Tips for Musicians

SPEAKING

Pay attention to how you speak every day. Even performers who have good singing habits can cause damage when they speak. Many skilled singers don't continue their healthy habits when they speak; indeed, "many people—including singers—should have much more breath flow when they speak."

VOLUME AND POWER

Volume and power should be gained by using the muscles in the back and abdomen. If you are losing your voice after 4-6 songs or if you hear a lot of “effort” in your tone (it doesn’t float in a pure fashion), then you are probably using your throat.

QUIT SINGING THROUGH YOUR NOSE

Nasal tone qualities occur when there is too much resonance in your nasal cavity and not enough sympathetic resonance or overtones being created in other cavities. One quick fix is to simply open your mouth taller. As we discussed in yesterdays Bollywood Playback Class, Open Your Mouth taller and wider.

Vibrato

Vibrato is a natural or forced fluctuation of a singing tone. Do not concentrate on learning how to sing with vibrato. Instead, concentrate on the basic foundations of singing, breathing and support. When the proper coordination is achieved, vibrato will occur naturally. While forced vibrato can be used effectively, natural vibrato gives the tone a life of its own. Pure and natural vibrato is an unexplained musical phenomenon and can only be achieved through balancing the breath in the vocal instrument.

JUMPING JACKS

If you are having trouble getting your body completely involved with singing, try doing some cardiovascular activities, like jumping jacks, for a few minutes before getting started again. Sometimes your instrument simply needs an airflow wake-up call. Hmmmm Something which Ajinkya does before every performance... its a wake up call... to the body and to get the blood running...a sudden adrenaline rush...

Open Your Mouth Wider

Nine times out of ten this will help you achieve a stronger, more defined vocal tone.

Singing High Notes

Very simple yet very confusing part in Singing is to sing high notes properly. High notes require consistent and steady fast moving airflow. Many students tend to hold their breath as they sing higher. Let the air flow. Try increasing your airflow and gauge your result. 

Air Speed

Increase your air speed for high notes and decrease your air speed for lower notes. Each frequency requires a specific air speed to create the absolute best tone. Many singers push too much air, too quickly, while singing low notes in an attempt to make the note louder. All this does is add stress and tension to the tone. Use your ears to tell you when the proper balance is reached. The tone should sound clear and pure before adding stylistic nuances.

Perform in Concerts Regularly

Nothing can replace practice, and performances ! So after you feel comfortable with the techniques described in previous posts put yourself out there. Get used to singing in front of people. In addition to developing your vocal abilities, you will also be able to practice other very important aspects of a professional singer such as stage presence, and the ability to read a crowd and get in touch with their moods.

Experiment

Experiment with different types of music, and different performance styles. Find one that you are comfortable with and that allows you to stay relaxed and breathe properly. If a highly active performance style leaves you short of breath, get into the gym quickly!

Breathing

Breathing is another key factor to getting good tone. Babies breathe properly, as only their stomachs move during the intake and release of the breath. As adults we often need to relearn this method of breathing, so practice taking in and releasing your breath with a minimum of movement from your chest and shoulders. But don’t get yourself knotted up trying to “do it right!” Sometimes just suck down a big pile of air and don’t worry about how you’re doing it. I see too many singers holding their breath or hardly inhaling at all.

REST BEFORE PERFORMANCE

This may seem obvious to some, but it is easily overlooked. We perform better if we’re rested so try to minimize the amount of stress and strain on the voice before a show.

INCREASE YOUR AIR SPEED

Increase your air speed for high notes and decrease your air speed for lower notes. Each frequency requires a specific air speed to create the absolute best tone. Many singers push too much air, too quickly, while singing low notes in an attempt to make the note louder. All this does is add stress and tension to the tone. Use your ears to tell you when the proper balance is reached. The tone should sound clear and pure before adding style techniques.

BUILD YOUR SONG PERFORMANCE

Think about how a roller coaster builds in intensity and suspense throughout the ride. Your song should have the same sort of ups and downs. For the best results, plan the dynamics (volume and intensity) of your singing. Don’t just sing as powerfully as you can from the get go. Figure out the emotional and natural build of the music and sing accordingly. Remember, singing is as much an art form as a skill.

To sing better you should focus on these areas when practicing:

• Breath      control
• Pitch,      Tone and Resonance
• Projection      and Clarity
• Vocal       Range

Singers - Drink Room Temp Water and do Aerobics

1 - A singer should do Aerobic Exercises in order to increase lung capacity and stamina, and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol completely as they dry out and degrade the function of the lungs and vocal folds, which in turn makes breath management during singing less effective and voice quality less than optimal.

2 - Having good lung capacity will help especially during performances in which a singer moves around on stage with high energy or dances while singing.

3 - Hydration is very important to helping the voice function at its optimum for lessons, rehearsals and performances. Ideally, the body should remain well hydrated, preferably with water, throughout the day, and the singer should not wait until the practice session before drinking water.

4 - During singing tasks, room-temperature water is ideal, as cold water has a slight numbing affect on the throat and makes it more difficult for the vocal instrument to work effectively. Avoid allergens that may cause throat irritation or nasal congestion, and medications that may have a drying effect on the throat.

