal chords while singing, then vocal damage can result if this practice is continued over a long period of time, as the swallowing muscles were never designed to keep the vocal chords closed with the consistency that singing requires.
So, how does a sing support the voice? The singer quite simply, "pulls up" or "lifts" the abdominal bulk up towards the diaphragm. The answer is surprisingly simple in theory, but can be a little more difficult to master in practice.
The lifting of the abdominal bulk up against the diaphragm, causes the collision of the breathing muscles mentioned earlier, and this action closes the vocal chords by reflex. This collision is then sustained while the note is sung, and then the singer exhales and lifts again to sing the next line.
Now we know the basics of support, how can we use it to sing better and improve our voice?
Two main ways a singer's voice can be improved by using support is an increase in range and a fatter vocal tone.
Once a singer starts using support to sing, they should no longer need to "drive" the voice to sing higher notes as the correct resonance chambers should now be available to reinforce the notes. as the larynx is in a downward position, free to make its own adjustments based on the pitch of the note, and the soft palate is away from the back wall of the throat.
The larynx being down, also produces another benefit - room. One of the ways to achieve a "fat" vocal tone is by creating room in the throat. If a singer is using the swallowing muscles to sing, then the larynx is usually in a high position and other interference muscles can come into play (such as the jaw), all cutting off room in the throat, resulting in a weaker, thinner tone.
Even though a singer's voice can be improved in the shorter term by using support, the main benefit by far is sustainable singing, i.e. being able to sing for a lifetime. I know this because my singing teacher is well into his seventies and can still sing high C's effortlessly. His singing teacher was still giving my singing teacher a run for his money and he was in his eighties.
There is no reason that a singer has to lose their voice as they age, and through proper use of support, a singer should be able to successfully avoid the vocal problems that can lead to expensive surgeries or even permanent vocal damage.
Well, I hope this article was informative and as a result you got something out of it. I wish you success in all your singing endeavours.
Andy Barnes
If you would like more information on the topics discussed in this article, please see this article: http://www.howtosingbettertoday.com/how-to-improve-your-voice-role-support/.
Also, you can sign up for our free video lesson - The Three Biggest Mistakes Singers Make here: http://www.howtosingbettertoday.com/free-offer/
Also, you can sign up for our free video lesson - The Three Biggest Mistakes Singers Make here: http://www.howtosingbettertoday.com/free-offer/
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