Before the Dawn was shattered by the sudden impact of jet planes low overhead, my early morning mood was focussed on the result of yesterday's raga - singing lesson.

I had mistakenly sung a western 'Pa' and the Raga Teacher had made me repeat the phrase.

It was the Raga 'Yaman' which is really not a complicated Raga. I had thought I knew how to sing it.

After several attempts I finally got it, and he paused to explain that the first sound I had made was a hollow vibration which has an expanding ripple effect.

But the Indian note is straight like an arrow. I could feel the difference in the shape of my mouth and throat. It is an error which occurs more with 'Pa' and 'Sa': that is with the fifth interval and the octave.

It must all be due to the conditioning of our ear I am sure. Today is the day when we are all being exposed to that interval as the trumpets play "The Last Post" in every Australian town.

Years ago when I was learning Western music theory I remember being pleased to discover that this tune the bugle played, was the mnemonic by which I could easily pitch and sing that difficult interval, the fifth.

That is where our tradition focuses - the gap between; the distance to and from notes - from here to there. It is part of our directional, linear thinking.