Learn Singing

Sessions Overview

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Why Sing

• Human voice is one of the most wonderful musical Instruments capable of producing rich musical tones and endless Pitches… and the best thing is it comes absolutely free.

• Singing has strong positive impact on health based on numerous researches• It involves deep breathing, which is good for the nervous system• Great way to work out – singing as aerobic exercise increases oxygen levels in

the blood• Improves posture and tones tummy muscles.• Reduces stress levels and blood pressure.

• Vocalizing helps in Ear Training and developing overall musicality

Singing - Essential to every Human Being

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Course Objectives

• The course is targeted for people with little or no background in Singing

• Includes introduction to fundamental music concepts required for Singing

• References and examples are drawn from Indian and Western Styles, largely focussing on common elements

• Aimed to instil love for Music, especially Singing

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Contents

Session 1 Overview of Music Scales and NotesSinging Scales and Notes with different Styles

Session 2 Identifying your Vocal RangeIdentifying favourite Songs suited to Voice

Session 3 Singing Various Note Patterns - Alankaars

Session 4 Singing across Octaves

Session 5 Singing with Pauses

Session 6 Singing in Rhythm

Session 7 Singing in different Scales

Session 8 Song Structure and Arrangement

Session 9 Taal Kaherwa

Session 10 Expressive Singing

Session 11 Singing in Public

Session 12 Preparing for Performance Next Steps

Session 1

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Overview of Music Scales and Notes

Preparation to Sing - Breathing Exercises, Omkar

Singing Single Note with different Styles

Singing all Notes in a Diatonic Scale

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Notes on Musical Scales

• Musical Note is a sound of constant Pitch / Frequency

• Musical Scale consists of Notes with defined Pitch distances

• In a commonly used ‘Equal Tempered’ scale, the Notes are divided into 12 equal steps

• Each Step is referred to as a Semitone (S) and 2 steps as Tone (T)

• Notes with Frequency difference of two times are said to be an Octave apart.

• Note A above middle C with frequency of 440 Hz is used as Tuning Standard in Western Music

Overview

Middle C (C4)

Music Scale shown over 12 Equal Temperaments

T

261.5 Hz

523 Hz

392 Hz

440 Hz

349 HzS

D

E

F

G

A

B

C5

Sa

Re

Ga

Ma

Pa

Dha

Ni

Sa

Indian Swars

Western Notes

Indian Music Western Music

Swar Note

Saptak Octave

Thaat Scale

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Diatonic Music Scale (Bilawal Thaat)

C D E F G A B C

C D E F G A B C

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do

C D E F G A B CGuitar

Piano

Staff Notation

English Notes

Indian Notes

Spanish Notes

Most of the Music systems in the world use Diatonic Scale as the basic framework for musical Compositions which follows same pattern of Pitch distances T T S T T T S

C1

2

3

T

D

E

F

G

A

B

C

4

5

6

7

8

S

Pitch gaps in a Diatonic Scale Diatonic Notes Names in various Music Systems

Sa

Re

Ga

Ma

Pa

Dha

Ni

Sa

T

T

T

T

S

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• Identify selection of songs that you truly enjoy singing almost any time

• Narrow down to 4-5 songs that you would want to focus on during the Vocals learning programme in early days

• Identify, ideally with the help of a teacher, a song that you would like to practice everyday as a warm up routine.

Preparation to Sing

• Breathing exercises to strengthen singing ability

• Find comfortable position

• Inhale deeply for a count of 6

• Hold breadth for count of 6

• Exhale slowly for a count of 12

Breathing Exercises Favourite Song routine

• Take a deep Breath, Relax

• While exhaling slowly from the mouth, sing OM, sounding AUM

• Remember to sing at a consistent comfortable pitch and consistent volume

Singing Om regularly enhances deep breathing pattern and provides nice warm up for the Vocal Chords

Omkar Routine

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Sing a single Note with different styles.

Constant Volume

Increasing Volume

Decreasing Volume

Low High Low Volume

High Low High Volume

• Sing at a consistent pitch – ‘Do’ or ‘Sa’ while changing the volume as shown below

• Choose a comfortable pitch within your Vocal Range (your teacher will help you in this)

• Sing using different sounds – AA, EE, OO, O etc

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Singing Scales

• Now you should try singing various notes in a scale by matching your pitch with a keyboard/piano (or any other pitched instrument).