Performance tip for Singers – Rule the Stage

This is why your stance is so important, your body language and ability to stay centered, stay planted and calm tells you audience on a nonverbal level that you are in control of the stage. Always stand center stage when you deliver an important message (such as the top of the chorus).

Believe in Yourself

As a Singer I can tell you that if you do not believe in yourself, no one will. Your singing must ring true. You must be confident if you expect to sing with the best voice possible. A confident sound contains a rich, ringing and well projected tone. If you lack confidence and are worried about how you sound, begin a habit of positive self affirmations to connect with your inner power. Here are some suggestions for positive affirmations to help you. You may also create your own affirmations such as:

"I thank god for my beautiful and perfect singing voice."

"Each time I sing, I am filled with confidence".

"People love my singing. My voice is awesome!"

"I experience no fear what-so-ever when I sing."

"I allow my free, glorious and heavenly sounds to touch the hearts of others"

Create whatever it is that you need or want - then believe in your creation by repeating it over and over again. Say this to yourself everyday before singing and you will feel the difference in your voice throw and singing.

Open Your Mouth to Sing

Your singing tone will remain "hidden" with the mouth barely open. You must create enough space for the sound to "come out". Don't be self-conscious about a generous mouth opening. How will your tone "ring" unless your mouth is open wide? So give your singing a big boost by keeping the mouth open as you sing. You will quickly hear a more powerful sound. An exercise to help you to train your mouth and jaw to the right position for singing words using the 'AH' vowel is: a. Using a mirror to check for openness, sing the following words on a medium, comfortable tone. You can sing it in the scale of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa’ b. hot - brought - not - fall - hall - tall - talk - walk - father - stars - bars - far - broad c. Be sure to sustain the vowel Ah for a few seconds before closing the word with the final consonant. d. As you repeatedly practice each word, start off by going very slow. Gradually build your speed until you can sing through the list at a faster pace.

Learn to Sing in Correct Scale

Some people have a tough time starting a Song, they need some support or  help from a friend or a teacher to start the song. For a Singer to always start the song in the right scale here are few practice exercises: 1] Find a range of notes on a piano that is close to the speaking range of your voice. If you don't know, just guess and avoid really high or low notes. 2] Play one note and then re-play it mentally. Don't sing out loud yet, let your brain process what you're hearing. 3] Hum the note. Hummed notes resonate more in your ears and are easier to sing in tune. Many singers hit the note low and then slide up to the correct note. If you hear yourself doing this, continue this process until you are humming the correct note directly without scooping up. 4] If you simply can't tell whether you are on the right note or not, record yourself doing this exercise. If you still can't tell from the recording sit down with your teacher and do it one to one. This will help you eventually with practice to sing in the correct scale everytime.

You Got cold but You have a Singing Performance?

If your voice is really wiped out due to cold, skip your usual warm up. Rest your voice as much as possible and drink tons of fluids (warm water is best, not sodas, coffee or alcohol). Rehearse your set mentally instead of out loud. Inhale steam.

Remember that the adrenaline that hits you while performing often relieves many cold and allergy symptoms for the duration of the performance. Then they come back later! Still, you might want to lower the key of your more difficult songs or even skip the toughest ones.

Believe what you’re singing. 

I once read a quote that has stuck with me for years. It was something along the lines of, “that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” Music is a form of expression. It’s alive and has a great ability to influence listeners. But that’s only true when you believe what you’re singing. Just saying this philosophically is not sufficient, try to connect to the song through some personal life experience and see how alive the music you’re singing becomes.

Sing with ENERGY

I can’t express this enough. Singing is a very physical activity. You must be energized and excited about what you’re doing or else it lacks passion (and it’s flat!). Singing with energy helps you hit higher notes and helps keep the sound out of the throat. Allow yourself to get excited before singing… do some jumping jacks or walk around a bit before getting started and realize just how much it helps.

Open your mouth properly to Sing 

Singers who keep their mouths mostly closed are likely tense in the tongue and are far from achieving maximum quality of tone. I like the two finger rule. If you can fit two fingers between your teeth while singing (esp on open vowels like “ah” and “oh”), then you’re good. If not, open your mouth more.

Stop Guessing

Never guess the pitch you are about to sing. Hear the note in your head before you open your mouth. When music starts wait take your time let the music resonate in your brain..once you feel the note then you can even start by hmmming and then Singing. Since if you start off on the wrong scale it becomes very difficult to come back to the correct scale.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes

No matter how much this article will sound philosophical it is the truth. Many people start out in music hoping that they will be able to play or sing something perfectly right after the first lesson. This is never the case. Every single good singer or musician out there has been through years of practice, failure, more practice, and more failure before finally reaching any level of success.

I find that in singing, one must learn how to handle voice cracking before learning how to sing. It is difficult to accept the cracking stage, but one must trust that it happens to every singer.

Trust your teacher in that she or he knows how to bring out your voice, and if you crack, know that it is only because you are at the first step of learning to sing. Making mistakes is part of the learning process; if one has never fallen, one can never learn to stand.

