Enjoy listening to Carnatic music? Aren’t these songs beautiful? You may have been moved to learn Carnatic Music in any form. Carnatic performances require a lot of practice, technical knowledge, and technique.
Do singers have a specific technique they use to practice? What is the best time of day to practice? Does food affect your voice? How long should one practice? How can you tell if you’re singing the raga (tune) correctly? It is important to know how to practice the right way, under the correct guidance. Here are a few tips to help improve your Carnatic style and voice.
1. Keep a good posture.
Avoid slouching. Maintain a straight spine so that you can breathe easily.
2. Keep your head up.
Avoid straining your neck and vocal cords. Avoid tilting your head downwards or upwards to reach higher octaves.
3. Avoid singing or murmuring between your teeth.
Open your mouth to sing. (Although you don’t have to show off your full dental arsenal!)
4. Always practice with a tambura box or Shruti.
It is important to have a good ear for music to be able produce the tones that you require. The tambura box and the shruti box will ensure you maintain the correct pitch throughout any song. It is therefore the ideal accompaniment for Carnatic singers. Tanpura is used by Hindustani vocalists. You have probably seen tambura players at Carnatic concerts. The constant plucking creates harmony and helps the singer to stay in tune.
5. Breathe in and out at the right time.
The basis of singing is breath. Breath determines the range, pitch and smoothness of your voice, as well as other aspects. Singers need to know how to breathe, how long to hold their breath, when to pause and when to stop breathing. It is essential that singers practice breathing exercises when they need to control their breath. Practice breathing exercises to improve your singing voice will help you control the breath when singing Carnatic.
6. Practice different octaves.
Each singer has a certain range in which they feel comfortable. It takes some training and effort to go beyond this range. To gradually expand your range, you could sing notes one octave higher and lower. Although you may not be able cover an entire octave, knowing your abilities and improving them can help to improve the strength and stability of your voice.
7. Practice in the morning.
- In the morning, your muscles are relaxed. Your voice is less strong by evening.
- Good control of your voice is necessary to achieve the ornamentation that you desire for your songs. It is said that if one can control their voice during the colder mornings they will be able control it any time of the day.
8. Every day, practice diligently.
- It is important to warm up your voice for at least 20 mins before you try high pitches or hold notes for a long time.
- You should also practice at the exact same time each day. You will gain more control over your voice and feel more confident.
9. Test your voice and make sure you’re exercising it correctly.
- Record yourself to get a better idea of your actual voice as opposed to the way you think you sound
- Under the supervision of a teacher who is trained, you should practice. It is important to practice under the guidance of a trained teacher. Contact a Carnatic voice teacher.
10. Listen to music and understand the song.
As you study Carnatic Music, it is important to remember to actively listen to the music – to discern the Ragas (tunes) while keeping Talas (beats) beside. You should also be able to understand and pronounce the lyrics. Knowledge of the different languages used in Carnatic music improves your diction and adds depth to your singing.
Cautions for Carnatic Singers
- After eating, refrain from singing as your stomach is too full to allow you the ability to sing.
- Don’t overstrain yourself with hours of continuous practice. You need to make changes in your Carnatic voice practice if you feel uncomfortable. For better clarity and guidance, consult a teacher.
- Discover which foods are good for you and which ones are bad for you. Each person is different. Dairy products can be a problem for some people. Others can have vocal cord damage from cold foods. Bindu Subramaniam reveals that SPB used to enjoy ice creams without any issues. On the other hand, my mom will not eat ice cream if it is even in her sight. Some people prefer to drink warm water, while others choose water.
