Visualizing the Notes for better improvisations in Indian Classical

Students of Indian Classical, at preliminary stage in particular and even at advanced level, find themselves baffled when it comes to improvisations.
What is an improvisation?
An improvisation is a technique that involves the progression of notes imagined extempore. It is used primarily to elaborate one's singing thus mesmerising one's audience.
The logic behind improvisation
Although, the sequence of notes is always new that comes to the mind of a renderer, it has a logic behind. The planned notes has a logical pattern that can be practiced rigorously that promisingly consolidates one's singing ability.
Significance of this video
Unlike other videos teaching basics of Indian Classical Music, it draws one's attention in order to refine one's singing capacity.
Learn on one-on-one basis from Nishant Akshar
skype id - Nishant Akshar

[@AJJmusician]

Brilliant!!!! Finally, someone who is thinking out of the box and trying to teach more than just robotic practising. THANK YOU!!!

[@inayam612]

wonderful explanation of the mental processes. Teaching what goes in the mind is the most essential kind of teaching, much appreciated

[@inayam612]

I realized much of what you mentioned when starting out with paltas and could sense that not everyone puts as much thought into them. What's fascinating is that you can process the notes so fast and recall each with such clear distinction. I assume when one's put so much thought into it again and again, it becomes a reflexive skill. Still, your craft leaves me in awe. Such a pleasure to listen to.

[@Samyakvarta]

Exceptional insight 🙏🙏

[@bobbychoudhary4874]

This is the best of the best lesson of Singing.

[@cadcademy]

Being a good guru is far more better than being a good singer... And honestly you actually are best guru... Thanks for the knowledge.🙏

[@harigosal]

Beautiful ji Your way of teaching is unique

[@PKDutta]

This is great from you sir! We need more teachers like you here, you know many fools are teaching music on youtube whereas they know nothing! I have seen many of them- just came up with a harmonium without that they can’t even make proper sound! I am so happy to see you sir, just subscribed your channel.

[@sundaramurthyc6955]

Very instructive.Thank you very much Sir

[@rakeshparmar4569]

Too good sir.... Very helpful video.... Respect...

[@shubhjyo8336]

You are right.....teachers these days hardly teach the way you taught.....it is v imp that teachers change their style of teaching. Thank you for creating this awareness.....

[@ahmadbarati1713]

A very informative and helpful video. Thank you for uploading looking forward for more such videos.

[@prasadpatil4098]

Very nice sir

[@tridentmusic4833]

I must say...ur voice is very soothing..and u r a great teacher

[@Pankajsports]

गुरूदेव आपकी प्रतिभा अनुपम है। आप अथाह सागर से जो मोती निकाल कर प्रस्तुत करते हैं वह और कोई नहीं कर सकता। इस वीडियो के लिए अनंत आभार!

[@TheNagualZone]

Bal krishna Dwivedi आपने हिंदी में इतना अच्छा लिखा। पढ़ के बहुत अच्छा लगा। ♥️

[@Pankajsports]

LifeInTheMatrix आपका हृदय से आभार!

[@nakama4256]

this video is the proof that you really have mastery over your vocals as a instrument and have really understood the fundamental aspects of singing.(this is my view, I haven't really taken any vocal course, and my knowledge is limited, but I think you truly have mastered the art of singing) This is the reason why I keep coming back to your videos. I can so much relate with this video. I can only sing a sequence of notes or interval of notes given that its played note per note in a harmonium just before or along, however, that may not be considered improvisation then. Likewise, i find it very difficult to sing intervals with reference note from tanpura only. For example, as you mentioned, I have a very hard time singing sharps and flats(tibra and komal) or any other interval given only the base note, its octave and the perfect fifth or "pa" in the background. I guess it is just a lack of practise and I hope to implement your teachings. Thank you so much. P.S. I would really love to take online course from you, but I am just a student and broke as well. So what you are doing is a really really wonderful act of kindness and greatness for amateurs like me. I will take anything I can. There's a saying that beggers can't be choosers, yet, Can I have your opinion on something? What makes a beautiful singing, is it just hitting the right notes of a melody along with all the techniques like meend, gamak, khatka or is there also the role of resonance and tone of the voice or maybe emotions and phrasing.(to put it in another way, just producing sounds of correct frequency is enough or should the sound be beautiful as well say by adding resonance) Basically my question is what differentiates a good singing from a bad one at the fundamental level? I would literally be the happiest kid in the world if you would take my question. Even if you don't I am already happy with your work. It's just that, I have watched all of your videos, and the greatest things in life is what sparks the curiosity and inspiration in men, like me writing the longest comments ever after watching and learning from your works(since I almost never comment on anything). Sorry for such a long comment, this is the only way I can repay you, by showing appreciation and gratitude for your work.

