by Ali Ansari | Alternate Club
Every artist has that one thing they know they need to work on. For me, it was my vocals.
I’ve always had melodies in my head, lyrics on paper, and the will to create. But when it came to stepping in front of the mic and recording with real control and presence… I knew I had work to do.
So last year, I signed up for a vocal training course with Artium Academy and honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve done for myself as a musician.
Starting with Awareness (and a Bit of Nerves)
When I first joined Artium, they didn’t just throw me into warm-ups and scales. They assessed my vocal level and style and paired me up with a coach with similar musical inspirations. Shubham Shankar was a total Gem of a person.
From the first session, Shubham made it clear that we’re going to take this one step at a time, but we’re not coasting. He kept me accountable, made sure I was practicing regularly, and pushed me without overwhelming me.
What I loved the most was that took the time to understand what kind of music I enjoy singing. So even when we were working on a classical raag, he’d match it with songs naturally came to me. That made the learning process feel a lot less like school and a lot more like… music.
Breaking It Down .. The Style
As a structured finance guy, I naturally made a plan on my own side and broke down the vocal development challenge into three areas of attention:
1. My Physicality
Let’s be real.. starting anything new in the 40s has its own issues. The voice isn’t what it used to be, and I had no appreciation on how much physical strength and control is required Breathwork, vocal strength, stamina. it all needed attention.
Artium had a clear roadmap that helped me build vocal strength gradually. I learned to use my chest and head voice properly, apply vibrato, and hold notes without fading out. It was like training for a marathon but for my voice.
Now I have a training regime.. it feels like I’ve got myself a vocal gym.and my vocals are getting fitter by the day..
Surprisingly the lack of progress also motivated me to quit smoking completely too. That was a bonus I didn’t expect before getting on this journey.
2. Understanding the Music
Before Artium, I could sing and compose intuitively, but I didn’t really understand the musical theory behind it all. That limited me..not just vocally, but creatively.
Learning about raags, taals, and the emotional moods they carry helped me refine my compositions. I stopped experimenting blindly and started creating with intention. Knowing the rules lets you bend them in smarter ways.
3. Ear Training (a.k.a. My Arch Nemesis)
This was hands-down the toughest part for me. Training my ear to hear and understand what’s happening in a song.. the notes, the progressions and the accompaniments felt like learning a new language.
But with Shubham’s guidance, daily practice, and a lot of patience, it finally started to click. I began to hear structure and movement in songs I used to just vibe with. That awareness has completely changed the way I sing and produce.
What’s Next?
Artium Academy is backed by the legendary Sonu Nigam and has one of the best structured music programmes out there. It’s not just about classical music; it’s about building a strong foundation no matter what genre you’re into.
Now that I’ve completed the core training, I’m planning to dive into the advanced programme. There’s still so much to explore, and I know this will only help me unlock more potential in my voice and my songwriting.
If you’ve been thinking about working on your vocals and whether you’re starting out or picking things up later in life like I did.. I highly recommend it. Having a coach who understands you, a structure to follow, and a reason to show up every day?
Game-changing.
🎧 Stay tuned—new music is in the works, and this time, the vocals are ready to carry the weight of the story.