Vocal Warm up Exercises with Songs

Warming up is a very important part of Singing. Vocal warm ups help you with building stamina, correcting covered/swallowed vowels, broadening your range etc…but most importantly, you warm up so that you can sing through your songs. Normally in vocal warm ups we use Alankaars, Sargams etc but don’t be afraid, to use your songs as part of your own warm up along with Alankaars.

You can take one line of a song, and sing it repeatedly adjusting it for vowel sounds, vocal placement, any muscular tension… Repeating the verse once you get it right trains your brain to sing correctly like a alankaar would help us. Plus, when you get on stage to sing, all you will have is the song. So you need to learn to sing your song.

Follow these steps when warming up with Songs:

Think- about the line of the music, start every idea like the beginning of sentence and move forward to its end, think of the words, the emotion, memorize your words,

Listen: to your sound, is it too forward?, too swallowed?, too light?, are the notes right in the center of the pitch?

Feel: any vocal pressure, whether your body is engaged properly in the vocal production, are you resonating properly?

Plan: when will you breath?, when will you swallow?, how many beats do you hold notes?

Singers - Use your body as your microphone - You were born to amplify!!

It is great that we have microphones and there are great things that we can do with them as a tool, but it is also important not to rely on them to give you a full sound. You need to learn how to use your body to amplify your own voice to its fullest capacity.

Why expect anything less of your own voice and what it can do for you? Your body is filled so many natural resonators. Learning to access them and their sound capacity will make you a very stronger singer.

Some Concepts to think about when singing

*Imagine that you are singing to the person in the back of the Auditorium not the first row.

*As you sing through your songs and your vocalizes envision that your sound comes out of you all around your head and body. Not just in front or behind you but around you. Fill the space in your body. There is no pushing allowed. You need to “let” the sound release.

*Your microphone should be the “cherry” on top, not the necessity.

*Do real vocal training, even if you are a hobby Singer. Train yourself on the highest level so that your performances with a microphone are a breeze to you.

We ‘Singers’ are very lucky – Some thoughts

I always thank God I can sing. It allows me the ability to express my emotions through my voice using my whole body as a Power Generator. Sometimes I wonder what would happen to me if I couldn’t.

I don’t mean to be dramatic but it is a religious experience for me. When I don’t Sing for a while I feel all shriveled and empty inside. When things are really tough there is nothing like Singing to release my “pain”.

I don’t know how I would have gotten through my school and college days without my guitar and my voice. I used to get through all those crazy teenage emotions only by picking up my guitar and composing a song.

Other people have other ways to do this, for some it is religion, some dance, some yoga, some sports… For me and most likely you if you are reading this, it is singing. A form of expression that I can feel through my whole body. It comes out of me like an extension of myself, and I can let it go and release it. Pretty powerful stuff.

I think people who don’t sing, might not be able to understand that a singer needs to sing.   The thought of not being able to sing is like the scariest nightmare.

There of course are levels of singing, from alone in your room on your guitar writing a song to standing center on a stage singing a proper bollywood hit in a musical. Everyone I think who sings was born with a different level of singing that they are meant to and need to do. Some singers feel more of a spiritual connection to it than others.

Singing is an amazing powerful gift, but it can hold us back from living on the “normal” level sometimes. We as singers can experience such a rush through our bodies when we are really letting go that all else can feel pale compared.

That is why it is important to keep singing regularly, whether you have a upcoming performance or not. Regular practicing can help you maintain a balance in your “emotive self” as well as maintain and improve your voice.  

I think it is important to face what singing is and means to you. There is more to this singing then performing. There is the physical and spiritual connection that it allows us to connect to our emotions. We singers are lucky to have been given this amazing tool. It is a gift that we have been chosen to experience. Lucky us.

Now go sing. You were meant to. Do it for you.

Did You know Swimming is great for Singers

Swimming is the most amazing workout you can get when it comes to targeting the needs of a singer. Even Yoga is pretty good too. Swimming opens up the back and develops your low breathing. You build stamina in your breath and strength in all the right muscles to support a glowing free voice when you swim on a regular basis. This increases your Singing stamina. Back stroke is great at opening and expanding the chest while freestyle does the same for the back. Breast stroke strengthens and widens the side of your rib cage and lower abdominals. Couldn’t be better. This is great for building Singer’s stamina.

Singing in One Take

Almost everything we ever hear on TV or radio or internet has been recorded in bits and pieces. Recordings usually are made in sections in a studio. You punch in different lines as you sing them well and swap out weaker takes until you get your “best performance” or the composite track as they call it. Thus the CDs and mp3 of big name artists we buy and make us think that they sound like that all the time. That is a tough reality when you hear some of them Perform Live…

I feel its great fun to listen to someone Sing in One take as we get to hear the breaths, the swallows, the stronger notes etc. All these things are absent in a Recording Studio.

So ask yourself a question - Can you do your performance in one take?  If you are singing on stage you will have to, that is what you need to aspire to. Being good every time should be your goal. Start recording yourself and force yourself to do complete takes of your songs And then sit back and listen to the whole thing. How good can you get it?  And if you struggle with a passage, how well can you get out of it while remaining focused. Concentrate in assessing your overall performance of a piece rather then each note.