[@NishantAkshar]

With an apology for responding late, I appreciate your query as it is one those cumbersome curiosities, which is difficult to reply in a shallow manner. You raised a perennial issue that plagues many practitioners of music, even at an advanced level. Although, every aspect needs to be looked into carefully, ornaments, resonance, tone, voice production etc., it is the 'Swara' that reigns supreme. In fact, I am writing this on the basis of my experiential knowledge. The more I delve deeper into the perfect pitch, the better my singing becomes as a result. Moreover, it may seem weird to the world but let me convey it categorically that one can gain absolute mastery over nearly all the aspects of singing, if one only takes the Swara into consideration. I remember those nights when I used to hold tanpura for hours and hum only straight notes. I staunchly believe that it is then I received the blessing. Thank you so much for applauding my pursuits. It is because of you all, I am what I am today. My heart goes to each of you.

[@veritas7232]

Wonderful reply Nishantji. Very enlightening to read your analysis on what makes great music. Pranam!

[@TheNagualZone]

@@NishantAkshar just the best and most educational answer sirji. ty

[@harbhajansingh820]

@@TheNagualZone sir namskar I found of your teaching gratitude toward you thanks please carryon

[@TheNagualZone]

@@harbhajansingh820 ty xx

[@darrenbancroft5388]

Thank you. You are a wonderful teacher 🤍

[@varadarajcuram2238]

Thank you. Very enlightening. Thank you

[@jmalko9152]

Informative!

[@preetamrai2267]

Thank you sir

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Namashkar Very nice sir. Different types of improvisation in Indian classical music. This is very helpful. I am in my sixth year of learning advanced Hindustani classical vocal here in the US. I have learnt many ragas like yaman, bhimpalasi, bageshree, malkauns, bhupali, kedar, Bihag, Durga, puriya dhanasree, bhairav, ahir bhairav, Maru bihag, jaunpuri, kalavathi, and many others. A combination of madhyalay, drut, and vilambit bandishes over the years. I am pretty good with theenthal and vilambit ekthal and dadra and Keherwa. Please see if you can upload a bandish to perfect Rupakthal, which is 7 beat cycle and a bandish to perfect Jhaptaal a 10 beat cycle. And also vilambit theenthal. It will be very much appreciated.

[@lazarusflute3825]

Sir, WONDERFUL efforts

[@dumdumpipi]

sir ! you deserve a salute.

[@lovenilpdmehta]

Yes something new and understanding music.... Thanks

[@subswades]

Hello Nishant ji, this is so powerful! Please keep on posting these insights

[@t.s.chowdhury5934]

Very good

[@asmitamahajan7640]

your videos are very much informative.... l follow them daily.... they are helping me a lot .... you touched a very important aspect in this video l am sure this will help me too..... thanks a lot

[@hemantkumarpanda5864]

I need it most..I wasted time & years & money.. please upload more like .. vocal praduction.. breathing techniques while singing.. Thank you sir for such invaluable teaching & such great service

[@akhilgada602]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful video.

