Breath "Support"

[@dragon-dw4kn]

I am a 63 years old soprano. I was majoring in voice, but still have problems of singing freely. After I heard all the master classes on KZbin, I found out yours are the most wonderful one. Thanks so much! They are just what I need.

[@silverkitty2503]

Maybe that is WHY you are singing at 63?

[@mathieubarber]

This is the biggest gift I have ever been given - Thank you from the bottom of my diaphram :)

[@edgyyh]

This helped me SO MUCH. For months I've searched for an explanation of how to support, and my teachers keep telling me to "support more!" and "sing on the body" -- not until now when I realized that I just had to get out of my own way and just *sing* do I finally feel my body supporting on its own! I always thought support was something I had to do consciously by tensing certain muscles, and now I just feel my body supporting me on its own.

[@otonouzovsky515]

Jesus, this is me today. And at the part, when she says that when she is free - polishing the aria, thinking as a character, when I get to that stage, I dont have to focus on the breathing whatsoever, it somehow comes along by itself. But when I'm learning technique, warming up or something, I'm always trying to squeeze belly and stretch out ribs, and then I over-breathe and get hyperventilated. If this works, god I'm gonna be so happy. "just let it flow freely"

[@liligibson8457]

@@otonouzovsky515 I have the same problem. When I think too much about breathing, my body freezes. I hate it. Now i do not know how to relax myself.

[@catherinebouvet5457]

Dear Ms. Didonato, I am absolutely amazed by the humility with which you give this detailed explanation about your idea of breath, and the great care you take in making sure your advices will not be counterproductive. Being French but fluent in English, I greatly appreciate the videos a few internationally renowned American singers like you put on KZbin regarding their approach to singing. What a pity French international singers do not do the same! Thank you so much for your generosity.

[@erlandhagegardofficial]

👍♥🙏 //Erland Hagegård

[@erlandhagegard5879]

I agree!!! //Erland Hagegård (tenorbaritone)

[@rosadominguez8989]

this video is very very beautiful. i am a voice trainer in the Schola Cantorum of Basel and i showed it to all my students. It is accurate and completely alive. all the concepts are great and also the way you expose them. Thank you!!

[@sarahparnell133]

Wow - you're so generous to share in this way! How wonderful you are. p.s. - nobody fast forwards your videos.

[@erlandhagegardofficial]

All you need is ... THIS , if you want to sing bel canto. And your sympathetic manner, Joyce - Wow🤩♥ Regards //Erland Hagegård (tenorbaritone)

[@wadiquelt]

Utterly engaging throughout. You create the space to sing - instead of fear and mental gymnastics. Thank you 😃

[@TotalSinging]

Ms. DiDonato - you under estimate your ability to translate what you know into a pedagogic fashion. If you can do a masterclass, you can teach individuals. 100% - far too many teachers do not stress the importance of support and freeing the voice with balanced airflow. Children are "end result orientated" and do not intellectualize how they make sound; they make sound the only way they've known - which is 100% perfect. The human body is not designed to do anything imperfectly. Children just do what comes naturally. The issue is as we grow into adulthood we over intellectualize everything we do instead of focusing on the end result. Singing correctly is a process of elimination instead of addition. "Support" should be though of as a management system. A balancing agent. The exhale should flow consistently like water from a faucet. Freely. It releases the voice to resonate properly. "Support" is used to balance the ratios between sub and supra glottal compressions. (release vs. resistance") The inhale is a natural process. Once you release the pressurization of the exhale, air is automatically drawn in. There's no need to physically inhale. If one needs an extra amount of air, a small sniff does the trick. One doesn't need a giant inhale of breath to sing. "A thimble full" is how much air Caruso said to use. Intercostal Diaphgramatic support.

[@sweamatilda9131]

Total Singing Dojo brilliant

[@mishaelfigueira7258]

Thank you so much for this. I am a voice teacher, and I have found that the way I explain techniques is very similar to you. Your Vlogs and Masterclasses have been an excellent resource for me and my students. Your passion and the way you explain characterisation and expression is so beautiful. Thank you so much.

