Indian Classical Music - Ragas - Music Therapy - Voice Production

Traditions or Gharana system play an essential role in Indian Classical music. Tradition refers to Gharanas of music or the stylization of singing. Here is how Gharanas are conceptualized: Its like a person who is known as Kaushik , sings and his style, note-treatment, raga-treatment, techniques of voice production becomes popular and liked by everyone. That style or ' gayaki ' is picked up and imitated by many musicians including his disciples, siblings and kids. When 50 people assemble to sing and share a specific common style, which is exclusive, popularized and appreciated by the masses, the style is eventually called ' Kaushik Gharana'. Though there is no Gharana as such. Moreover, Gharana are nomenclated by the places from where the musician  and their descendants belong to, such as  Agra Gharana, Delhi Gharana, Patiala, Bhindibazaar, Rampur-Seheswan, Atrauli, Gwalior, Kirana, Mewati, Jaipur. As you observe Gharana names are based on the places where the root mu

Out of the blue, while vocalizing natural note-phrases for a long time, you are asked to sing the Re-Komal that is Re-Flat. Now that's the puzzling, tension-some era. More than 90% of my beginner students, or even amateurs get the jimjams and go wrong, out of tune, when asked to switch from natural notes to Komal . And why not? this is one of the most reasonable and possibly appropriate timings to get puzzled especially when you have started randomly without pondering over it for a few seconds. Normally, flat or komal denotes dull, faded version of the notes. Sharp or teevr denotes dominating or acute, ready to invade. Komal is the Hindi word for 'soft' and teevr refers to 't ez ' or clever. Thus, the first step is to perceive and grasp these terms clearly by imaging them as the meaning indicates. The proper sequence of the 12 notes in a chromatic scale or in the realm of 22 shrutis are:  S   re   R   ga   G  M   ma'   P   dha   DH     ni   NI

Let’s go a little deeper into the field of music, beyond just singing, listening, playing and composing. Music is much more than what we consider. At times, it can be synonymized as ‘Memory’. Recent music therapy researches have proved that indulging in any music improves memory, retention and grasp. Longer period of listening or playing music resonates the brain’s cortical and sub cortical areas and make us recall the past knowledge clearly. With reference to these researches, The valley manor care unit of Montrose recently introduced a memory care unit called ‘iPod program’ or music therapy program, where the music is heard 24 into 7. Amazing results have been noticed among the patients as explained by their attendants.   "It's therapeutic music for them," says Memory Care Specialist, Brandi Garcia. "It has therapeutic purpose and it ties those early childhood memories to the resident. So often we see these resident blossom. It's absolutely amazing

"A child loves lively music, because the rapidity of the notes gives the mind no chance to wander. A man who likes common music dislikes classical music because it is more complicated and requires a greater degree of concentration to follow it."                                                                                                      - Swami Vivekananda Pure attributes and knowledge come over hand in hand when one is focused. One of the most popular spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda is an appropriate example. We often read about his quotes, preaching, visit to Chicago, his Knowledge in Vedanta, sciences, etc. But did we know that he was a great musician too? probably not. Obviously, when the mind is pure and concentrated, it's ready to get delve deep into wherever directed vigorously.  As a Bengali sapoot , that too in Kolkata, Swami Ji not only inherited the musical background from his parents but also conceptualized in his life by taking

क्या हम वाकई स्वतंत्र हैं ? सहसा ही  मन दहल गया  जब कड़वे स्वप्न का  बहाव, ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य के भीतर प्रवेश हुआ.। मैंने देखा की मैं अपने परिवार के साथ एक पिक्चर देखने गयी हिंदी पिक्चर तो भूल ही जाओ, अंग्रेज़ी पिक्चर क टिकट लिया, की अचानक एक अँगरेज़ ने "ब्लडी इंडियंस" बोलकर पीछे की कतार तक धक्का दिया। काली, खटमल और काक्रोच वाली ज़मीन पर, मुँह उचका उचकाकर अपने साथ इंसाफ किया इस शर्त पर की बीच बीच में,  अंग्रेज़ी मेमों के पिल्लों की पॉटी साफ़  किया । सहसा नम आँख खुली जब उठकर सभी देशभक्तों के  चित्र सहेजने लगी, भगत सिंह, बोसे, पटेल, आज़ाद जिनकी भी हाथ आई उसे प्रणाम कर के चूमने लगी। अचानक इस बात का एहसास हुआ,  वे महानुभाव  हमारे लिया क्या कर गए, वे इंसान के रूप में भगवान या भगवान के रूप में इंसान थे  जो हमे खुली हवा, नयी सांस प्रदान कर गए। पर क्या तनिक भी  हम इस बात के  महत्व पहचानते हैं? हम तो केवल विदेशी सभ्यता,  वहां की सोच, ऐशो-आराम, यही सराहते हैं। जिस सभ्यता के पीछे आज हम भागते हैं,  ६८ साल पहले उसी से तो बचाये गए थे आज जिस भारत देश छोड़ हम विदेश