These notes are for those who have completed their basic lessons (Varisaes, Geethams, etc) and have learned a fair number of Varnams and Krithis – say, ten or more of each of these. I would assume that some of the major sampoorna ragams like Sankarabharanam, Kalyani, Todi, Mayamalavagaula and Pantuvarali have already been learnt – thru a varnam or a Krithi or both.

Now is the time to go back to the varisaes and start working on polishing your skills! There are a number of exercises that you can incorporate as part of your practice. Plan on spending, say 10-15 minutes out of your total time of the practice session on a few of the following. You don’t have to do all of this in one day – try doing 2-3 variations each time and try to cover as much ground as possible in terms of the various varisaes, alankarams etc. Start your sessions these exercises and then move on to other items such as revision of krithis etc.

• Sing the varisaes in all the 3 or 4 speeds in all the sampoorna ragams you have learned thus far (Sankarabharanam, Kalyani, Todi, Pantuvarali, Mayamalavagaula, Kharaharapriya, etc). Ditto for Alankarams.
• Sing “akarams” in the same ragams using the various varisaes, especially Janta Varisae. While singing akaram, ensure that you sing with ‘open throat’. No jaw movement to express the gamakams – focus on the throat and feel the resonance of the note.
• Sing akarams of the various varnams you have learned so far. Try two speeds of the akaram.
• Sing akarams of tara sthaayi and mandra sthaayi varisaes.
• Sing the simpler varisaes with 1/4th, 1/2 and 3/4th ‘eduppu’ for a better grasp of talams.
• Include a few briga saadhaka varisaes in your practice sessions.

Practice of Akarams

This is the method of singing where you don’t express a specific note, except in the sound of ‘aaaa’. Great care must be taken while practising ‘akarams’. Throat movements should be used for this exercise. Jaw movements should be almost absent. The expression ‘sing from the stomach’ is very much applicable here – the resonance of the note should be felt in your lungs. Sing with an open mouth and throat!