Choosing the Right Song for the Show

Whenever you are choosing a song to rehearse or perform, ensure that the musical key is appropriate to your voice. Know the song, its high and low points, and know your own vocal range. Obviously the singer needs to be able to reach all the notes relatively comfortably, however bear in mind that taking a song too far down in pitch can often have the effect of making it sound dull and uninteresting. The closer that the song is to the top of your range, without going too far, the more exciting it will sound and feel to all.

Always on the Phone?

If you speak on the phone at work you should be aware of the adverse effects this causes your larynx. When you speak you're listening to your voice through the tiny ear piece which has a small electronic sound. Subconsciously you adjust your voice to make the sound more intense. This situation over a period of time will aggravate your larynx due to over-energizing the point where the two vocal folds meet. Be sure to breathe deeply and keep your voice lively by changing the pitch frequently.

SING THE STORY

Singing is acting through song. Why sing the song and not convey the message? Get emotionally involved with the lyrics. Figure out what would make you spontaneously speak the words and sing them with conviction.

Talk to established singers.

Most of them will be happy to give you some tips and exercises that helped them out, and any time you need to ask for directions, the best idea is to ask the person that's already accessible to you.

As a Singer Run through scales-a lot.

If this was guitar, it wouldn't be different, and the human voice is a lot less accurate than a guitar. You need to get your sense of pitch down, and you need to train your voice to reach higher and higher if you want to really hit all the notes in your range.

Make recordings of yourself - Singers

This is the only way to hear your problems, because you can separate yourself from your voice and listen to what other people hear. You may not like this at first, but keep at it; you'll improve vastly, and you'll start to notice stuff you like about your voice and really expand on those things.

Get Rid of Stage Fear - try it !!! Few Important Stress Relievers

1 - when facing a large crowd focus only on one person or your friends for that matter and give your performance. No need to look at the whole crowd and get Nervous especially when you are new to Performing on Stage and don't have much stage experience. This really helps to not get distracted by the crowd and feel more relaxed and confident to perform in stage.

2 - when on stage... when the Music starts...breathe in and out through Mouth only (not nose)..your body will get more energy and feel more relaxed and ready to perform.

5 Guitar Playing Tips to Help You Play Better Guitar

1) The first guitar playing tip is to use good posture while playing the guitar You should sit up straight in an armless chair. If the chair has arms, you will not be able to hold the guitar properly for playing.  Sit up straight to protect your back. If you get a backache after a bit of playing, you will realize how having good posture while playing the guitar is so important.

2) The next guitar playing tip is to hold the pick firmly but not too firmly. If you do not grip the pick firmly enough, you may lose it during a vigorous bout of strumming!  But if you grip it too tightly, you may find your whole arm getting tired.  Somewhere in the middle is the best guitar playing tip I can give you where pick grip is concerned.

3) Choosing the right pick is another guitar tip that is important. Picks come in finger and flat styles.  Most guitarists use a flat one. They also come in three different levels of flexibility.

4) Learn to play arpeggios. It's fun, great for old and new bollywood and English songs, and sounds beautiful!  This guitar playing tip will make people sit up and take notice, but it does require practice, and calluses, to play this way.  Try playing the strings in different order, and alternate bass strings.

5) A final guitar playing tip involves the chord D While playing the D chord, try adding your pinkie finger to the chord at the third fret.  This new chord is often called "D-suspended" or "D-sus."  Then play D again.  Now try lifting your middle finger so that the top string of the chord is open.  And back to D again. You can do the same thing with the A-chord, but have to do the change on the second string.  Up one fret to the third makes A-sus, and you can also lift that finger to go down a step on that second string.  C-suspended requires you to go up a half step on the fourth string.  G-suspended requires you to do it on the fifth string.  Learning suspended chords is a guitar playing tip you'll find yourself using when you play contemporary songs.

I hope you've found these guitar playing tips helpful. It's important to remember that the best way to improve your guitar playing skills is to practice, practice, practice.

Classification of Musical Instruments

All people enjoy one or the other kind of music. Music has a soothing effect on the body and the mind. It also has some healing capabilities which medicine and science have been trying to decipher for years. Music can be enjoyed and learned by people of all age groups. Before you set to buy a musical instrument or even learn one, you need to know about the different types of musical instruments that exist.

a) Wind instruments:

Sound is produced in these instruments when a column of air is made to vibrate inside them. These instruments are further divided into brass and woodwind instruments. The length of the column of air and the shape of the instrument play a major role in determining the frequency of the wave generated. Different tones are produced depending on the construction of the instrument and method of tone production. E.g. Flute, Bansuri, Clarinet, Mouthorgan....

b) Percussion instruments:

Sound is produced in these instruments by simply striking them. The sound produced in this case may or may not be of high pitch. The cavity of the instrument surrounding the area where it is struck vibrates and sound is produced. The shape and material of the instrument also decide the type of sound produced form this instrument. E.g. Drums, Tabla….

c) String instruments:

These instruments produce sound when the string is disturbed from its original position by the application of force. The length of the vibrating string, the mass, tension and the point at which the string is excited determine the frequency of the sound produced. The tone of sound produced by these instruments can vary depending on the shape and resonating cavity construction of each instrument. E.g. Guitar, Mandolin, Sitar…

d) Electronic instruments:

Sound is produced in these instruments through electronic means by imitating the sounds produced by other instruments. They resemble keyboards in appearance. E.g. Drum Machine. Keyboard, Synthesizer, Organ…

e) Brass instruments:

Sound is produced in these instruments when air is blown into a tube with different length or thickness to generate a wide range of sounds. E.g. Trumpet. Trombone

f) Keyboard instruments:

These instruments can use any of the above methods to generate musical sounds. Each key in the keyboard can produce one sound or the other. Keyboards are famous for producing a combination of different sounds and can also imitate the sound produced by other musical instruments.