[@rossane754]

dear Joyce,thank you so much for sharing with us these incredibly valuable lessons on singing ...and life.

[@nurturingspiritmusic5751]

❤ Thank you for this. Especially the reminder about the intention energy and release connection. Not too long at all! And haha your outra song will now be an earworm... 😊 You're the best!

[@Rakia32]

Hey Joyce! It's so wonderful of you to make these videos for aspiring singers from all around the world! You are truly an angel! This video along with the one where you talk about "tent poles" has helped me a lot to make the connection between the breath and my head :) It's as if the chords don't exist! I mean, you still feel them working but you don't push the sound through them, you just let it happen. It's like magic! I realize now that most of my problems were because I was afraid to let go... I desperately wanted to control the sound by placing it in the mask, dragging it from underneath, but there is no need of that... It's already up! This has improved my expression, made the coloratura passages easier, removed the tension and made everything a whole lot easier! know it's a long way to the show if you want to rock'n'roll but I feel somewhat relieved! Thank you :)

[@esterclewans9400]

You said that you aren’t a teacher AND YOU TAUGHT ME MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE! Thank you!

[@kitty_whately]

Thank you for giving your time so generously and inspiring us training singers so much. X

[@PegC100]

I tried your free-flowing breath at my next practice session, letting myself open inside from top to bottom, letting the air drop through that space and then, not allowing one darn thing to change, I simply allowed the air to continue to flow and the voice to start. As I continued, the inhale and exhale were inseparable, almost indistinguishable. This is really an important piece in my vocal progress. I can hardly wait for my next lesson! Thank you, Joyce.

[@KimBakTarot]

I still remember the day I watched this for the first time ( few years ago). It helped me a lot! Changed my way of thinking.. Thank u so much again. ^^

[@LonaMarieSoprano]

I sooo get this around 12 minutes. Emotional content.. my voice is free when I'm not worrying and not thinking about technique.. but as soon as I get to a lesson and start thinking technical it goes horribly wrong.. but then my nerves kick in and blocks my emotional train of thought.... so right though... when you connect with the emotion.. it does free you up...!

[@nfpacheco]

Thank you my dear teacher!!

[@rogerbingham316]

I am a new man, having struggled with breath control for forty years, I now have a new idea......thank you so much

[@dgreat5788]

WAOOO! wise human and singer !Everything seems so natural when it comes from u!!Just listening is a Masterclass.THANK YOU!

[@hisongpark]

You are an excellent, excellent teacher! I wish I'd had a teacher like you long before! Thank you for being so kind and caring. God bless you.

[@longliveclassicmusic]

You are so fabulous. So humble and true. Love your "I'm not a voice teacher, so take this with a grain of salt" humility. We still adore your insight!!!!!!!!

[@euliskay]

Wow, thank you so much! This video just made me so happy. That may sound strange, but the teacher in me just loves to hear something explained in such a simple yet complete way. I'm a bit late to the party, but I just LOVE this!

[@liligibson8457]

Never too late.

[@andresarchilaboiton333music]

OMG!!! Are you!!?? In really are you??? I will suscribe... I'm an opera student... I love you, I love your voice and your career... I love the operas you have played... I can't believe you are here in youtube doing videos for us... I dream with been in one of your future Masterclasses... Regards from Guatemala

[@turdusmerula1831]

You are fantaaaastic. Have been watching your vlogs only for a couple of days, but i am deeply impressed by the fact that you seem to be such a sympathetic and thoughtful person! Thanks for sharing your notion to us people out there!

[@tnsimon75]

Wonderful kernels of truth. Thank you, Joyce, thank you for the common sense reminders and suggestions. It helps put the fun back into the purpose of technique. "Releasing and creating"... you do them so well, and we are grateful!

[@alyssalauren1906]

Thank you for all these great points! It's helpful to understand the anatomy behind singing and remember to use your diaphragm and core strength. I also loved that you called the human body "the perfect instrument" and talked about singing freely!

