Does anyone know of any sites where I can find Western notation
for Hindi songs? I found a few which lists the chords for
some Hindi songs. What I am looking is for notation of the songs
which can be played by someone who is learning music in the
Western style. (This request is specifically for a freind of
mine, whose son is learning to play piano.)
Regards.
- Fazel
Try the "SargamTracks" link and see if it is for you/him.
Fazel, try http://www.itw.com/indianmusic/taraanaa.html
FH> Does anyone know of any sites where I can find Western notation
FH> for Hindi songs? I found a few which lists the chords for
FH> some Hindi songs. What I am looking is for notation of the songs
FH> which can be played by someone who is learning music in the
FH> Western style. (This request is specifically for a freind of
FH> mine, whose son is learning to play piano.)
I am glad you wrote the last sentence in the '()', because I can give you
suggestions from my experience with my daughter. The key word here is
'piano'. In my experience, a melodic line (on the treble clef) for a Hindi
song with a simple chord arrangement (on the base clef) is just too simple
a composition for piano. Most children will outgrow this just in piano
level 1 and will prefer Western music, including either works composed
orignally for piano or excerpts from Western Classical repertoire
arranged/adapted for piano.
There are some old Hindi song (where the hero sits at a piano) that have
music composed with piano in mind (e.g. koI hamadam na rahA, jAne vo kaise
log the jinake). Again the problem we had was not in capturing the melodic
line, but the base line. One can sit at a keyboard and jot down the melody
notes, or the child can just play it by the ear. To really make the song
sound nice on piano, one really needs to compose the base line--- trying
different chord arrangements, different synchronization of notes on the two
clefs, counterpoint, etc., and even try minor modifications to the melodic
line. Piano is so different from a keyboard or an accordian.
It would indeed be very nice if somebody has piano-style compositions for
Hindi songs.
Devesh
Bye.
That is improvisation. It can not be 'taught'. You canalways learn the Melody
line. And if he/she knows the melody, (and the chord progression) then, it is
up to the player to improvise the left hand movements. (or adding licks on the
right hand.)
friends@hindimidi
[Bhool Chook Leni Deni]
The musical page
http://members.aol.com/hindimidi
>> In my experience, a melodic line (on the treble clef) for a Hindi
>> song with a simple chord arrangement (on the base clef) is just too simple
>> a composition for piano. Most children will outgrow this just in piano
>> level 1 and will prefer Western music, including either works composed
>> orignally for piano or excerpts from Western Classical repertoire
>> arranged/adapted for piano.
>>
>> To really make the song
>> sound nice on piano, one really needs to compose the base line--- trying
>> different chord arrangements, different synchronization of notes on the two
>> clefs, counterpoint, etc., and even try minor modifications to the melodic
>> line. Piano is so different from a keyboard or an accordian.
H> That is improvisation. It can not be 'taught'. You canalways learn the Melody
H> line. And if he/she knows the melody, (and the chord progression) then, it is
H> up to the player to improvise the left hand movements. (or adding licks on the
H> right hand.)
This, however, is a case of somebody's son learning to play piano --- which
most probably implies western classical music. Based upon watching several
Indian kids play piano, I can say they are not going to be able to
improvise either on the left or the right hand until they clear Level 4 and
go into intermediate piano. Till then, they would basically prefer the much
richer written down notation of western music to the currently available
notations for Hindi songs. OTOH, if they really want to get into
improvisation, they should learn to play the melody by the ear anyway.
There is also the question whether Hindi film songs can be made to sound
really good as piano solos; there is more to it than just improvisation and
licks. Why would anyone want to do it anyway? If playing Hindi songs is the
goal, then piano seems like the wrong instrument for it. Has anybody out
there had success with it? Is there an instrumental recording available?
Devesh
There is a basic difference between, Learning to play Piano (or any
instrument), and Learning to play a song. Most of the parents (and the
students) want to learn a song. The classic question is "when will I be able to
play 'this' song. (Don't we all). 'Lekin pehale chalanaa siikho phir
kalabaajiya.N khaana'.
Every one can learn to play a an instrument. (after all there are just 7 + 5
letters to learn). Okay Okay, It is oversimplified (leaving the duration) but
you that way if the notations are laid down, then one can play a song.
The next step of improvisation, jamming, all that has to come from within.
(and, 'Playing by ear' is a good indication of such a skill. Now don't go
rubbing your head against the instrument). So even if you play by ear, one
should learn to read the staff notations (or any other), so that he or she can
have access to a larger "work". Playing the simple tunes/lessons may look
mundane, but that's how a student learns scales, chords (progression), simple
association of note-steps with the pitch, and a lot more. Suddenly you start
identifying melodies, hidden in other songs. The melodies that you have been
listening and enjoying, are there in your heart, suddenly they have a shape
when they span out on your keyboard (or any other instrument).
And yes, most of the Indian kids (those who speak a Indian Mother tongue at
home, and a different language at school) can play an instrument 'by ear'.
These are the same kids who do good at math (but then it is a separate thread
and NG) .They should first familiarize themselves with the instrument first.
Tell them /correct their finger movements on the scale. So their fingers don't
tangle up, and they can easily play the scales. Then give them the basic
knowledge of the staff notations (so that they can learn from others' work).
Regarding your other point: Due to the tonal nature of Piano (after all it is
a percussive instrument J). It may not be a best instrument for playing the
'melody" sections. (It's ADSR envelop makes it a bad candidate for playing the
fine nuances of the singers voice). You can still find some Indian songs
(instrumental versions) that are done in Piano. Just the other day they were
playing something in Indian restaurant, the song was "ghungaroo kii tarah (chor
machaye shor)".
Bottom line: Kids may start on the Piano. But if they like to play, then they
will end-up on a keyboard J
In any case encourage your child.