• You can use either Indian ( sa, re, ga,…) or western notes (do, re, me,…) for singing

• You can also use the practice sound-clips available from Muziclub

Session 2

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Identifying your Vocal Range

Identifying favourite Songs suited to Voice

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Identifying your Vocal Range

C4Middle C

C5 C3 C2 C1 C0 C6 C7 C8

Human Voice

Guitar

Bass Guitar

Violin

Concert Piano

• Every human being or a musical Instrument is capable of producing a limited range of pitches known as Vocal Range. Following diagram shows typical vocal ranges

• During this session we will help you identify your vocal range.

• For this you need to try singing various notes on a keyboard starting with middle C going up and down to identify the highest and lowest note that you can sing comfortably (your teacher will help you in this)

Octave

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Identifying favourite songs for Practice

• While learning to sing its useful to identify simple favourite songs that suit your voice range and quality for practicing

• There are several Voice Characteristics which influence the kind of Songs that you can sing properly and comfortably

• Vocal Range: Total span of ‘musically useful’ pitches that can be produced by a person• Male/Female, Age• Voice Quality/ Timber/ Tone• Voice Type. In western music following are the classifications

• Soprano: C4 – C6• Mezzo-soprano: A3 – A5• Contralto: F3 – F5• Tenor: C3 – C5• Baritone: F2 – F4• Bass: E2 – E4

• Choose few of your favourite songs with following guidelines• Song Notes are within your Vocal Range • Narrow Melodic Range • Medium or slow Temp• Easy memorable lyrics

• Your teacher will help you in making the right selections

Session 3

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Singing various Note Patterns (Alankaars)sa, sa, re, resa, sa, sa, re, re, re

sa, re, re, ga, ga, ma sa, re, sa, re, ga, re

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Singing various Note Patterns

• During this session, we will focus on singing various combinations of notes in the scale as shown below

• These exercises help you to bring ease in singing and make your vocal chords flexible. The more flexibility you get, the faster and clear you can sing.

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Singing various Note Patterns … contd

• Its important to sing notes correctly at the right pitch for these exercises

• You can sing along either with the teacher or while playing these notes on an Instrument. Alternatively you can use practice sound files on Muziclub website

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Singing various Note Patterns – additional exercises

• sa re sa, re ga re, ga ma ga, ma pa ma, pa dha pa,dha ni dha, ni sa`ni, sa` re sa`• sa` re` sa`, ni sa ni,dha ni dha,pa dha pa,ma pa ma,ga ma ga, re ga re,sa re sa

• sa sa sa, re re re, gag a ga, ma ma ma, pa pa pa,dha dha dha, ni ni ni, sa` sa` sa`• sa` sa` sa`, ni ni ni,dha dha dha,pa pa pa,ma ma ma, ga ga ga, re re re, sa sa sa

• sa re, re ga, ga ma, ma pa, pa dha, dha ni, ni sa• sa ni, ni dha, dha pa, pa ma, ma ga,ga re, re sa

• These exercises can be sung using Indian or Western notes (Do, Re, Me etc)

• Like previous exercises, its important that you sing at the right pitch. For this, you can sing along either with the teacher or while playing these notes on an Instrument. Alternatively you can use practice sound files on Muziclub website

Session 4

Singing across Octaves

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Multiple Octaves / Saptaks

• In Indian music, a group of seven Swar (notes) is called Saptak. There are three types of Saptak:• Mandra (lower) Saptak• Madhya (middle) Saptak• Taar (Higher) Saptak

• Mandra Saptak is represented by a dot below the swar. Taar Saptak is represented by a dot above the swar and Madhya Saptak is represented by writing the swar as it is, without dots

Sa

ReGa

MaPa

DhaNi

SaRe

Ga

Ni

Dha

…

…

Madhya Saptak Taar SaptakMandra Saptak

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• In this exercise we have to start singing a sa from Madhya saptak considering it a root note, then we will start adding mandra saptak swaras one by one and keep coming back on the root note. Now we will keep changing the root notes followed by re, ga etc

sa

sa ni sa

sa ni dha ni sa

sa ni dha pa dha ni sa

• ‘Aaroha’ is a series of notes sung in the ascending order of a pitch.• ‘Avaroha’ is a series of notes sung in the descending order of the pitch• Now we will sing combinations which includes Aaroha and Avaroha together.

sa re re sa, re ga ga re, ga ma ma ga, ma pa pa mapa dha dha pa, dha ni ni dha, ni sa sa ni, sa re re sa

Singing across Octaves / Saptaks

Session 5

Singing with Pauses

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• Now we will sing Sa ,RE, Ga, Ma putting the coma (,) in different ways. The sign of coma (,) shows a pause. So we will have to take a little pause where we see a coma (,).