[@windycitysinger]

Amen x100. Just came across this, and thank you very much for sharing! Both you and Mr. Stephen Smith are an incredible inspiration to me. Seeing you sing Rosina was pretty life-changing for me (no lie.) Thank you!

[@Jamesgug]

Thank you Joyce for a wonderful voice lesson. Your a great teacher!

[@tyffy]

She is absolutely right about the emotional intention! If you are in the right emotional space of your piece, then your technique, essentially, fixes itself.

[@theinkbrain]

Joyce, everything you say and do and sing only goes to show what a beautiful, good and true person you are.

[@birgithade5022]

Very interesting. Thank you, Joyce🤩🎶

[@dir3907]

I love you, Joyce! Amazing how many not only wrong by CONFUSING terms keep being used in voice teaching! I do teach voice, I learned from an excellent teacher and what you say is it. Greetings from Mexico!

[@KaylaCollingwood]

I have the exact same problem - tongue/jaw tension. Getting there with fixing it, and this gave me more to think about. Keep doing these vids; they are so helpful and informative!

[@Belcantormail]

What a charm you are! It is true that a great voice comes from a great person, and it starts with your positive attitude!! You're really a Modern Diva, and your freedom is so attractive and delightful: tank you !!!

[@lorifredrics8275]

"If you are very specific on the vowel you are singing, if you are clear about what that vowel is, the breath has a clearer track"; Amen The clearer the emotional content of what you are singing,I think the freer your breath will be. AMEN! This is why I teach singing as a Gestalt! The technique will not work until all the pieces fit together with it as a pattern: the musical, the diction, the dramatic.

[@joaoaurelio1534]

a lifetime trying to get where we started, Ms Didonato you are incredible and always make wanna go there and keep on working. Because you want to be relaxed but sometimes even alone there's this police behind lol. Thank you very much, happy christmas

[@tenorbear60]

Excellent information from a great, great singer. Brava Joyce! I'm forwarding this to my students; breathing is everything.

[@ezayi]

This is really more helpful than most explanations I've heard. Thanks a lot Miss di Donato!

[@christinae8062]

thank you. i love your authenticity. thanx for sharing

[@laurasmith7421]

for me, this is Great teaching. thankyou from my heart. this is the way.

[@user-ss9qj7mn6i]

Beautiful person You are

[@leonardevans9370]

A refreshing take on "breath". As a sometime amateur singer and voice enthusiast, it seems to me that there is a lot of complicated and confusing commentary about breathing in singing. Granted the whole process and procedure of singing can feel far from easy, but I think we should always be attempting to move in the direction of simplicity. Easy to say, but none the less, a good guide for me. The "freedoms" that JDD speaks of is much more useful. All our bodies can become tense at times. whether with stress, or simply over tiredness and then we start to tense up and make it complicated. What we do at such moments is where the drama of each of our journeys lie. And this is where the trusted people in our lives-be they friends, teachers, coaches or colleagues-comes in to play.....? THEORY: BREATH FROM THE LUNGS, THE WILL TO SING, PHONATION OF THE VOCAL CORDS, WHICH THEN FINDS RESONATION IN THE ACCOUSTICALLY (?) CORRECT CAVITIES OF THE HEAD.... AND THEN YOUR VOICE GES OUT INTO AN ADMIRING WORLD......!

[@baritonebynight]

I feel enlightened and excited about your ideas/experience of just letting the body do its own thing and to try to stay out of its way and communicate the text....things will take care of themselves. I've read the books by Lehmann, Tetrazzini, Hines, and Miller. I tried so hard to breath their way, and none of it felt natural. Trying to push out or up or down....but what you say seems to finally make sense. Thank you, Joyce. You're a great singer AND a great teacher.

[@THEEARTHHARMONYCHANNEL]

You are so sweet to share all this.. thank you... it is so helpful.. all the best..

