Striking the right vocal chord
G.S. PAUL
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A three-day seminar on Vocology elicited an enthusiastic response.
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VOICE CONTROL: Paul Poovathingal demonstrates the right breathing technique for a golden voice.
The pre-eminence of vocal music, as against instrumental music, in India is an offshoot of the sublime levels to which melody has been carried by our system of music. But quite paradoxically Carnatic music seems to have been myopic to the quality of the musician's voice all these years. Asked about this a few years ago, the veteran vocalist Balamuralikrishna had commented, "It's true; we have just started thinking on those lines."
Against this backdrop, a three-day workshop on vocology organised by Chetana Sangeet Natya Academy, Thrissur, attracted more than a hundred musicians, music students and music teachers from various institutions. Apart from lectures and practical sessions, individual counselling was provided to correct vocal problems faced by many singers.
"Vocology is a relatively new branch of knowledge that deals with the study of the right production techniques, culturing and rehabilitation of voice," said Paul Poovathingal, director of the Academy and a vocologist trained in the United States. Vocalist and dean of the faculty of music, University of Khairagarh, Chattisgarh, T. Unnikrishnan dwelt at length on the variegated styles of `voice throw' in the rendition of Carnatic, Hindustani and light music compositions. Dr. Unnikrishnan's sessions on `Breathing techniques for a better voice' and `Exercises for voice maintenance' were spiced with illuminating demonstrations. Dr. Unnikrishnan's two-hour concert on the last day sttod out on account of his resonant voice and effortless rendition, a clear demonstration of the techniques he had expounded.
In three sessions, Fr. Poovathingal underscored the intrinsic need for the functional unity of the organs, namely the actuator, vibrator and resonator in the body. In this connection, he emphasised on the need for the right type of breathing and simple exercises like practising the `sarala varis' using the syllable `no.' The anatomical study of the vocal chords by laryngologist R. Jayakumar also proved to be useful. He felt that beginning a Carnatic concert with a varnam was counterproductive. According to Dr. Jayakumar, the only medicine for all the disorders of the vocal chords was lukewarm water.
Gopinath Edakkunni explained how music itself was yoga. Along with his assistant Balakrishnan, he held three sessions on yoga
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