• Sa, Re, Ga, Ma• Sa, Re Ga Ma• Sa Re, Ga Ma• Sa Re Ga, Ma• Sa Re Ga Ma,

Singing with Pauses

• Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa`• Pa, Dha Ni Sa`• Pa Dha, Ni Sa`• Pa, Dha Ni Sa`• Pa Dha Ni Sa`,

• Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa`• Sa Re, Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa• Sa Re Ga Ma, Pa Dha Ni Sa• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha, Ni Sa• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa,

Sa Re Ga Ma

Pa Dha Ni Sa

All Notes

Session 6 Singing in Rhythm

Taal Dadra - 6/8 Rhythm

Singing Alankar in Taal Dadra

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Rhythm / Taal

• Speed or Pace of a given piece• Can affect the mood and

difficulty of a piece.• Usually expressed in Beats per

minute

Tempo

• Rhythm (Taal in Indian music) is regulated succession of strong and weak elements. Its made up of sounds and silences which are put together to form a pattern of sounds which gets repeated in time

• Singing in Rhythm involves singing the right notes/words at the right time for the right duration

Overview

• Basic Unit of time that can be audible

• Also called Beat level• Repeating series of

identical distinct periods known as Bar

Metric Level

Whole note4 Beats

Half note2 Beats

Quarter note1 Beat

Eighth note1/2 Beat

Beat Level Division LevelMultiple Levels

Western Music Indian Music

Rhythm Taal

Tempo Laya

Bar Khand

Beat Matra

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Taal Dadra - 6/8 Time signature

• Matra – 6• Khand – 2• Taali – On 1st• Khali – On 4th

Dadra Taal Structure68

6/8 Time Signature

1 2 3 4 5 6Dha Dhi Na Dha Ti Na

X 0

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Singing Scale Patterns/ Alankars in Taal Dadra

• In this exercise, we will sing notes on Scale in the given pattern over the beats of Taal Dadra as shown in the figures below. This could be done by playing a track of Dadra Taal or 6/8 Time Signature

1 2 3 4 5 6sa re ga re ga ma

X 0

1 2 3 4 5 6ga ma pa ma pa dha

X 0

1 2 3 4 5 6pa dha ni dha ni sa X 0

1 2 3 4 5 6sa ni dha ni dha pa

X 0

1 2 3 4 5 6dha pa ma pa ma ga X 0

1 2 3 4 5 6ma ga re ga re sa

X 0

Session 7

Singing in different Scales

Alankaars with Teevra Madhyam

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Diatonic Scale Indian Swars Western Notes Teevra Madhyam

sa Octave sa

ni (shuddha) Major seventh ni

ni (komal) Minor seventh

dha (shuddha) Major sixth dha

dha (komal) Minor sixth

pa Perfect fifth pa

ma (teevra) Augmented fourth ma (teevra ma)

ma (shuddha) Perfect fourth

ga (shuddha) Major third ga

ga (komal) Minor third

re (shuddha) Major second re

re (komal) Minor second

sa Unison sa

Structure of Alankaar with Teevra Madhyam

C

T

D

E

F

G

A

B

C

S

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Singing Alankaars with Teevra Madhyam

• sa re, re ga, ga ma, ma pa, pa dha, dha ni, ni sa• sa ni, ni dha, dha pa, pa ma, ma ga,ga re, re sa

• sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, sa`• sa`, ni, dha, pa, ma, ga, re, sa

• sa sa sa, re re re, gag a ga, ma ma ma, pa pa pa,dha dha dha, ni ni ni, sa` sa` sa`• sa` sa` sa`, ni ni ni,dha dha dha,pa pa pa,ma ma ma, ga ga ga, re re re, sa sa sa

• These exercises are similar to earlier exercises involving Bilawal That (Diatonic Scale). Only difference is that instead of singing ‘shuddha ma’ you have to sing ‘teevra ma’. ‘Teevra ma’ is shown with a little vertical line over ma - ma

• sa sa, re re, ga ga, ma ma, pa pa, dha dha, ni ni, sa` sa`• sa` sa`, ni ni, dha dha, pa pa, ma ma, ga ga, re re, sa sa

