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Madhur School of Music (MSM)

Madhur School of Music (MSM)

Experts in Hindustani Classical Music Training (In-Person and Remote)

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Contact Seema Ji : sima_bhat@yahoo.com

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Madhur School of Music (MSM)

Music Theory

You are here: Home » Music Theory
Topics
7 Best habits
Alankar Practice
Meend
Music Ornaments
Topics

MSM schedules regular music theory classes to introduce practice tips to master the music.

Below are the topics and contents in subsequent tabs:

1) 7 best habits to become an accomplished singer

2) How to practice swar sthaan through creating basic alankars

3) How to practice meend

4) How to practice music ornaments (murki, karn, khatka)

5) Technical Analysis of Vaadi-Swar (will cover next class)

7 Best habits

7 Best Habits to become an accomplished singer

 

  • Most importantly done to be self satisfied with one’s own singing – keeping track of scale, range, training the ear to listen to oneself, practicing correctly, etc.

  • To practice in one’s range, not to sing so much in lower mandra saptak that your voice doesn’t open up. Not to sing in very high notes, to bring falsetto in voice, to strain the voice. Start with practicing from lower Ma to higher Ma. Go slow because voice audit is important.

  • Eating and Drinking habits: Cold food and drinks and smoking and drinking affects voice in the long term. Wake up and drink lukewarm water. 5 glasses of lukewarm water in a day.

  • Practice with concentration. Practice doesn’t make you perfect- perfect practice will make you perfect. All your senses must be in sync with practice. Concentration is very important. Riyaz is like a bitter medicine. If you practice with concentration, you will notice permanent improvement.

  • Training your ears: Before you become Tan Sen become Kan Sen! 50% learning is listening, versatility is important so listening to different singers have a basic understanding of correct music. If you can hear correctly you can understand and apply. Keep recording your practices to correct yourself.

  • Learn forever: (your entire life). Nobody can say I know it all, Tan Sen saab said “‘Il be happy if I can learn a drop from the ocean of music”. To teach learn, to learn I learn. Whatever information I receive I practically apply.

  • Stick to basics: Riyaz of Sa and slow notes are vital. Alankars, swar alaap, swar sthaan, sapaat taan, basic bandish and taan. Create alankars in Raaga and practice sargam. 

Alankar Practice

How to practice basic alankars, creating different patterns to improve and establish swar sthaan ?

Let’s take a basic one:

a.

  • SRG, RGM, GMP, MPD, PDN, DNS

  • SND, NDP, DPM, PMG, MGR, GRS

b.

  • GRS, MGR, PMG, DPM, NDP, SND, RSN, GRS

  • DNS, PDN, MPD, GMP, RGM, SRG, NSR, DNS

c.

  • SGR, RMG, GPM, MDP, PND, DSN, NRS

  • SDN, NPD, DMP, PGM, MRG, GSR, RNS

d.

  • RGS, GMR, MPG, PDM, DNP, NSD, SRN, RGS

  • NDS, DPN, PMD, MGP, GRM, RSG, SNR, NDS

e.

  • RSG, GRM, MGP, PMD, DPN, NDS

  • NSD, DNP, PDM, MPG, GMR, RGS

f.

  • SRMP, RGPD, GMDN, MPNS

  • SNPM, NDMG, DPGR, PMRS

Meend

3) How to practice Meend ?

Murki is an ornamentation of a single note with multiple notes around it. It adds depth and beauty to your singing.

When we add 1 note on top of another note it is called Karna

Ex: NRG RS, GRS, NSG MGR

When we add 2+ notes on top of 1 note it takes the shape of a Murki. This is used mostly in light classical music.

Ex: M →P, M → D, M^PAD^N →N

To give ornament of a push or jhatka to 1 note with other notes is called Khatka

Ex: SRSS→ MGMGM → NDP> MGRGMP

Murki – Riyaz

Meend is going from one swar to another swar, touching the connecting note and not staying on the connecting notes. In western music, it’s called slur. It’s an ornament that helps to increase tonal audibility and beautify a voice.

S→R

S→G

Hamko man ki shakthi dena

Exercises: First in swar and then in aakar

Exercise I

A. S →R →S (1,7)

B.S →G→S(2,6)

C. S → M →S(3,5)

D. S → P→S(4,4)

E. S →D→S(5,3)

F.S→N→S(6,2)

G.S →S→S(7,1)

Exercise ll

A. S →R→S(1, 8)

B. R→ G →R (2,7)

C.G → M → G (3,6)

D. M → P → M (4,5)

E. P →D→ P(5,4)

F. D →N →D (6,3)

G. N→S→N(7,2)

H.S →R→S (8,1)

Exercise lll

A. S →R (1, 7)

B. S→G (2,6)

C. S→M (3, 5)

D. S →P (4, 4)

E. S → D (5, 3)

F. S→N (6, 2)

G. S→S (7, 1)

Exercise IV

S- M – MP – P→ MDP → M

S- PD – MG

Meend Examples:

• In Bhairav

  • PDN → M, MPD -→ G, GMP →R, ↑ DP

  • GMDNDND → RS, RS → DP, PD→ RGR, GR -→ S → Dp

• In Kedar

  • NSM →P, M → P→D→N→D→P

  • NPDPM → SRS → SRSMP, MPs → DP

 

There should be accuracy with no flatness. Practic in Dadra and then increase tempo.

Exercise ll

SRGM MGRS

 M        S

RGMP PMGR

 P         R

GMPD DPMG

 D         G

MPDN NDPM

N         M

PDNS SNDP

S         P

DNSR RSND

R        D

NSRG GRSN

G         N

SRGM MGRS

M         S

Exercise lll

SGRS RMGR GPMG MDPM PNDP DSND NRSN SGRS

S         R         G         M          P        D        N          S

Now do lll in Bhairav.

Now do Ill in Kaafi

Exercise IV

SGRMGPMGR

R

RMGPMDPMG

G

GPMDPNDPM

M

MDPNDSNDP

P

PNDSNRSND

D

DSNRSGRSN

N

NRSGRMGRS

S

 
Music Ornaments

4) How to practice music ornaments ?

Murki is an ornamentation of a single note with multiple notes around it. It adds depth and beauty to your singing.

When we add 1 note on top of another note it is called Karna

Ex: NRG RS, GRS, NSG MGR

When we add 2+ notes on top of 1 note it takes the shape of a Murki. This is used mostly in light classical music.

Ex: M →P, M → D, M^PAD^N →N

To give ornament of a push or jhatka to 1 note with other notes is called Khatka

Ex: SRSS→ MGMGM → NDP> MGRGMP

Murki – Riyaz

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About Seema ji

About Seema ji

Background After spending 20 wonderful years of my married life being a home maker, enjoying and being part of my husband’s successful career, raising two charming boys and having a great family life, I decided to finally follow my passion. Having

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