The Sounds and Ornamentations of Indian Classical Music
Tuesday 13th August 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Indian Classical Music (ICM) is an ancient oral tradition that dates back to around 500 BC. Despite its evolution over the centuries, it has managed to maintain its unique style and cultural significance. Until recently, this style of music has been largely overlooked in voice research. Given the global presence of the Indian community, it is essential for both teachers and singers to understand and learn from this style to better serve Indian students while staying true to the authentic form of the music while also gaining insight on how to diversify and cross-train within your own singing practice. Indian Classical Music is split into two major styles: North Indian (Hindustani) and South Indian (Carnatic). The workshop will primarily focus on Carnatic Music.
This workshop first explores the ‘authentic’ sound of ICM. The questions we will explore are:
- What is the authentic ICM sound? Is there only one?
- What have singers and teachers experienced as the authentic ICM sound quality?
- What the ranges and acoustic features of an authentic sound are, and some ways to train these sounds
Next, you will get an introduction to various vocal ornamentations, which is one of ICM’s key stylistic features. To execute these ornamentations, the singer requires a great deal of vocal agility. Accordingly, we will explore:
- The various types of vocal ornamentations in ICM
- Trying out these ornamentations in your voice
- Ways to train these ornamentations
Finally, we will discuss some of the habits that could hamper the ICM style - what some of the vocal function hurdles are that ICM singers face and how to approach these in a culturally sensitive way.
The workshop will include interactive components, such as singing and listening to ICM singers, and there will be plenty of time for questions.
Samyukta Ranganathan
Samyukta is an award-winning singer of Indian Classical Music (ICM) with an active teaching and performance career in New York City.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Thursday 24th October 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Race of Sound – Why Do We Think We Can Hear Race Vocally?
Nina Eidsheim
Why and how do we make assumptions about a person’s race, gender, or age based on the timbre of their voice? We will examine historical precedents for racialized listening to voices as well as contemporary realities, utilizing a framework for critically interrogating the racializing processes embedded in vocal and listening practices.
Tuesday 29th October 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
(London Time)
‘Disarming’ Performance Anxiety: Re-engaging the joy of performing by becoming more resilient in our innate vulnerability
Dr Mark Seton
In this workshop, Dr Mark Seton will offer practical, playful and holistic strategies to ‘dis-arm’ three factors of being human that can impact our capacity to perform: doubt, shame and trauma.
Thursday 31st October 2024
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Dosimetry Measurement of Vocal Demands in Contemporary Musical Theatre
Celia Stewart
Singers are highly skilled vocal athletes who master specialized vocal requirements when cast to perform in a musical theatre production. Their participation is physically, vocally, and emotionally challenging.