Vocal Lessons

Prarambhik

Start your journey in Hindustani classical music with our comprehensive beginner's course

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of Hindustani classical music. Key concepts such as swar, raag, and taal are covered, with an expectation that students will learn all eight thaats.

Course content:

• Swar - Students begin by learning the shuddha swars through simple alankaars.

• Raag - The course familiarizes students with all the Thaats and one Raag from each Thaat. Students learn the aaroha-avaroha of the raag, along with a bandish. Additionally, theoretical aspects of the raag, such as vaadi-samvaadi, jaati, and the appropriate time of day for performance, are discussed.

• Taal - Basic taals are introduced.

• Theory - The course includes some definitions of key music terminology such as sangeet, swar, taal, sam, maatraa, taali, vaadi-samvaadi, and aaroha-avroha.
  

Praveshika Pratham

Create your strong base on which you can build your music skills

In this level the student is expected to develop their presentation skills and be able to perform a raag for around five minutes by the end of this course.

Course Content:

• Raag - Durga, Kafi, Khamaj, Bhimpalasi, Bageshree, Bhupali, Desh, Kalyan.

• Taal - Dadra, Keharwa, Choutaal

• Theory - Music terminology such as khanda, mel, dhwani, aavartan, chhota khyal, sthaayi-antara, shuddha, komal and teevra swar, etc. will be covered.

• Student will learn to sing Vande Maataram and Jana Gana Mana (National Anthems of India).
  

Praveshika Purna

Get aquainted with the tanpura, which would become your friend for life!

As the student’s familiarity with Indian classical music progresses, he/she will be exposed to the use of the tanpura in the presentation of music.

Course content:

• Raag - Ten more raags are taught in this course: Bihag, Kedar, Sarang, Tilak Kamod, Bhairav, Tilang, Asavari, Bhairavi, and Alhaiya Bilawal. They will learn two bada khayals in Bhupali and Yaman.

• Taal - Vilambit lay of taal will be introduced.

• Theory - The student will be expected to know definitions of terms like ansh, nyaas, kan-swar, lom-anulom-vilom-pratilom, anuvaadi-vivaadi, shruti, janak raag-janya raag, meend, gamak, etc. This course will teach the student the two notation styles of North Indian classical music, i.e. the Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar method and the Pt. Bhatkhande method. Learning about the life and work of Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar is also an important feature of this course.

Madhyama Pratham

Letting go of the harmonium...

Course content:

• Swar - Recognize Shuddha, Vikrut, Mishrit swar combinations and sign written notated swar. Sing kan-swar, khatka, murkee, use meend in alaap, sing alankaar and use them in expansion of a raga.

• Raag - One vilambit and one drut khyaal in following ragas: Bhupali, Kalyan, Bageshri, Bihaag. Learn to sing a madhyalay bandish in following ragas with aalaap taan for seven minutes: Jaunpuri, Malkauns, Hameer, Patadeep, Tilang, Deskaar, Kaalingadaa.

• Taal - Jhumraa, Vilambit Ektaal, Tilvaadaa, Dhamaar, Sooltaal

• Theory - Student will also be taught to write the bols of the taals learnt, both in single tempo as well as dugun (double tempo). Also, the student should be able to write the notation of the drut bandish as well as the dhrupad in double tempo. This course also provides detailed information about dhrupad, dhamaar, vilambit khyaal, chhota khyaal, bhajan, etc. Few more biographies are covered.

Madhyama Purna

Gaining the basic competency in overall understanding of music

Course content:

• Swar - Learn to tune real acoustic tanpura. Practice to sing taan properly. Acquire ability to improvise a raag appropriately. Also learn to perform accurate form of a raag.

• Raag - Learn to sing vilambit khyaal and drut khyaal, and improvise each raag for fifteen minutes for following: Bhimpalasi, Vrindavani Sarang, Kedaar, Jaunpuri, Malkauns, Bhairav. Learn to perform one bandish in medium tempo in each of the following raag with aalaap taan: Shankara, 2. Jaijaivanti, GaudSarang, Puriyaa Dhanaashree, Kamod, Chayanat

• Theory - Introduction to (basic knowledge): modern and ancient characteristics of raag, Jaatigaayan, Sanyaas, Vinyaas, Apanyaas, Alpatva – Bahutva, Aavirbhaav – Tirobhaav, Gaayakee – Naayakee. Biographies of few musicians and scholars.

Visharad Pratham

Gaining the basic competency in overall understanding of music

Course content:

• Raag - Vilambit khyaal and drut khyaal for: Gaud Sarang, Shankara, Jaijaivanti, Puriyadhanashri, Hameer, Kamod. Learn following new raagas: Miyan Malhaar, Multani, Maru Bihag, Puriya, Shuddha Kalyan, Darbari Kanada, Bahar

• Taal - Adachoutaal, Deepchandi, Addhaa (Teentaal), Dhumaalee, Chaachar or Jhaptaal

• Theory - Biographies of few musicians and scholars, taal paddhati, "samay chakra' of raagas.

Visharad Purna

Master the art of music, proficiency in Raags, instrument tuning and performance styles

Course content:

• Raag - Detailed study of: Miya Malhaar, Multani, Maru Bihag, Puriya, Shuddha Kalyan, Darbari Kanada. Learn new raagas: Vibhaas, Lalit, Todi, Basant, Sohni, Hindol, Marwa

• Taal - Proficiency in all taals learnt thus far.

Course content:

• Raag - Detailed study of: Miya Malhaar, Multani, Maru Bihag, Puriya, Shuddha Kalyan, Darbari Kanada. Learn new raagas: Vibhaas, Lalit, Todi, Basant, Sohni, Hindol, Marwa

• Taal - Proficiency in all taals learnt thus far.