Singing Tips for Singers

1. Learn to recognize pitch: The best way to do this is to sing along with a piano or keyboard, if you have one. Press down on a key, and as it rings out, match your voice to it with an "ah" sound. Do this for every musical note: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, G, and G#. The sharp notes are the black keys on the piano to the right of the corresponding note.
2. Practice singing daily: The more you sing, the stronger your voice becomes. Though everybody has a natural range in which they can sing, you can actually expand the upper and lower limits of your vocal range over time simply by practicing often and doing your exercises.
3. Drink enough water.: No matter how great of a singer you are, you won't sound good if you're dehydrated. You should drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Don't drink too much alcohol or caffeine because these substances dehydrate you. Also, don’t eat sweet or dairy product before singing as it forms excess mucus in your throat making Singing difficult.
4. Pushing your voice by singing too loud, too high, or for too long can damage your vocal chords. Stop singing if your throat starts to feel sore, if you experience any pain, or if your voice becomes hoarse.

Building a Simple Recording Studio for Beginners by Devs Music.

All The Reasons For Playing Musical Instruments by Devs Music.

In this article we will look at some reasons for playing musical instruments. Learning to play a musical instrument can offer many benefits, if you really want to learn how to do something in your lifetime, then you should think about learning to play a musical instrument.

Let's look at some reasons for playing Musical instruments

Learning Musical instrument helps Singers big time

Every Singer / Vocalist should learn atleast one instrument be it Guitar or Piano or Violin. It helps the Singer develop good sense of SurTaal and also provides a great support through accompaniment to the Singer. Singer can practice all his songs while using the instrument to accompany his/her singing.

You can become smarter

Studies have shown that those that play a musical instrument in school, do better with their studies than those who do not. It is said that playing musical instruments has a therapeutic effect on the brain. By playing musical instruments from a young age, they develop ones reading skills, a child's ability to learn, and they also raise the child's IQ. Adults can benefit also because it makes one able to focus better resulting in effects such as more mental focus and improved memory.

Learn Discipline

Many people who play music are much disciplined. You have to be disciplined in order to master the instrument you are playing. You need to set aside time each day to practice, practice, and further practice. While many people goof around watching TV and Gossiping, you have to set that time aside to practice on your chosen instrument.

Instruments relive stress

When you hear soft soothing music, it can de stress many people. We all need days when we need to just sit and soothe our minds. Life can be hectic and stressful. Playing an instrument can relax you by calming the mind.

A sense of achievement

If you're new to playing a musical instrument, getting your first piece right can be very frustrating. However, once you achieve this, you can have an overwhelming feeling of achievement and satisfaction.

Playing musical instruments is fun

Playing an instrument can be very hard work, but most people who play will tell you that playing an instrument is a whole lot of fun. Once you get better playing your chosen musical instrument, you will be able to demonstrate what you have learn to families and friends.

You may even choose to go further with your skills and aim for playing musical instruments at a professional level. Playing musical instruments opens up many possibilities which can only be a positive thing. We are sure that by learning to play a musical instrument, your life can only be enriched.

Some information for Singing Students - Bollywood Batch / General Batch

"Ragas are born from Thaats - so what are Thaats?" Thaats are like sets of a particular notes. From each of these Thaats are born 100s of Ragas which have all the primary qualities of the Thaat it is derived from.

In Hindustani Classical music there are 10 Thaats. 10 - Thaats - Bilawal Thaat / Khamaj Thaat / Kafi Thaat / Asawari Thaat / Bhairavi Thaat / Bhairav Thaat / Marwa Thaat / Poorvi Thaat / Todi Thaat and Yaman Kalyan Thaat.

For example Raga Bhoop (also known as Bhupali Raga)  is derived from Kalyan Thaat. So it will only have the notes from Thaat Kalyan, any note than dosent belong to Thaat Kalyan will not be present in Bhoop Raga.

By the way Thaat Kalyan = s r g M p d n s' M - Tivra Ma and remaining swars are shuddha swaras So any Raga coming from Thaat Kalyan will have some or all of these notes only no other notes (there are exceptions though like Mishra ragas but we will not discuss that right now) 'Bhoop' Raga has s r g p d s' notes. These notes are taken from Thaat Kalyan.

Some Ragas have 5 Notes - Pentatonic or Audav Raga Some Ragas have 6 Notes - Shadav Ragas Some Ragas have all 7 notes of Thaat - Sampoorna Ragas. 'Bhoop' Raga is a pentatonic Raga as it is made of 5 notes.