[@TheNagualZone]

Nishant Ji आपकी आवाज़ इतनी सुरीली और मधुर है के क्या कहा जाय। It's a real pleasure listening to you sing! This video is priceless- time to learn the exercise and start repeating 1000s of times. Ty for yet another awesome upload ♥️🙏🏽♥️

[@harjotbilling1604]

Thankyou soo much really its a very deep thing..... Its a really tuff ....... Really helpful sir means a lot for me.... I had written it and will practice it now onwards

[@whu66]

Brilliant tutorial Nishantbhai. .many thanks for sharing your expertise. .Jay Shri Krishna

[@Muneshsharma1]

बहुत खूब, अदभुत !! धन्यवाद

[@totalgyan....987]

Your videos are very helpful Sir thank a lot.......

[@shirish1000in]

Useful learning ! Is there any sequential pattern of such merukhand alankars ? Because , the way I practice follows a different sequence ( सा रे ग , सा ग रे , रे सा ग , रे ग सा .. and so forth ) whereas your sequences are different and more melodic . Probably the pattern I use is easier to remember but not melodic . Thank you so much for bringing such nice learning videos .. Please keep on adding to this treasure 👍👍

[@arban1979]

Merukhandi paltas are one of the most difficult pattern of paltas which require extreme focus and rigorous practice. But they really provide an edge while swar vistaar. Thank you very much sir, for bringing this into notice. Very helpful video indeed

[@animallover6355]

I happy to watching your videos. Sir

[@mansirockz]

Beautifully explained. Thank you

[@MsRanjita]

Sir Great is all that i can say. Viewing beyond my limits is interesting or simply saying knowing thing I do not know is great. Thanks a lot sir

[@vipulkumarmakwana265]

It's really useful to understanding notes thank u very much Nishant sir

[@bindu758]

Nice

[@anwesashakharu6645]

thank you so much to share this video to us sir😊

[@Abhijitb317]

pls carry on this kind of series

[@roshanjayakody2005]

great lessons.. Thank you very much.

[@shubhamchoude2416]

Thaku so much it very use full video

[@Bingewatcherguy]

very nice sir....its helps a lot

[@dsiddhu68]

SRG RSG SGR GSR RGS GRS awesome video Sir. Merukhand...Thx for posting

[@aninditasutradhar8669]

Sir its really vry much benificial for me..

[@sujayanarula3913]

Thanks Masterji, very important aspect of singing you have covered which I was trying to work on, appreciate it 😊👏👌

[@harshsinghal9136]

Excellent...

[@drchadwivedi]

👍👍

[@brijtoofar]

Very helpful. Advanced students will benefit

[@saazaurawaaz1332]

Wonderful

[@tabalchi1]

I am always amazed at your teachings on the raagas. Beautiful job.....Your New Jersey student/

[@tabalchi1]

I feel so humbled by your reply which I treasure. Wishing you long life and happiness

[@kvkadhir]

Thank you so much Sir..

[@akamusicband1129]

🙏 guru g its very important for learners as us

[@vinodlohani2427]

Thank so much sir

[@dr.dmukherjeechildspecialist]

Excellent

[@surjankamal2940]

VERY USEFUL TIPS

[@justinpatrick4776]

Thank you Sir.

[@Shailusharmaa]

hello Nishant ji ,Actually !!! you are doing great work , thanks for making such a beautiful series of videos...there is song , sthaai of which is based on these six possible combination of SA RE GA , that song is sun by legendary singers rafi sahab and lata ji...that song is ...PALKON KE PEECHE SE KYA TUMNE KEHE DALA... sir i request you to plz share some videos and tips for stage singers too , to improve there singing in terms of ghazal style singing , improvising a compositions by adding own creation ,murki , aalap. some times its difficult to pickup the same murki or fast set of notes taken by the singers like Manna da , Talat mehmood sahab , gulam ali sahab , Rafi sahab , and so many other singers ....PLz focus & shower some important way out and core tips on this. Tons of thanks one again.

[@santoshupadhyaya1801]

Sir please aapke tutorials hindi me v dale...hume tips to acha lagta he aur faydemand v por english me samjhna dikkat hoti he

[@diliprs27]

Sir please upload how to do progression in raag singing..

