Course duration
100 week(s)
Max class size
5
Study Hours Per Week
10hrs/week
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This course has combined various facets of music and training concepts which are essential to groom a musician. The focus is around vocal music and training. This course has three core ideas which will be developed:

Raaga Fundamentals

This module focuses on the development of vocal skills through the rigor of voice culture and voice training. You will develop keen skills of listening and pitching your voice perfectly. You will work on creating patterns with Swaras in correlation to rhythm with the key to develop singing in perfect Sur, Laya and importantly creative thinking. 

Voice Techniques

This module will enable you to learn the basic functioning and mechanics of voice production and using a singer’s voice to its optimal capacity. You will learn deep breathing exercises and combine breathing and singing. You will also learn to exercise one’s voice with out causing damage

Performance + Studio

In this module you will develop a keen sense of listening to oneself and all instruments through the headphones and match ones pitch perfectly. You will learn the techniques for optimizing the use of a microphone for correct pronunciation. You will learn how to effectively practice, prepare for a performance, pronounce lyrics, memorize lyrics and build confidence. 

 

Course Format

44 Weeks, 3 sessions a week

Objectives

RAGA FUNDAMENTALS

  • To work on - creating patterns with Swaras in correlation to the rhythm
  • With this as the key develop singing in perfect  Sur, Laya and importantly creative thinking
  • Learning the language of notation by creating and singing Swara patterns in different rhythm patterns and in different Raga scales
  • Working on correlating the musical sounds to Swara. Though Swara mapping is a skill developed over a period of time and constant practice, the process begins here 
  • Learning of Ragas with a creative approach
  • Singing a Madhya lay and Drut Bandish with development of Aalap and Taan.
  • Learning Bandish and development in different rhythm structures and Taal 

 VOCAL TECHNIQUES

  • Development of vocal skills through the rigor of voice culture and voice training 
  • Developing keen skills of listening and pitching your voice perfectly
  • To learn the basic functioning and mechanics of voice production and using a singer’s voice to its optimal capacity. 
  • To learn deep breathing exercises and to combine breathing and singing.
  • To learn to exercise one’s voice with out causing damage.
  • To improve vocal range
  • To practice singing using different vowel sounds
  • To work on clear diction

PERFORMANCE + STUDIO

  • To develop a keen sense of listening to oneself and all instruments  through the headphones and match ones pitch perfectly.
  • To learn the techniques for optimizing the use of microphone for correct pronunciations.
  • To learn how to effectively practice,  prepare for a performance, pronounce lyrics, memorize lyrics and build confidence.
  • To observe performances and recordings
  • To receive expert feed back on your performances of songs of various genres

 

 

Students who have prior singing experience need to audition with the teacher at TSM to assess their level and get placed in the course accordingly.

Indian Music- a brief introduction
  • Classical music
  • Two streams of Indian classical music
  • Tanpura and Tabla
Swaras
  • Naad- the musical sound
  • Seven Swara
  • Prakrit and Vikrit Swaras
  • Swaras and emotions
Laya and Taal
  • Types of Laya
  • Teentaal
  • Dadra
  • Roopak
  • Jhaptaal
  • Ektaal
  • Keherva and variations
Swar Sadhana and Voice training
  • Stability of a note
  • Vowel sounds
  • Clarity and freeness of voice
Alankar and flexibility of voice
  • Patterning with Swaras
  • Rhythm paterns
  • Types of combinations
  • Relevance of repetitive practice
Pentatonic Ragas- Bhupali, Durga, Brindavani Sarang, Malkauns
  • Patterning with pentatonic scales
  • Raga Bhupali
  • Raga Durga
  • Brindavani Sarang
  • Malkauns
  • Teentaal
Core Ragas- Yaman, Bhairav, Bhairavi, Khamaj, Kafi
  • Swara patterning with different Swara combinations
  • Raga Yaman
  • Raga Bhairav
  • Raga Khamaj
  • Raga Kafi
  • Raga Bhairavi
Some popular Ragas- Des, Bhimpalasi, Bageshri, Bhairav, Bihag
  • Raga Des
  • Raga Bhimpalasi
  • Raga Bageshri
  • Raga Bhairav
  • Raga Bihag
Time theory of Ragas
  • Prahars of the day
  • Raga characteristics and time theory
  • Relevance of time theory
Brief History and the Gharans in Hindustani classical
  • The ancient treatises on music
  • Gharana traditions in Hindustani music
  • Relevance of Gharanas today
Theory of Voice production
  • Anatomy of Voice
  • Physiology of voice
Breathing and singing
  • Deep breathing
  • Singing from abdomen
  • Warm up exercises
Parameters of Voice
  • Exercises to improve the flexibility of voice
  • Exercises to improve the range of voice
  • Exercises to strengthen the lower and higher registers
Modulation
  • To use variations in loudness, pitch and resonance singing
  • Singing with emotions
  • Impactful singing
Range of voice and powerful singing
  • Breathing and vocalizing vowaels
  • Preparing the voice for powerful and flexible singing
  • To sing with ease, Chest resonance
  • Singing with head voice
  • Strengthen the head voice
  • Switching from head voice to chest voice and vice versa
  • Singing with mouth resonance
Advanced vocal techniques
  • Vibrato
  • Murkis, Khatkas and Gamaks
  • Yodelling
  • Application of vocal techniques in different songs
Stage dynamics
  • Choice of songs or compositions
  • Posture and movements
  • Using the microphone
  • Developing listening skills crucial for singing on stage
Techniques to sing in the studio
  • Use of microphone and headphones
  • Listening and pitching the voice perfectly
  • Breath control and phrasing
  • Application of techniqes in recording

The student is able to

  • Sing with attention to accuracy of pitch, stability of voice, freeness of voice, breathing techniques, perfect vowel sounds and clear diction.
  • Know and use ones own range of voice impressively.
  • Use voice to its optimal capacity.
  • Sing with emphasis on different nuances like the Murkis, connecting notes and convey expressions effectively.
  • Create and sing Swara patterns in different rhythm patterns.
  • Identify at least a small cluster of Swaras at a time by listening to musical sounds,  understanding the Swara mapping concepts
  • Understand any given song or musical composition quickly and reproduce the same.
  • Choose the best suited songs  for a performance.
  • Sing Bandishes and portray a beautiful and comprehensive picture of the Raga.
  • Improvise Khayal with Aalap and Taan, singing Sargams and singing Taan in Aakar with a good sense of Lay and Taal. 
  • Create  and sing a self composed Swar Malika or any composition in a Raga set to any Tala chosen
  • Apply these ideas and practice assorted film or non film songs inspired from different genres like Classical, Ghazal, Bhajan, Sufi, Western and free style. 
  • Sing on a stage, sing with the accompanying instruments, combat stage fright , manage sound system requirements.