Some Ragas are Seasonal (meant to be sung in particular Season) Ragas have a particular samay when it is supposed to be sung. Like Bhoop Raga is a night time Raga.

All ragas are forms of expressions of different Rasa's from the Navras.. which has different ras such as Karuna Ras, Vir Ras etc showing emotions and expressions. For example Bhoop Raga demonstrates Bhakti Ras.

Ragas are basically a structure of notes with certain rules. They can only be sung when we sing a song composed using those Raga notes and rules. These songs composed in the ancient time are called as Bandishes / Taranaas.

If you find difficult to sing Bandish or Taranaa at the start follow the given plan -

1 - First practice Singing Aaroh and Avaroh of each Raga. For example for Bhoop Raga the Aaroh is s r g p d s' and avaroh is s' d p g r s.

2 - Then start listening to film songs composed in that Raga and practice singing it. For example songs like Main Jahan Rahu from Namastey London or Dekha ek khwaab to hai -Silsila or Dil hun hun Re - Rudaali for female singers or the famous Jagjit Singh bhajan "hey govind hey gopal" There are also different taals like teentaal Dadra etc to be used when singing Bandish we will discuss this later. Hope you are not bored by now. But it is important to know the Hindustani Classical Music structure so then you can imagine its complexity and why it takes 10 years to study I would say even 10% of it.

Regards Singing Department Devs Music.

A Good Music Teacher Will Never Go Hungry! By Devs Music.

Actually I should put this article on teachers day, but anyway here it is. If you are a musician, and interested in teaching, then you will never go hungry! There is always a want for teachers - people will always want to learn music and need the guidance of someone else... you! Ask one hundred random people, and chances are that the large... majority will have an interest in singing, or playing some sort of musical instrument. Whether they enjoy singing, or playing, once you ask a little deeper you'll find that a large percentage of this number have at some stage sought the guidance of a tutor. While the music industry booms, so will the need for tutors. Some people will always aspire to recreate the sounds that they love to hear, others enjoy the relaxation that playing can bring, and some even aim to write their own number one hit. Tutors will always be needed to help get wannabe musicians rocking. There's another reason why savvy tutors will always find employment and a comfortable income. They know that the process of learning a musical instrument helps a growing child realize a few of life's lessons - practice really does make perfect, and like the date of a recital, a deadline always needs to be planned towards and constant action taken to completing the assignment well, and on time. Mindful parents are also aware of this, and if they're not, they probably soon will be as the wise tutor advises about the positive benefits of learning the discipline to work at something. The instrument may be slightly irrelevant in the long run, but the lessons learned are completely transferable. It is possible to earn a good living from doing something as enjoyable as teaching. Devs Music wishes all the best to all starting out in this rewarding profession. Regards Devs Music.

Music for Babies by Devs Music

Here I will like to discuss a topic normally not discussed. The role Music can play in babies growing up. You've probably seen videos and CDs for babies. There are some theories that soothing relaxing music can make your baby smarter, and exposing your baby to music is part of what we do to introduce them to all the sights and sounds of their world.

Music can definitely help calm your baby down and put him in a restful state at bedtime or nap time. What are some good choices for a baby? Songs which have a innocent and soft feel to it, something like ‘Sawali Si Raat’ from Barfi is a good example of a soothing relaxing song. Almost anything you love or use for relaxation is good for a baby too.

When your baby's awake, there are lots of nursery rhymes or music from kids' movies that can stimulate his senses. This is a great time for you to explore soft music, if it's not already part of your life. The same music that's helping your baby get to sleep can help soothe your own nerves and provide a wonderful time of bonding and restfulness for you and your baby together. 

Tips and Articles for Musicians by Devs Music

Jobs in Music Field by Devs Music.

Music as a Career You may have heard that music jobs are almost impossible to find, especially if you're young and just starting out. While it may be true that few aspiring musicians will reach the top of the charts, there are hundreds of thousands of music jobs available. Some are for performers, some for teachers, and some for support staff for musicians and performers. Musicians and others in the music industry may work in production, performance, promotion, and education - even medicine (Music Therapist).

To start out lets look at few of the Jobs for Musicians

A Staff Composer works for a record or media company and composes songs for the artists signed by the label.

A Freelance Composer composes and markets his or her own songs. Your hours are your own, but you'll have to work a lot of them to get your songs heard.

A Lyricist writes just the words to songs. He may team up with a composer, or be teamed up with one by a music production company.

A Jingle Writer writes those catchy ads that you hear on the television and radio - you know the ones that get stuck in your head for days. A jingle writer may not become a famous household name - but he or she will always find work.

A Music Publisher finds and acquires the copyrights to songs with the intent of licensing or selling them to record companies and musicians.

A Copyright/Licensing Administrator manages the licensing and copyrights for a music publishing company.

A Music Editor works closely with the composer to document, organize and time cues for the musicians in a project.

A Notesetter transcribes music from audio to the sheet page. This is found less in India.

Article to be Continued tomorrow.

