Indian Classical Vocals: Ghazals & Bhajans

Instructor Ramanuj Dasgupta starts by speaking with each student to ascertain their current level of musical education and their desired outcomes. Students will have the option of learning between 15 and 20 Ghazals, Bhajans, or a mix of both. Dasgupta will provide pointers and exercises to help them prepare for musical performance. Dasgupta’s lessons will include accent and pronunciation of the Shayari, the tune and raag of the Ghazals, and voice training to enable the student to embellish songs with expression. Dasgupta will also teach students about the songwriter, the meaning, and the original raag and taal of each song, giving students a full awareness of the emotion meant to be evoked from the audience.

As an intermediate course, those enrolling should already have a basic understanding of classical music and of literature, a good sense of rhythm, and a fundamental knowledge of Urdu and Hindi. Students will be expected to identify the 12 musical notes, and should also have knowledge of the common taals including Keherwa, Dadra, and Rupak: knowledge of the different ragas is preferred, but not required. Students will need pen and paper for taking notes, and time to commit to online lessons and independent practice. Upon completion of the course, students will be well-equipped to perform their new skills in a professional or casual setting.

About Mr. Ramanuj Dasgupta: Ramanuj Dasgupta has been dedicated to music for fifty years. At the age of 23, he was selected to serve as a music teacher for an institution affiliated with Rabindra Bharati University in India. These years of experience have taught Dasgupta to accommodate students by getting to know their educational history, personal goals, strengths, and weaknesses, tailoring each lesson to meet their needs. Dasgupta’s musical career has lead him through the learning process of various genres and traditions. He mastered these techniques under the tutelage of many great instructors including Sri Manindra Chakroborty, famous lyricist Sri Gopal Dasgupta, renowned musical director Sri Sudhin Dasgupta, and classical maestro Pandit Amiya Ranjan Banerjee. Ramanuj Dasgupta is always continuing his musical education because he understands that mastering music is a never-ending endeavor.