Laura Claycomb Vocal Technique - Straw Exercises

[@livmilesparanormalromanceb6891]

Your videos are awesome, I would love it if you made more of them!

[@kresimirdujmic2566]

Please continue with your video tutorial.

[@kalinaparmakova8182]

Thank you so much for all your videos and exercises! They are really helpful! Please don't stop teaching us singing the RIGHT way.

[@liordavid1550]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm learning a lot, and looking forward to the next videos you'll upload. ♥️

[@rva]

this is great thank you! you're amazing xx

[@SuperLaura268]

Thank you so much Laura! We need more Videos like that :-(

[@TomasMiller007]

Dear Laura, Thanks for your wonderful lessons. I have been having classical singing lessons over two years, and the barriers that have crystallized are exactly what you described in your three lessons: (1) Singing on breath, (2) start of the tone without any "harsh" attack and keeping it steady, (3) going from consonants to vowels without "something in between". My classical singing teacher basically says what you say, but you are extremely good at describing the essence, and mainly providing the exercises with full insight. Meaning to find the very precise exercises, with full understanding on the side of the student, to "get there". I hope that you did not quit your lessons (I found three only, the last one from the 6th April 2016). Please, do not quit. Your lessons are unique. By the way. I looked up your artistic performance as well. You are fabulous. Thanks and sincere regards, Jaroslav from Prague

[@LauraclaycombSoprano]

+Jaroslav Joch Thanks for the feedback! Yes, I have every intention of keeping on putting things up here, but my singing career has interrupted all my good intentions! As soon as I get home and am not so busy (this next month!), I will get to work on some more exercises. I'm glad this is helpful.

[@TomasMiller007]

+Laura Claycomb Official Page Best wishes for your opera career and I look forward to your next video.

[@TomasMiller007]

+Laura Claycomb Official Page Dear Laura, I am coming back once more. Should you find time to create your next video, I would be interested very much in the exercises on starting the vowel sound from consonants h,k,p,q,f,t (and others) without having anything between the consonant and vowel. This is what you suggested you would post "tomorrow". I really appreciate it much that you are willing (and able) to disclose some of the cooking of the opera top floor. Thanks. Jaroslav

[@LauraclaycombSoprano]

Jaroslav, I'm so sorry I haven't gotten any more videos done, but I keep traveling and getting busy... I will do another one or two this month yet - - stay tuned! :-)

[@joaoaurelio1534]

Just wanted to wish you best luck, i just watched you singing Zerbinetta on tv and found your page by accident (obsession with singing kind of accident). I love this straw technique, to think i would do this as a kid aaha. You're great and lovely, thanks for everything, hope you come to Portugal so i can watch you live (think you did some years ago, but i didnt had the chance) kisses

[@juliakatherinewalsh8612]

Thank you SO very much Laura for this helpful explanation!! :)

[@suponglemlaozukum9229]

More videos please😊 This is so helpful!

[@JustinTSwain]

Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge here on KZbin!

[@kaya5526]

Hi Laura! First off I want to say thank you so much for uploading these videos!! The information you've shared on breathing has changed my life, I was really missing the aspect of staying expanded while constantly engaging my "spot". I've noticed a much more powerful sound, less airy, along with more freedom in my coloratura from your technique's. I was hoping you could speak about how you use your body/ what parts to sing in your extended range. My range goes up to about an F6 and occasionally a G#6, that being said, properly supporting up there with a free sound is not something I've been able to do... I have two AMAZING teachers one a baritone and the other a mezzo, but I feel it would be really helpful to hear about the proper support from somebody who sings up there. I know this is very long so Ill only ask one more question ( I have about 30 more lol), but if you could also talk about tips and technique for clean coloratura, how you learn melismas, and get them into your body, also what you use and don't use in terms of body for them. Thanks again, your knowledge has been a true gift.

[@LauraclaycombSoprano]

+Kaya Johnson Well, I should address that in another video, I guess! Thanks for the ideas! I think most of the time we think we need more muscular involvement than we actually need for the big high notes. What they call "sovracuti" in Italian - Eflat, E, F, etc... You don't need a HUGE oomph to support up high - the body just needs STABILITY once you get up into the whistle tones, I think. So if you can keep things expanded (not LOCKED!), stable (without being LOCKED! ;-) and engaged with your spot without feeling like you necessarily have to be "DOING SOMETHING." The column of breath needs stability at that point, but you don't need overwhelming pressure to "squeak out" those notes... At least that's my idea of how it feels.

[@kaya5526]

+Laura Claycomb Official Page Thanks Laura! Still can't believe I'm actually talking to you, your caro nome has added so much beauty to my life, especially if I'm having a hard time. Although Im still finding the coordination to be extremely difficult, after your comments I realized I can still hit those sovracuti notes without trying to "shove" my support... now I have to find a balance =) I definitely would love to see a video on coloratura if you could do it. I was also wondering what your opinion is on multiple ways to support. Both of my teachers talk about bringing the bellybutton area and below in... to always have that area moving in. I personally have found that your description of support has giving me much more power and freedom, along with better pitch as mentioned in my first comment. Do you think support can differ for people, or that there's only one proper way?

[@LauraclaycombSoprano]

+Kaya Johnson I think there's more than one way to explain things, but that the mechanism that actually gives optimal results is pretty much the same. I think the problem with telling people to actually bring in their belly buttons is actually quite dangerous. That area MAY move in some (if everything above it has a consequent slight protrusion, especially around the solar plexus) but I think the risk is that singers latch on to that and think that they should be using their rectus abdominalis to support, which is just plain WRONG. That's what gets most of us in trouble, as we end up using these muscles, which in turn stiffen the sound, and close off our lungs. These muscles do NOT protract out the exhalation, but instead close it down. So no, I don't think this is good instruction on breathing. Sorry! We're all entitled to our opinions. I'd be interested to know WHY they say this. There is a lot of B.S. being passed around as good technique, but just because someone can survive singing doing that does not mean it's the optimal way.

[@FameStaRYT]

is this exercise is useful for vocal nodule? please help

[@britters2010]

Hello Laura, you're probably very busy, but I figured I'd take a chance! Do you have any suggestions of ways to relax and disengage the jaw? Sometimes i find it gets in the way of my support doing the job properly!

[@barbysender9681]

thank you !!!!

[@jotge.3444]

Genau das sagt Renee Fleming auch.

[@kaya5526]

Would it be okay if I emailed you my next question?

[@LauraclaycombSoprano]

+Kaya Johnson Sure! Please feel free...

[@indigopurple8568]

how to sing like jungkook and jin?