Important Tip Regarding Your Music Practice

The quality of your practice is much more important than the quantity. The old saying "Practice makes Perfect" is only true if the Practice itself is Perfect. Here is a tip to Better Quality Practice

Practice Motions slowly The muscular memory of our bodies allows us to physically carry out patterns of motion with little or no conscious involvement. Examples of muscular memory include walking, riding a bicycle, typing, and of course playing a musical instrument.

In order to develop this memory, the muscles require training in the form of repeated conscious guidance from the mind. First the mind must learn the pattern. Then the mind must "teach" the pattern to the muscles.

The mind initially must control all the motions of the muscles. The more controlled and precise the motions, the more quickly the muscles will develop muscle memory.

Slow practice also allows the mind to teach "antagonistic muscles" to relax. Antagonistic muscles are those that move in opposite directions. By relaxing antagonistic muscles you can reduce tension and facilitate faster and easier performance and avoid potential injury.

Importance of Music in our lives

Music is a very important part of our lives. It does a lot more than just please our ears - it is an integral part of human development.

Several years ago, there was an experiment done by scientists at the University of California at Irvine in 1993. (published in the journal Nature) They had college students listen to Mozart Sonata for two Pianos in D Major, a relaxation tape or silence. Immediately after these sessions, the students took a spatial reasoning test (the ability to put together puzzles) and the students' scores improved drastically after listening to the Music. The reason is because music and spatial abilities share the same pathways in the brain.

3 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Music Lessons

Whether you are using a book, video, a real live human, or online lessons, keep these pointers in mind in order to get the most out of your studies.

1. Complete and master each section before moving on to the next. As you work through your studies make sure you have each new technique or idea conquered before moving on to the next. Lessons are planned to build upon each other and trying to rush through without fully understanding one will just lead to frustration and wasted effort.

2. Study as if you were in school. Do some homework every night. If all you have is 15 minutes then use those 15 minutes. If you don't have time to read/watch and apply then do the application of your last lesson or drills such as scales and chords. Reading/watching and not having the opportunity to apply immediately will usually mean you have to relearn your lesson. Take notes. Especially if you're watching a video or working with a human. Also don't be afraid to write all over your workbooks and sheet music.

3. Apply what you've learned: Play for others. Nothing drives a music lesson home better than a recital. It will also magnify what you need to work on.

Summary:

Maximize your practice time so you will quickly advance at your chosen instrument.

3 Steps to Performing comfortably in front of a Crowd 

Most people are not comfortable performing in front people. When I say of performing, such as an instrument, or singing, or acting, I mean more than just knowing how to do well at your chosen craft, I mean doing it well and in front of people. It's the "in front of people" part that gets us every time. How many of us sing like a bird in the shower but then when people are watching we can't carry a note. Here are three steps to start you on the road to comfort (never complete) when called on to shine.

1. Don't neglect to practice. Whether you sing or play an instrument practice is the key to being relaxed. The more familiar you are with what you are performing, the less anxiety you will have about messing up.

2. Don't back up. If you mess up in the middle, or any place in your piece, don't back up and keep going. Chances are your audience didn't even notice.

3. Try not to be critical of your Musical skill. Focus more on your overall performance. How does it sound as a whole? If you're a Singer and you worry about how you are sounding then you're ignoring the song and not singing from the heart. Worry about the technicalities when you do your Practice, not when you are performing. When performing give full attention to just enjoying the song. Best of the best award winning singers have messed up on stage during a live performance…check youtube for samples. How they keep it going no matter what, because remember you only mess up for 10 % of the performance at the most, but focus on the 90% Performance which is flawless.

With time playing in front of and for other people will come much easier. You'll be a natural. So Grab every opportunity to show your stuff!

Summary: Use these steps to make yourself at ease while playing in front of others.

Regards 

Devs Music.

16^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn different rhythms. Reggae is a popular one to learn in western music.

15^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn a blues scale and then learn how to improvise with it.

14^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Practice at a steady pace. Always begin learning any new technique or song very slowly, making sure your fingering and strumming is correct. Then gradually work up the speed.

13^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Train your ear. Nobody is born with a musical ear; training your ear is the only way you can develop one. The benefits of ear training are immense. You will be able to hear chord progressions and solos and play them back note for note by ear.

12^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

General knowledge is about knowing the history of the music you are playing, from its very beginning to its present day. Reading biographies of the performers is also interesting. Knowing about the leading artists and having a good working knowledge of their different styles will enhance your guitar playing.

11^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

The study of musical theory can be helpful. It enables you to understand how chords are build, how to compose and arrange, how to transpose and how to write music out by hand.

10^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Visit guitar stores in your city. You will come across an amazing variety of books. You may even buy some books that are too advanced for you at this stage but stash them away for later.

9^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Get something to record yourself with. This will give you some direct feedback. Most computers usually have some basic recording capacity. And remember don’t be too critical about what you hear, think about what you like and what you don’t like and how you can improve your playing to fix it.

8^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Store your guitar in a safe place. If you don’t have a stand keep it in it’s case. Preferably in an area that stays at room temperature. Drastic changes in temperature can warp a guitar (It is made of wood after all).

7^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn to play with a pick as well as your fingers.

6^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn new strumming patterns, there are millions!

5^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Pay attention to your strumming hand once in awhile! Most guitar players spend way to much time focusing on their fretting hand.

