Lower abdomen when suporting

[Jarom]

Some coaches or singers say that in order to support you need to push down (some say down and out) with your lower abdomen. Others will say you need to let it happen naturally, or don't worry about it. For me I need to physically push down for proper support or I will rely start to constrict. However, For some people I know they need to let it happen naturally or they push to hard. What have been your thoughts on this as a vocal coach and or singer?

[Felipe Carvalho]

In my experience, best way to organize it is:

Abdomen goes in, continuously.

Solar plexus (bellow it), and ribcage expands (moving out), continuosly. Intercostal expansion, also continuously.

Which is a kind of opposing action. On more demanding parts, this will be very strong, but not all the time.

It's important that those movements are tied to your breathing, and that you don't lock anything, keep it moving, make these a progressive contraction.

There is more that can be done to make it more efficient (lateral expansion and using the upper part of the torso too), but basicly this is the "core" idea.

Pushing down and out (expanded abdomen) does not work very well with more intense and agressive qualities.

[ronws]

It varies, depending on your natural posture, I think. If your hips tend to roll back, then feeling your back expanding is the thing. If your hips roll forward, a mobile belly is the thing. I think it is also possible to need different support feelings at different times in your evolution as a singer.

[Owen Korzec]

In my experience, best way to organize it is:

Abdomen goes in, continuously.

Solar plexus (bellow it), and ribcage expands (moving out), continuosly. Intercostal expansion, also continuously.

Did you make a typo? As I know it the solar plexus is between the ribcage and the abdomen

good post btw

[Felipe Carvalho]

Yes, I meant "bellow the solar plexus" thanks Owen

[Danielformica]

My thoughts on this are don't mess with Mother Nature. If you do that could make it a bit unnatural. Go for a supported tone. Don't go for a tight stomach. In other words if it is unsupported and breathy, laugh that's natural, then laugh on a ha ha ha then ha ha haaaaaa then take the h off and laugh on any vowel and listen for the same supported tone. This way you're not tightening or pushing muscles down for the hell of it. But youre getting a reaction in the belly that is firm because of the laugh and because of the supported tone.