[@caninbar]

I hope you write a book one day, Joyce! You're a down-to-earth, humorous and very intelligent singer and communicator. All of these qualities would make a fine book indeed! Many great singers have written books on voice in the past. You don't have to be a pedagogue or voice scientist. You're speaking from experience and you are very perspicacious. I personally think a singer learns much more from empirical knowledge than from scientific research and technical language. My best!

[@DEFinitivelyHis]

Ms. DiDonato, you expressed my concerns about vocal instruction perfectly. People expect for a singer to automatically know how to teach vocal technique, and it's not true at all. I cringe when people ask me to impart wisdom on how to sing. I usually go right into talking about how a baby breathes as well! I'm so glad you take the time to vlog! :o)

[@AmaraEagle]

Amen! loved this! Thank you so much, reaaaaaaaaaaaaally helpful and confirmed a lot of things ive been thinking about xx

[@hazeymusic10]

Gosh, I wish I could thank you in person! This was SO helpful! Thank you Ms. Joyce for sharing your knowledge! You're a gem! Good luck to everything that you do!

[@sachikoyoukosei6772]

Oh! what a nice sorprise! doing this kind of videos.... I love it!!!!!!! You're so nice..

[@magicmonkichi]

Thank you for all your wonderful posts Miss Didonato! You always have wonderful insights and 'little' gems that we all can take from your work. Brava!

[@conradsiebert]

Thank you so much for creating this video. Like you said we are all our own teachers, but sometimes coming across some bit of information with be just what we need just when we need it. And your video was that for me today. Inspiring! Thank you.

[@GraceLYYstories]

thank you Joyce for your wonderful explanation of relaxing the breath. And your explanation is like a lovely chitchat, no fast forwarding from me at all. :-) Looking forward to see your performance in singapore on May4. God Bless

[@AlexisAlfaro9]

Ummm...my mind has been blown...this is an amazing masterclass.

[@barborakafkovamusic]

Ms. Joyce Didonato, thank you very much for your breath tent poles sharing masterclass:) It is until this day the best explanation of how the breath should move freely and fully into our body and support the voice-at least for me. "The drop" is also always on my mind. Especially when Im getting tense in uncomfortable situations-preventing lot of drama queen situations in daily life:D. Plus bravo for explanation of how connecting emotions and breath actually helps. Sending hugs and much love

[@brookemartin6101]

Honestly, this makes quite a bit of sense to me personally as an amateur singer aspiring to become better. I'm going to have to try this tip and see if it helps me develop my breath support.

[@ranunkel1]

This is such a great video - and it's what I've observed with my breath as well. The thing is going out of the way and trusting the body more and more. This is such a great confirmation of what I found out. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ternitamas]

Such a humble and generous person! Thank you Joyce for sharing all your experience and art! You're such a cool "diva" ;) I love you!

[@jenniferfijal2496]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post this! You're amazing!

[@qwertydeluxe]

Such wonderful insight! Thank you!

[@jacquewilsonscharlach3205]

Exactly what all singers need to hear!!!

[@Heartlessiceboy]

Brava! "Chi sa respirare Sá cantare!" I'll like to say that I'm a professional singer myself(Countertenor) But I do find very helpful Miss DiDonato's vlogs (I highly recommend "express yourself" and the 2 about role preparation) useful to singers of any level and also find very nice that a Ópera super star like Miss DiDonato take all this time to make this vids.

[@PianoKeysnSixStrings]

Thank you! This gave a different approach to breath support! Love your videos!

[@xav71176]

"Every day our body is different." Very true !

[@antoniomoreirarr]

brilliant!!!! i do a lot of tensing when im singing and im working on it and it really changes everything ...

[@ivanwillard9043]

the feldenkrais method taught me how to release excessive tension throughout my entire body, which allowed me to organize my breath and to sing effortlessly and elegantly. karen clark, singer (masters of voice from usc and previous princeton voice professor and guild certified feldenkrais practitioner in sf bay area) is a great resource for singers who struggle with the breath and support.

[@smrr5624]

"Going to go look for it on youtube." You are so real, girl. Love it. :)

[@moisancamap]

Thank you so much! Your advices help me a lot.

