Posts published in “Singing Tips”

Ustad Rashid Khan is a renowned and celebrated Hindustani classical vocalist. He owes his roots to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana. Even the great Pandit Bhimsen Joshi once said that Rashid Khan is the “assurance for the future of Indian vocal music”. He has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, as well as the Sangeet Natak Award in 2006. In this video Rashid Khan speaks about how listening to great musicians will mould you into a great musician. Another treat to listen to in this video is his rendition of…

Vidushi Kaushiki Chakraborty daughter of Ajoy Chakraborty is a Indian Classical Singer. Her grooming happened at Sangeet Research Academy and she is one of the exponents of Patiala gharana. She is an acclaimed singer and highly revered for her Khyals and Thumris, the latter being ‘semi-classical’ or ‘light classical’ styles. She is a recipient of many national and international awards such as the 2005 BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in Asia/Pacific category. She has performed at many national and international festivals and conferences. She is often…

Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty is a contemporary Hindustani classical music vocalist. He is widely known across the country, and have performed across the globe in the revered venues like Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center and so on. Here is a video where he speaks about his life, journey and views on music and learning. According to him, listening (shruti) is so very important for learning. In fact, the school of music which he founded in Kolkata, is named Shrutinandan for this…

Khansaheb’s name is inseparable from Shehnai instrument and Hindustani classical music. His efforts have resulted in deeply etching the instrument’s relevance to the classical music tradition. The city of Varanasi is blessed to have revelled in his mesmerising performances on the banks of river Ganges for decades. The country showed its gratitude to the legend conferring Bharat Ratna on him in 2001. The first video shows him in a lighter mood speaking impromptu to a group of people gathered. The…

Almost every south Indian home wakes up to her voice. Her selflessness in service to music is widely and highly regarded, and has helped further the cause of Carnatic music in several ways. The country is humbled when it conferred Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, upon her in 1998. We remember her with love and fondness today as we surface a series that reflects on her life and journey. That’s none other than Srimati M. S. Subbulakshmi,…

This post is the fourth in the series of #ListenToSing for Riyazers to listen and learn from good singing and knowledge of the legendary musicians from Indian classical music traditions. Padma Vibhushan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is a name that is synonymous with Sarod, a divine-sounding plucked string-instrument from Hindustani classical music. Here is a video that shines light on his life, journey and the parampara. Do watch and comment on what you’ve learned and how you’ve felt 🙂 Hope you are…

This post is the third in the series of #ListenToSing for Riyazers to listen and learn from good singing and knowledge of the legendary musicians from Indian classical music traditions. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is a name that needs no introduction! He is a phenomenon that took the Hindustani world by storm. His contributions to the tradition will be cherished and remembered forever by the rasikas. The “Bharat Ratna”, the highest civilian award of India, shined further when Government of India accorded it…

This post is the second in the series of #ListenToSing for Riyazers to immerse themselves in good singing and knowledge of the front-runners in Indian classical music traditions. Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna is a legendary artist from Carnatic music tradition, and is a name that is equally well known in Hindustani circles as well. Watch him talk on different aspects that singers need to beware of, not just when they are starting out, but later when they perform as well. Here you…