. . . Music courses
As part of the classes all students, both classical and light music students, will have voice culture training through vocal exercises which focuses on the following:
�� Correct intonation
�� Breath control
�� Volume control
�� Range and depth of voice
�� Throw of voice
�� Smooth beginning and ending of notes
�� Strength of notes and resonance
�� Stability and flexibility of voice
�� And effortless singing in low and high pitch
BEGINNER- LEVEL COURSE
• Level 1 (12-session course): Learning to sing sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni; vocal exercise through the practice of 25 alankars or paltas; Aroha-Avaroha of three ragas.
• Level 2 (12-session course): Introduction to komal (flat) and tivra (sharp) swaras or notes; Aroha-Avaroha of three more ragas; Swaramalika delineating the basic structure or rupa of 6 ragas in sargam.
• Level 3 (12-session course): Alankars in komal and tivra swaras; swaramalika of 3 more ragas; learning to sing bandish or compositions in three ragas and a bhajan.
• Level 4 (12-session course): Introduction to taals or rhythmic cycles; learning to sing compositions in three more ragas; singing the 6 raga compositions with tabla accompaniment.
INTERMEDIATE- LEVEL COURSE
• Level 1 (12-session course): Learning to sing in akar; introduction to alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans; special vocal exercise for singing taans; learning to sing two medium-paced drut or chota khayals with short alaps, bol-alaps, taans, bol-taans
and sargams.
• Level 2 (12-session course): Honing the skill to sing alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans and sargams; special vocal exercise to sing different varieties of taans, such as gamak; learning to sing two more chota khayals with alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans and sargams.
• Level 3 (12-session course): Further practice of alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans and special vocal exercise for taans; learning to sing two more chota
khayals with alaps, etc.; practice of kharaj or lower octave singing to lend depth, richness and resonance to the voice.
• Level 4 (12-session course): Vocal ornamentation exercises-meend, khatka and murki; further practice of kharaj; learning to sing two more chota khayals with alap, etc. and a bhajan.
• Level 5 (12-session course): Introduction to the ten thaats or modal scales of Hindustani music; Aroha-Avaroha of the main raga of the ten thaats; 5 chota khayal bandish in the main raga of the ten thaats with alap, etc.; learning a couple of bhajans.
• Level 6 (12-session course): Five chota khayal bandish in the main raga of the ten thaats with alap, etc.; learning a couple of taranas and bhajans.
SENIOR-LEVEL COURSE
• Level 1 (12-session courses): Senior-level students will be taught two Bada or vilambit khayals with elaborate alaps, bol-alaps, intricate taans, bol-taans and rhythmic sargams and two drut khayals each in 12-session courses.
• Level 2 (12-session courses): Students will be taught some rare, combo and mixed ragas. They will also be taught thumri, dadra and other forms of light classical music. They will be trained to give a full-fledged recital.
Light music-Bhajans, Ghazals and Hindi film songs
Course Structure
• Level 1 (12-session course): Learning to sing sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni; vocal exercise through the practice of 25 alankars or paltas; Aroha-Avaroha of three ragas; one simple bhajan/ ghazal/ film song.
• Level 2 (12-session course): Practice of kharaj or lower octave singing to lend depth, richness and resonance to the voice. Aroha-Avaroha of three more ragas; Swaramalika delineating the basic structure or rupa of two ragas; two bhajans/ ghazals/ film songs.
• Level 3 (12-session course): Vocal ornamentation exercises-meend, khatka and murki; Swaramalika of four more ragas; two bhajans/ ghazals/ film songs.
• Level 4 (12-session course): Further practice of ornamentation exercises; introduction to taals or rhythmic cycles; singing 3 bhajans/ ghazals/ film songs with tabla accompaniment.
• Level 5 (12-session course): Learn six Hindi film songs with Karaoke support in 12-session courses.
• Level 6 (12-session course): Introduction to alap and taans in bhajans and ghazals; special vocal exercise for singing taans in bhajans and ghazals; sing four bhajans or ghazals with short alaps, taans and sargams.
• Level 7 (12-session course): Honing the skill to sing alap, taans and sargams in ghazals and bhajans; special vocal exercise to sing different varieties of taans, such as gamak, in bhajans and ghazals; sing four more ghazals/ bhajans with alap, taans and sargams.
• Level 8 (12-session course): Learn six bhajans/ ghazals in 12-session courses.
• Level 9 (12-session course): Students will be trained to give a full-fledged recital of bhajans, ghazals and Hindi film songs in three years.
I take online Hindustani classical vocal and light music classes on Skype on a one-to-one basis. I teach beginners, intermediate and senior-level students North Indian (Hindustani) classical vocal music, Hindi bhajans, ghazals and Hindi film songs.
Students can opt for either once-a-week or twice-a-week one-hour classes. As the classes are held on a one-to-one basis, students can choose a time and day/s of the week convenient to both of us. The students’ progress will depend on whether they choose once-a-week or twice-a-week classes. They will receive by email notations and sound clips of the lessons they have been taught for riyaaz or practice at home for faster progress.