4^th Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Care for your instrument properly, change the strings when they are worn out.

3^rd Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Keep time or practice against a metronome. You can also tap your foot.

2^nd Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

If you are having problems, try slowing down. A great guitarist once said, “The slower you go, the faster you will get there”.

1st Oct 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Practice consistently. Try for at the very least 45 minutes every 2 days. If you can do more, than by all means practice more

30th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST 

If you hate scales then learn songs, and when you have trouble with certain riffs or chord progressions just keep repeating them over and over, at least 80 to 100 times. This will help your brain and body to remember the skill until it becomes second nature.

29th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn new songs. Don’t stay in one place, if you stay stagnant your guitar playing will stay stagnant.

28th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Experiment with different guitars. People come in different shapes and sizes, and so do guitars. Find the one that’s comfortable for you.

27th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn a new chord every day. There are 1000s of chords which have never been used in any song. Imagine how much new music can be created by using these never before used chords.

26^th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

If you find a song you like, instead of searching for the song on Google, try first to figure it out yourself. Use trial and error, if you do this enough your ear will improve over time and you will be amazed at how fast you can tab a song.

25^th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Take up another musical instrument, there is always cross over whether it be piano or a harmonic, your ear and improvisation will improve.

24th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Learn as much as you can about different chord progressions.

23^rd Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

Let's say you found a lick you are fond of. In order to be able to use it in any song, you'll have to transpose the lick in several scales until you get used to it. Another thing is to play the lick in different rhythms.

22^nd Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

PIANIST

First of all, learn your music theory. It's the least fun part of learning to play the piano by ear, but gaining an understanding theory, even to a modest degree, is what makes the difference between a session player and amateur player. Without an understanding of basic music theory one would never get across as a pianist or recording artist.

21^st Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

PIANIST

Try to touch the piano keys lightly and gently. If your fingers are rigid, stiff, with the anxiety of trying to get the right notes at the right time, it will be much more difficult to get it right. A relaxed hand is much easier to get the fingers at the right place at the right time.

20^th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

VIOLINIST

Violin Tuner Metronomes - One of the big challenges as a violin beginner is to play in tune and in rhythm. Getting a metronome goes a long way toward learning to count rhythms accurately and stay in time. Many metronomes also come with a built-in violin tuner which makes it easy to tune on the fly

19^th Sep 2013 – Tip of the Day

VIOLINIST

Each practice session should begin by limbering up and strengthening your fingers through scales, exercises, arpeggios, or trills.

15th Sep 2013 - Tip of the Day

EVERY MUSICIAN

Never stop learning. The value you gain as a musician grows exponentially with the more you know about your instrument. Always continue to challenge yourself and learn new things. Learn a new chord every week, or a new scale or lick. Learn how to play blues, then learn to play jazz. Learn some new songs. Just learn something new all the time. It will make you a much better musician in the long run.

14th Sep 2013 - Tip of the Day

GUITARIST

If you take care of your instrument properly, change the strings when they are worn out. 

13th Sep 2013 - Tip of the Day

VIOLINIST

Consider plucking the strings with your right hand fingers or using the bow. This projects different dynamics out of the instrument and creates either staccato notes or long sustained notes effect.

11th Sep 2013 - Tip of the Day

VIOLINIST

You have to get the right size Violin that is suitable for you. If the Violin is either to small or big you may struggle to play the instrument properly and getting the right sound is extremely important.  So the sizes from smallest to largest are 1/32, 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and finally the full size violin 4/4. This is the size 4/4 Violin which we give to Devs Music Violin students free with the course.

10th Sep 2013 - Tip of the Day 

VIOLINIST

The Violin is simply an extraordinary instrument with just four strings: G, D, A and E. An important factor when you start to learn to play Violin is learning how to hold the instrument properly. If you don’t the sound projected will not sound right at all. So, first of all you do is pick the Violin up by the neck with the F holes facing away from you so you should only see the back of the Violin. You then place the violin on your left-hand shoulder and rest your chin on the chinrest. When you first begin learning to play the violin you can practice ‘balancing’ the violin by just resting it on your left hand shoulder and your chin resting on the chin rest. Take care not to hunch your shoulders whilst doing this. It can easily happen but try to avoid it. The violin will balance.

 

Join the Most Economical and the Most Productive Sound Engineering courses in Pune.

Devs Music Academy

Devs Music Academy offers a variety of music courses in Pune such as Guitar classes in Pune, Casio classes in Pune, Drums classes in Pune, Flute classes in Pune, Violin classes in Pune, Mouthorgan Classes in Pune, Mandolin classes in Pune, Tabla classes in Pune, Hindustani Classical Vocals Singing classes in Pune, Western Singing classes in Pune, Dance classes in Pune, Salsa classes in Pune, Acting classes in Pune, Saxophone classes in Pune, Drawing and Painting classes in Pune and some Professional courses such as DJ Mixing courses in Pune, Sound Engineering courses in Pune, Photography courses in Pune, Music Therapy courses and Music Management courses in Pune. Devs Music is an expert in teaching music composition, guitar scales, piano scales, guitar chords, piano chords, jazz etc.

Devs Music has been teaching music since 1996.