• sa re sa, re ga re, ga ma ga, ma pa ma, pa dha pa,dha ni dha, ni sa`ni, sa` re sa`• sa` re` sa`, ni sa ni,dha ni dha,pa dha pa,ma pa ma,ga ma ga, re ga re,sa re sa

Session 8

Song Structure and arrangement Intro and OutroVerseChorusMiddle 8

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Song structure and arrangements

• Unique section at the beginning (Intro) and end (Outro) of a song• Generally this contains only music and no words

Intro and Outro

• Chorus is part of song that repeats itself both musically and lyrically• Conveys main theme of the song • This part is of highest musical and emotional intensity in the song

Chorus

• Main part of the song comprising of poetic stanzas• Song mostly consists of two or more parts with same melody and

different lyrics. Each such part is known as a Verse

Verse

• Section of song with different musical feel then rest of the song• This part is mostly music with little or no words• Its usually in the middle of the song and typically has 8 bars

Middle 8

Intro

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Middle 8

Outro

Typical Song Arrangement

• During this session, we will discuss Structure of a song covering various parts • We will specifically cover these details for the song selected for you• Following is a general overview of key song sections and a typical song arrangement

Session 9

Taal Kaherawa

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Taal Kaherawa - 4/4 Time signature

• Matra – 8• Khand – 2• Taali – On 1st• Khali – On 5th

Taal Kaherawa Structure44

4/4 Time Signature

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Dha Ge Na Ti Na Ka Dhi Na

X 0

• During this session we will discuss the structure and composition of another popular Taal

• We will sing Alankaar in Taal Kaherwa as we did for Taal Dadra

Session 10

Making Singing more Expressive

Enriching Voice Quality

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Expressive Singing

• Diction refers to distinctness of pronunciation in singing• Pay attention to each and every word in a song and learn how exactly it is pronounced

Diction

• Articulation refers to overemphasizing certain words or parts in a song while Phrasing refers to taking pauses and breaths at correct spots.

• There are various techniques to enhance the impact through phrasing and articulation such as - Linger over a long note, Change inflection on some words, use throaty huskiness on certain words etc

Phrasing and Articulation

• Dynamics refers to managing loundness while singing various parts of the song• Some vocal exercises as covered in session 1 help in improving Singing Dynamics. Try doing these exercises

for different notes in a scale to sing at a certain pitch while increasing or decreasing volume • Use of Dynamics in a Song goes hand in hand with the meaning of the lyrics to enhance emotional

expression

Dynamics

• Perhaps the most critical element for bringing correct expression in singing is to emotionally connect with the song and bring the emotions out through singing

Emotional connect

Expressive Singing requires long time of dedicated learning. Most of these techniques are covered in Advanced Singing courses. However in this starter course, the Muziclub teacher will help you understand basics of some of these techniques for familiarity and adoption

Session 11

Singing in Public

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Singing in Public

• Most people, even non-musicians, can easily recognize a tune and any errors of singing wrong pitch get immediately noticed by everyone.

• Practice the song by singing along several times to feel comfortable that you are singing all notes at the correct pitch before your public performance

Pitch sensitivity

• Knowing the correct lyrics of the song will help you focus on singing correct notes expressively rather than trying to memorize the lyrics while singing.

• Its generally not a good idea to keep a sheet a piece of paper with lyrics on and it doesn’t sound very pleasing when you have to mumble on certain words or even worse stop abruptly somewhere

Know the Lyrics

• Signing at a consistent Tempo and in correct Rhythm is most significant as the rhythm is most easily recognized by the audience and any randomness will be immediately discovered

• If you are singing in a band, it is absolutely important that you keep pace with the band members (or they keep pace with you).

Follow the Rhythm

• Reflect Confidence and composure while singing• It doesn’t matter that much whether you sing good or bad as long as you demonstrate harmony with

yourself

Body Language

Session 12 Song Performance

Next Steps

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Preparing for Performance

During these sessions, you would have practiced singing your favourite songs and would hopefully now be roaring to sing in Public to show your newly acquired skills.

Song Practice

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Next Steps

• During this session, Muziclub Teacher will be happy to discuss further learning Options with you such as

• Learning Indian Classical Raagas

• Preparing for Indian Classical Graded Exams

• Western Operatic Singing

• Professional Singing

• Special Singing Techniques

• Singing in a Band

• Karaoke Singing

Discussion

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Join Muziclub Online Classes

4 FREE Sessions

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Warm Wishes for living music

Happy Singing and

THANK YOU

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online@muziclub.com