Students will be equipped to give a short public performance within one year! After one year of practice they can find an audio clip featuring their singing on my website! http://www.raovocals.blogspot.
You may listen to my songs and learner series for beginners on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/
Hindustani classical vocal music
Course Structure
Hindustani classical vocal music
Course Structure
As part of the classes all students, both classical and light music students, will have voice culture training through vocal exercises which focuses on the following:
�� Correct intonation
�� Breath control
�� Volume control
�� Range and depth of voice
�� Throw of voice
�� Smooth beginning and ending of notes
�� Strength of notes and resonance
�� Stability and flexibility of voice
�� And effortless singing in low and high pitch
BEGINNER- LEVEL COURSE
• Level 1 (12-session course): Learning to sing sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni; vocal exercise through the practice of 25 alankars or paltas; Aroha-Avaroha of three ragas.
• Level 2 (12-session course): Introduction to komal (flat) and tivra (sharp) swaras or notes; Aroha-Avaroha of three more ragas; Swaramalika delineating the basic structure or rupa of 6 ragas in sargam.
• Level 3 (12-session course): Alankars in komal and tivra swaras; swaramalika of 3 more ragas; learning to sing bandish or compositions in three ragas and a bhajan.
• Level 4 (12-session course): Introduction to taals or rhythmic cycles; learning to sing compositions in three more ragas; singing the 6 raga compositions with tabla accompaniment.
INTERMEDIATE- LEVEL COURSE
• Level 1 (12-session course): Learning to sing in akar; introduction to alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans; special vocal exercise for singing taans; learning to sing two medium-paced drut or chota khayals with short alaps, bol-alaps, taans, bol-taans
and sargams.
• Level 2 (12-session course): Honing the skill to sing alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans and sargams; special vocal exercise to sing different varieties of taans, such as gamak; learning to sing two more chota khayals with alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans and sargams.
• Level 3 (12-session course): Further practice of alap, bol-alap, taans, bol-taans and special vocal exercise for taans; learning to sing two more chota
khayals with alaps, etc.; practice of kharaj or lower octave singing to lend depth, richness and resonance to the voice.
• Level 4 (12-session course): Vocal ornamentation exercises-meend, khatka and murki; further practice of kharaj; learning to sing two more chota khayals with alap, etc. and a bhajan.
• Level 5 (12-session course): Introduction to the ten thaats or modal scales of Hindustani music; Aroha-Avaroha of the main raga of the ten thaats; 5 chota khayal bandish in the main raga of the ten thaats with alap, etc.; learning a couple of bhajans.
• Level 6 (12-session course): Five chota khayal bandish in the main raga of the ten thaats with alap, etc.; learning a couple of taranas and bhajans.
SENIOR-LEVEL COURSE
• Level 1 (12-session courses): Senior-level students will be taught two Bada or vilambit khayals with elaborate alaps, bol-alaps, intricate taans, bol-taans and rhythmic sargams and two drut khayals each in 12-session courses.
• Level 2 (12-session courses): Students will be taught some rare, combo and mixed ragas. They will also be taught thumri, dadra and other forms of light classical music. They will be trained to give a full-fledged recital.
Light music-Bhajans, Ghazals and Hindi film songs
Course Structure
• Level 1 (12-session course): Learning to sing sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni; vocal exercise through the practice of 25 alankars or paltas; Aroha-Avaroha of three ragas; one simple bhajan/ ghazal/ film song.
• Level 2 (12-session course): Practice of kharaj or lower octave singing to lend depth, richness and resonance to the voice. Aroha-Avaroha of three more ragas; Swaramalika delineating the basic structure or rupa of two ragas; two bhajans/ ghazals/ film songs.
• Level 3 (12-session course): Vocal ornamentation exercises-meend, khatka and murki; Swaramalika of four more ragas; two bhajans/ ghazals/ film songs.
• Level 4 (12-session course): Further practice of ornamentation exercises; introduction to taals or rhythmic cycles; singing 3 bhajans/ ghazals/ film songs with tabla accompaniment.
• Level 5 (12-session course): Learn six Hindi film songs with Karaoke support in 12-session courses.
• Level 6 (12-session course): Introduction to alap and taans in bhajans and ghazals; special vocal exercise for singing taans in bhajans and ghazals; sing four bhajans or ghazals with short alaps, taans and sargams.
• Level 7 (12-session course): Honing the skill to sing alap, taans and sargams in ghazals and bhajans; special vocal exercise to sing different varieties of taans, such as gamak, in bhajans and ghazals; sing four more ghazals/ bhajans with alap, taans and sargams.
• Level 8 (12-session course): Learn six bhajans/ ghazals in 12-session courses.
• Level 9 (12-session course): Students will be trained to give a full-fledged recital of bhajans, ghazals and Hindi film songs in three years.
