My experiences as a Music Voice Engineer

For any kind of singing, one needs an appropriate voice culture. Voice - the amalgam of sound and mechanics, awaaz and gala (hindi/urdu), kural and thondai (tamil). My interest in voice engineering (more loosely called voice culture) began in 1981, when I lost my singing voice as a 24 year old Indian classical vocal student at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy at Kolkata. Due completely to erroneous training and practice methods. Of course, I will admit that I contributed in good measure to the confusion with my desire to switch over effectively from Carnatic culturing to a sound that would 'sound Hindustani music'. And paid for all the distortions dearly. June 15 1981, I opened my mouth to sing - no voice!!!

I sang again on the 6th of October 1993 - after more than 12 years of agony and ecstasy - ending up working with some really fascinating people - Peter Calatin, my final saviour and my first Indian voice teacher to whom I owe my perspective for the Indian voice of the future - the late Pt. Sunil Bose.

I learnt voice science only to regain my own voice - but have ended up pretty much a voice trainer. You can see a lot of my work now on the Airtel Super Singer Junior 2 that is being aired Monday to Thursday, 9 to 10 PM Indian Standard Time, on Star Vijay TV, Chennai.

I have been on this show all four seasons and this show remains my favourite space, over all the other major shows I have taught voice on - Indian Idol 4, K for Kishore, Jhoom India, Sitaron ko Choo Lenge and Zee Saregamapa (Kannada). No other show has put the subject of voice engineering and my face with such courage on the core space of the show - the set. After quarter of a century of work the subject of voice science, voice culture and voice engineering, seems to be getting its due.

Would like to share a lot about the details of this subject, its features and benefits for Indian vocalists of all genres, styles, ages and levels on this blogsite. I invite generous contributions in terms of sharing of problems, ideas, information about other experts who are working on this subject, professional singers who are interested in voice as a science and young musicians who dream of taking voice as a specialisation in India.

I on my part will share theoretical, practical and aesthetic data collected over decades - including voice critiques of great Masters - Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishor Kumar, Asha Bhosle, S.P.Balasubramanian et al - all my favourites.

Looking forward to loads of fun,

Ananth Vaidyanathan