[@AmitSarkerSPW]

Sir 🙏 How to visualise the notes? I am visualising hurmonium keys when practice paltas.Is it right? What is the process of visualise swaras? How can I create a images of swaras?

[@bhaktivairale1675]

Namshkar Sir, first I wanted to thank u, Thank u so much for this video... Sir, I would like to be your student....where r u live today?.

[@aashishdewangan4701]

thanks a huge..

[@kmhlakshmanan]

Sir Great is all that i can say. Viewing beyond my limits is interesting or simply saying knowing thing I do not know is great. Thanks a lot sir............. Sir this was my posting and not my daughter's as seen becoz I unknowingly went into her log in as she is here. Anyway great sir. Thank you is all i can say.

[@shreyabhattacharyya2493]

Very useful video for us

[@ranjitpatel496]

Thank you so useful from UK 🙏

[@tapasbanerjee7936]

I mostly visualize all the notations on harmonium without using the instrument.Is it normal way to visualize the compositions?

[@prasanthchopra6002]

sir it is very help full we will hope you more

[@meghnamoyra]

Wonderful!!!!!

[@tejaschheda4610]

@7:16 this combination of notes is known as Merukand Alankar

[@mularaikar]

sir can you teach the avaroha of thr 3 note combination.i want to practise it on bansuri

[@rahuldhande5929]

आपकी पढ़ाने पद्धति मुझे बहुत पसंत आई

[@tejaschheda4610]

Sir where do yo live? Do you live in Mumbai?

[@nilavosarkar6199]

Wow

[@SauravSonthalia]

Sir u r awesome

[@baldevsankhyayan6700]

Excellent Lesson !

[@swarajpurohit5717]

This is what I was looking for ....Thank you from my bottom of heart ..🙏

[@Akash-qp4dl]

Sir u r really master I also have this problem pls want ur lesson on Skype

[@universe999]

Perfect

[@birenpradhan3]

Sir... How To Sing A SUDDENLY GIVEN SARGAM PHRASE In SUR... We Can Sing S R G M P D N S .... But If We Are Given PDMDNGSRMDPGNS... We Face A Lot Of TROUBLES & PROBLEMS.... HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE THE NOTES.... AND SING ACCORDINGLY WHAT OUR MIND Says .... PLZ MAKE A VIDEO ON THIS 🙏🙏🙏...

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Pranams

[@moumitadas5237]

Very nice ... but 2nd paltas u sang so fast... I couldnt note down... if possible reply in writing plz☺

[@isaiahwejdan7656]

Hi do you still teach online? Do you take more students?

[@TheAkshatsaxena]

I watch your videos regularly and I want to be a music composer, I want to implement those ideas into a song.. I would be really thankful if you guide me with the same (maybe some sort of tutorials etc)

[@SuperHitClipx]

Feeling lucky tht I m the fst one to comment.....lov u sir...wish I can meet u somday

[@SantoshKumar-qg3rh]

Location of notes relating to base notes, is very essential for good pitching. U taught to see the notes in slow speed, then increase the speed. Great teaching sir. Practice just faster, without seeing the notes is time wasting. Your every video on you tube is really for growing in music. Keep rocking sir.

[@ekkdantaa1]

Please share other sequences

[@ekkdantaa1]

Sir🙏

[@pritamdey4043]

thAnk you so much sir

[@KunalKumar-jt1xl]

thank u sir

[@gadgetworld2778]

sir you have a lovely voice good to hear , by the way we share the same name Nishant

[@sadashivbachal6994]

Sir aap plij Hindime bataayegegaa too acha hogaa.

[@richaawasthi799]

Very difficult 😩

[@nutanverma4239]

Angrezi aesi chaayee hai kae log hindustaani sangeet ko bhi angrezi mae hi sikhatae hain. Kripya hindi mae sikhayen aur angrezi likhae. Issae dono varg sikhengae.

[@salmanalikhan4219]

PLEASE TEACH URDU OR HINDI

[@karanbaghla2018]

Y videos hindi me hoti toh acha hota

[@SushantaMonThoughts]

Thank u Sir