Chapter 7: The Science of Music

i. When a string is tightened, the pitch ________.

Answer: When a string is tightened, the pitch increases.

ii. The diaphragm and lungs form part of the ________ subsystem.

Answer: The diaphragm and lungs form part of the air pressure subsystem.

iii. The hollow body of a musical instrument is important because ________.

Answer: The hollow body of a musical instrument is important because it increases the loudness and enhances the sound by resonance.

i. The thickness of a string affects the quality of sound. (True/ False)

Answer: True

The thickness or material of the string changes the quality or tone of the sound.

ii. Drinking water is bad for the voice. (True/ False)

Answer: False

Drinking sufficient water is good for the voice because it keeps the vocal cords hydrated.

iii. C.V. Raman conducted experiments on the sound of the veena. (True/ False)

Answer: False

C.V. Raman conducted experiments on the sound of the mṛidaṅgam and tabla, not the veena.

The three subsystems of the human vocal system are:

Air Pressure System:

It includes the diaphragm, lungs, and surrounding muscles. It provides air pressure and breath support for producing voice.

Vibratory System:

It includes the larynx or voice box and vocal folds. The vocal folds vibrate when air passes through them and produce sound.

Resonating System:

It includes the throat, mouth, and nasal cavities. It shapes, amplifies, and improves the quality of the sound.

We can keep our voices in good condition by drinking enough water, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding very oily or acidic food. We should not shout or speak too loudly for a long time. Speaking at a moderate volume protects the voice. Regular vocal warm-ups like breathing exercises, humming, lip trills, and sargam practice also help keep the voice healthy.

Jhaptāla has 10 beats and Kehervā has 8 beats.

To find when they complete full cycles together, we find the LCM of 10 and 8.

Multiples of 10: 10, 20, 30, 40

Multiples of 8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40

So, the LCM of 10 and 8 is 40.

Therefore, both Jhaptāla and Kehervā will complete full cycles together after 40 beats.

A daily vocal warm-up routine can include the following exercises:

Breathing and diaphragm exercise:

Sit or stand straight. Inhale deeply through the nose, hold for 2–3 seconds, and exhale slowly through the mouth.

Humming:

Hum at a comfortable pitch and feel the vibration in the lips, nose, and chest.

Lip trills or bubbles:

Blow air through closed lips while making a “brrr” sound. Glide up and down in pitch.

Sargam exercises:

Sing simple sargam patterns like SGR, RMG, GPM and SRGM, RGMP, GMPD at different speeds.

These exercises improve breath control, resonance, flexibility, and vocal strength.

i. 5 akṣharas

Answer: taka takita

It has 5 akṣharas: 2 + 3.

ii. 6 akṣharas

Answer: takita takita

It has 6 akṣharas: 3 + 3.

Another possible phrase is taka taka taka, which is 2 + 2 + 2.

The science of sound explains how musical instruments produce different sounds. Sound is produced by vibrations. Tightening or loosening strings changes pitch, hollow bodies increase loudness, and thickness or material changes sound quality. These principles help in designing and playing instruments like sitar, flute, tabla, veena, and mṛidaṅgam.

I would design a simple string instrument with a hollow wooden body, four strings of different thicknesses, tuning pegs, and a bridge. The hollow body would make the sound louder. Tight strings would produce high-pitched sounds, while loose or thick strings would produce low-pitched sounds. It would sound sweet, clear, and resonant.

Diagram:

The human voice is closest to the suṣhira-vādya or wind instrument category.

This is because the human voice is produced when air from the lungs passes through the vocal folds. The vocal folds vibrate and the sound is shaped by the throat, mouth, and nasal cavities. Like wind instruments, the human voice depends on controlled airflow to produce sound.