Advaita Vocal Practice

SaReGaMa infused with the lessons of Advaita Vedanta

First class–30 mins

Becoming established in Sa:

  • Find a comfortable seated position
  • Repeat after the teacher in the repetition of Sa with use of hands to support Sa
  • Individual Adjustments
  • Join with teacher in Sa, continuing repetition
  • Establish open eye focal point
  • Joint Sa continued focus on unity
  • Bring awareness to sequence of in breath and breakdown of sounds within Sa:
  1. Sssss
  2. Ah…
  • Joint Sa continued focus on unity
  • Bring awareness to in breath at nostrils, bringing Prana into the eyes
  • Joint Sa continued focus on united vibrations
  • Bring awareness to face during in breath
  • Joint Sa continued
  • Bring awareness to internal space inside skull during in breath, opening the inside structure
  • Joint Sa continued

Sa call and response — to establish student and group in Sa without support of teachers voice, to find unity/unison within a group

Beginning Raag Practice–Alhaiya Bilaval

Tones used:

…….Ga (grace note)
Sa Re

Method:
Call and response

Question from student:

Why use of hands when singing and breathing?

Answer from teacher:

Two main reasons: 1) to consciously connect to receiving Prana and Sound which is always present; 2) to maintain the activation of Vishnu or the sustaining aspect when singing

Question:

What is the meaning of SaReGaMa?

Answer:

In general each raag has its own rasa or flavor with a prevailing bhava or attitude. A Raag is an entity with a life complete and unique.

Bilaval Raag established at the end of the 16th centuty has been described in the following manner:

A lady looking in the mirror, putting on her earrings, anticipating the arrival of her lover