CHOIR START UP

PRESCRIPTION FOR CHORAL

SINGING
APPOGGIO

Reach the appoggio position

Appogio position is a raised sternum, expanded ribs, shoulder remaining low,
maintained from beginning to end of the phrase
HOW TO TRAIN
appoggio position
 Raise the arm above the head, lower the arms and shoulders leaving as if the ribs
expanded and sternum high. And this is should be kept all the time
 Vigorously “slurp” the air in. The noisy slurp facilitates singers recognition of the
correct ribs action. Shortly, after learning the technique, the noise can be
abandoned
GOOD POSTURE
for singing

“a little bit
downwards”

Open chest, relax

and feel the weight
downwards.

Relax and
no
excessive
tension

Center - Vertical
WISHLIST
from appoggio position

 A vibrant and on pitch tone

 A long air supply
 Easy access to high and low ranges
 Unproblematic vibrato
 Carrying power, loud and soft
 Easy access to pianissimo
 Control of fast singing
 Long-term vocal health
 Good articulation without diminished tone quality
 Sufficient vocal skill to permit concentration on musical value
BREATHING

1. Open mouth in “O”

singing position

• Open your mouth BEFORE

inhale
• Open your mouth in FULL
“O”
singing position
2. Inhale through nose &
mouth in this direction

3. Soft palate is lifted up

NOTES drink
on breathing “Bub
ble
Tea”
“Ooohh..”

End the breathing

process (inhale) at this
position (‘balance
position’)

Don’t hold the breath

at this position !!
Continue up to the
‘balance’ position.

On “ATTACK” continue the breathing

process (exhale) at this direction !
NOTES
on breathing

• Do the “deep & relax

breathing”
• Begin the inhale action
from this part

• Feel the breathing

action up to this part
NOTES
on breathing

1 2 3
Balance
position

The direction
of Exhale
action when
singing
Position of the Mouth Opening

“Always lift the

soft palate up
(inside)”
[but… soft/relax]
“No tension here! –
Do not begin mouth “Hold the
opening using these mouth
muscles!” opening just
using these
muscles”
“drop
“Lips not too
downward”
tight”
CONCLUSION
 To open throat, open wide the mouth by dropping the jaw
 Pull in on abdominal wall so that the diaphragm will stay longer in one place
 Push out on the abdominal wall to keep the diaphragm low
 Pull in on the diaphragm to give extra support for high notes
 Push down on the diaphragm for high notes
 Pull down the upper lip to focus on the tone
 Cover the bottom teeth with lower lip to focus on the tone
 Make a spacious cavity in the back of the mouth and in the throat by pulling the
vellum upward
VOCAL
instrument and production
DIAGRAM
of Voice Tract
3 Parts of Voice
Production :

c. Resonating and
Modifying System
(1) Resonator / Pengeras
(2) Articulator / Pengucap

a. Vibratory System
(Sumber Getar)

b. Air Pressure System

(as the Power /
Sumber Tenaga)
DIAGRAM
voice box cartilages and muscles
Vocal Folds
SAMPLE
of Vocal Folds Disorder
Current medical observations
indicate that vocal fold nodules
are among the most common non-
cancerous lesions of the vocal
folds. Vocal fold nodules are
typically present on both vocal
folds, usually they face each
other, and typically they are
located at the midpoint of the
membranous part of the vocal
fold. These lesions are thought of
as the "calluses of the vocal fold,"
and analogous to calluses, they
diminish or disappear when the
trauma/misuse of the vocal folds
is stopped.
MOST IMPORTANT
principles in tone production

1
High Resonance &
3 Forward Projection

NOTHING
• Relax & No Tension
• No Action
2
Good Support of
Diaphragm Breathing

THE CO-ORDINATION OF THE 3 PARTS

“VOCAL TECHNIQUES”
VOICE
Resonance & Projection

“Bigger
Resonator”

Voice Resonators…. Chest, Throat, Oral and Nasal Cavities

DIFFERENT
types of placing

5
4

3
a

1
6
2

From: Husler/Rodd-Marling : “Singing” , Schott Music International Gmbh & Co. KG, Mainz
DIFFERENT
voice resonances & placement

A
C • More ringing
• Bright vowels
• Good Intonation
D
• Voice Coloring & Expression
• Developing high voice
• Forte & Pianissimo singing
• “Rich Choral Sound”
VOICE
placement & projection

“Singing [as if] in

one register!”

“Placement
n
of mediumrojectio
P
and high
notes”
“Placement
of lower
notes” “This part is the
anchor of the
tone; which
keep the pitch”

“lower resonance joining…”

NOTES
on placement & projection

Placing of vowel on ‘attack’

When singing imagine that the

voice is always move forward in
this direction !!
‘connection’ to the
Higher resonance

“imaginary” sensation
point of placement

‘connection’ to the
Lower resonance
‘imaginary’ placing
of projection

Relax, ‘imaginary
sensation: like a
membrane’
always lift the soft
palate up when
singing

Do not place
the voice here !
Active muscles for
holding the mouth
opening -> for changing
the diaphragm level
(“breath pumping”
action).

Relax, no stiffness,
no tension
LEGATO AND BREATH

The achievement of beauty and line are dependent upon legato, and the achievement
of legato is fully dependent upon proper breath management
GENERAL GUIDELINE
to vocal misuse issue

 Avoid throat clearing and other odd vocal noises

 Drink no more than two cups of caffeine and no more than one glass of acidic juice per day
 Drink at least cups of water per day
 Avoid smoke, smoking, and excessive use of alcohol
 Do not scream or yell unless it’s an emergency
 Avoid talking in loud setting
 Do not talk too long without pausing to renew your breath
 Do not hold your breath and speak
 Do not punch your words or chop up the phrases, do not whisper
 Always talk while maintaining a proper sitting / standing posture
 Reduce vocal demand by speaking less
 Relax, do not allow anger, tension, or frustration to fill yor days