[@thehix]

Great post ! - There are so many teachers out there that get students to push and pull and only manage to create tension.

[@yuxiuyang2570]

Thank you very much! Actually my teacher always just emphasis on the position of the voice and never teach about breath, it made me always feel very confuse,cause i think i have a big problem on how to lead my breath to singing. Unfortuniately, she never talk about that even i asked her a lot of time... But when met your masterclass on KZbin,its always give me some good ideas, and help me a lot ! Waiting for your more and more videos on KZbin, Thanks again !😘😘

[@GolgothasGarden]

Thank you so much for this fantastic video!

[@carolcheny]

thanks! you're awesome, Joyce.

[@Achcuauhtli]

Excelent advise! that explains her solid technique...

[@serenadeschoral2268]

Fantastico!!! Thank you, Joyce!!

[@Mimneska]

Joyce, I love you! whatching your videos makes me feel so much better and confident in what im dreaming about and doing in my life! Thank you, dear Joyce!

[@kiakaha420]

I just think you are fantastic!:) and you are such an inspiration to me! I just started my opera lessons a couple months ago so I'm excited to see where it takes me!:) thank you!!:)

[@beachfanatic2010]

Incredible advice!

[@nope7062]

kh watched for occc - thanks for info on breath support

[@HeliantheLibidineux]

Thank you so much for this. You're amazing

[@bigfan4994]

I have to say that you are such an amazing vocal teacher ! Thank you being so honest about everything you said!

[@lukekent9687]

Great wisdom!

[@Sperczynskakatarzyna]

PRICELESS 🙌🏼 thank you Maestra Joyce DiDonato ❤️ no fast-forwarding, as a matter of fact, rewinding #learningneverends

[@FedeCallas]

it would be great if you make some vlog about the opera backstages! they are so fun!

[@lunetelalune2783]

I never thought I'd say this to you, but I am going to have to disagree with you Ms. Didonato. I have watched your master classes ; you are a great voice teacher even if you don't want to claim it.

[@MouthyMrH]

I didn't fast forward once! I kept rewinding because I needed to hear the jewels again!!

[@s.ocurlschristieokosun9565]

Very insightful!. Thanks diva. I learnt a lot from this honestly. I wish my country could afford you to come give us a master class at least in MUSON diploma school of music, Nigeria

[@Trick6666]

great video!

[@gronia]

I think you are the best ever!

[@marthaanne820]

So very helpful!!

[@davidpresler3095]

It's amazing how just hearing this invoked several deep yawns while watching ~ not because it was boring, God forbid, but inspiring ~ a yawn that is...

[@fadyjb]

Brava! You said it all cristal clear!

[@Sparky82]

very informative. Thank you !

[@marinaconsidera]

Wonderful!

[@MichaelPandolfo]

7:35 - 7:50. I completely agree!!! Joyce - You talk a lot about tension in the tongue in this video. As a young singer hoping to avoid issues like that, do you know any tips/exercises/this to watch out for to avoid tongue tension?

[@AK-sg1uq]

it is not weird, singing is a way of expressing emotions. the same mechanism is used for crying, shouting and producing any other sound connected to our inner state (the same mechanism is used in animals when they produce their spunds). Speaking is totally different. That is why many people whose brain is damaged right in the area "responsible" for speaking sometimes cannot say anything, but they can sing words! Singing is our animal part, it is what we really feel. That is why when you are really expressing emotions, the body helps.

[@portlandpianostudio]

Sooo helpful, thank you!

[@temperanceluv81]

I love you Joyce!!!!

[@caninbar]

The emotional impulse is basicallly spontaneity in singing and breathing and not thinking too much. Emotions are an important topic of study today and so fundamental to our well-being. And yes, well-being and a balanced psyche mean a predisposition for a balanced breath and therefore voice. The principles you've discussed have been exposed in many important treatises on voice and singing. We must get out of the way and let nature take its course.

[@cantante189]

You are so well-spoken, Joyce. Really enjoyed listening to your wealth of knowledge. I hope to sing with you one day.