0For many, learning Music starts as a Hobby; a good utilization of free time..which must be appreciated, since there are multiple things around us these days that would keep one engaged/entertained providing instant gratification. But as far as my observation goes through my last 5-6 years intense coaching experience, improvement really happens when the 'Hobby' turns into 'Passion'.
Now this is a challenge. The musical background is not the same for all of us. Some fortunate friends find the right guidance at home since the beginning and develop their ears to grasp things (melody, rhythm etc.) quickly compared to the less fortunate ones. Identification of the difference in 'Two Variations' of the same 'tune' with minute difference is possible with trained ears. Thus comes the factors of patience and Tenacity. The student who wanted to sing a little better at his college (canteen or annual fest) or the newly joined professional willing to impress his/her colleagues at the annual picnic or on his Birthday would eventually need to sharpen the same skills as a to-be vocalist would require to. Hence, no short cut to success.
Well, the Good news is that one can speed up the ear-training process by at least listening to more melodious songs..you know the kind you find with less cumbersome arrangements (having too much of keys, bass or guitar licks or those with the stylish touch of techno beats and DJ effects).. ya those! If pure classical (hindustani or western) is not what you are able to really absorb or enjoy at the moment you may prefer to listen to some semi-classical numbers... be it Ghulam Ali saab or Salil Choudhury, Pink Flyod or Ray Charles.. your mind would certainly start differentiating between the Good and Not so Good music, and that is the first step towards acheiving excellence. Listening to proper music (read: gramatically correct and soulful) helps you identify and register the right notes in your mind, which in turn would signal your vocal chords, in the later stage, to hit the right notes when required.
Adapting the right singing style suitable to the kind of genre you are attemption or the flavor of that particualr song, making it appealing and more interesting than the original, musical creativity that helps one sound different (or at times better) than the original..all starts from Listening to the right kind of music. Avoid remixes, Avoid hip-hops (indian or western), Avoid thrashy music (at least in the first 8 months when you are trying to get a grip on the basic notes and Paltas) and Avoid Repeatitive music... with less variations in vocals or melody (where all the three or four songs of the singer sounds so very same).. and above all "Do Not Use Headphones unless you have no other option". Take that as a statutory warning!
Keep your mind and ears filled with rich melodies like they store rasgoollas in sugar syrup all the time! :) Trust me your learning sessions would be more enjoyable and effective..
Best of Luck !!
Tania
