Welcome to Online Carnatic music classes
Welcome to my website, enjoy your visit !
Prelude
Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa- Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa. This is where the roots of music lie. Classical music of south India is collectively called Carnatic/Karnatak Music. It is not the music of Karnataka alone. Earlier, the region lying to the south of Vindhyas range was called Karnataka and that is one reason why Carnatic music got its name. Another reason is the word Karnataka can be broken into 'karna' meaning 'ear' and 'Ataka ' meaning 'haunt'. So, in a way it is the music which is pleasing to the ears.
The fundamental lessons were composed by Purandhara Dasa. The contributions of the musical trinity -'Thyagaraja', 'Shyama Sastry' and 'Muttuswami Diskhtar' are materpieces. Other composers incldue Kshetrayya, Narayana Teertha, Annamayya, Bhadrachala Ramadasa and Jayadeva to name a few.
Welcome note
I welcome you all to this site where one can learn Carnatic music irrespective of one's geographic location and cultural background. I am an Assistant Professor of Microbiology, but music is my passion. Having enjoyed exploring carnatic music to the best of my ability with the little knowledge that I have, I wish to spread the message to the entire world, that learning carnatic music is not only pleasure giving to the ears, but it is also a way to a healthier life. Having combined science and music I have realised that no drug can replace carnatic music. I am qualified in both veena and vocal and I have been teaching music online to students in India and abroad. There is no end to learning this subject and I am happy that I am always a student, undoubtedly. My teachers teach me, no doubt but my students also teach me ways to improvise teaching as they differ in age and abilities, thereby making me think newer ways to make everyone of them understand.
Steps in the journey- The road ahead
The fundamental exercises include sraliswaras, jantaswaras, datu swaras, alamkaras and gitams. The lessons till alamkaras make the student familiar with the 'swaras', 'shruti' and 'taalam'. Once a student learns gitams, he gets exposed to different ragas.The gitams are a capsulated version of different ragas. A raga is a combination of certain notes. There are 72 parent ragas called 'melakarta' ragas. From these parent ragas several ragas are derived. The subsequent lessons include 'swarapallavi', 'swarajati' and 'varnams'. Once a student gets a hold on varnams in different ragas, he may be introduced to 'kritis' and 'kirtans'.
Salient features:
- Free demo
- One to one class online
- Flexible timings
- Classes offered to students round the globe
- Reasonable fees payable in parts
- Tailor made lessons for all age-groups
- Medium of instruction: English, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam
- Pls note: Those seeking veena classes must have minimum exposure to the instrument i.e. the student must have learnt for at least one month, because a complete beginner will find handling and tuning of the instrument very difficult. This is only a suggestion and is not to discourage anyone from pursuing the course online.
- THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING FILM SONGS PLEASE DON NOT CONTACT ME. I TEACH ONLY CARNATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC.
About Lalitha Pappu
- Professionally faculty in Microbiology department, GITAM University
- Qualified in music – both vocal and veena
- B grade artiste in All India Radio, Visakhapatnam
- Guru: Late Smt. Pappu Padmavathi Paramahamsa and Smt. Pappu Padma Ravishankar
- M.Sc. , Ph.D in Microbiology
- M.A. Music
- Diploma in veena
- Diploma in vocal
- Teaching experience: has been teaching students online in USA, Canada, France, Dubai, Singapore and Australia
- Presented papers in workshops and seminars
Speciality of carnatic music
Carnatic music is different from other forms of music in that, it is rich in ‘gamaka’. ‘Gamakas’ not enhance the beauty of compositions, they also build up strength in the singing pattern. Learning carnatic music can make learning any other form of music relatively easy.
Health Benefits of carnatic music
The specific combination of notes in different ragas have the ability to activate different chakras in the body and thereby keep the energy of all chakras balanced, which in turn prevents all diseases for a disease in the body is due to imbalance in the energies of different chakras.
Beginner level ( 1 year )
- Identifying the ‘adhara shadja’ and singing according to shruti
- Getting a hold on the notes in octave
- Concept of taalam
- Theory of 35 taalas
- Concept of ragam exemplified with geetam in different ragas
- Introduction to gamakam
Intermediate level ( 3 years)
- Swarapallavis and swarajatis
- Adi taala varnas in 2 kalas
- Simple kritis by Tyagaraja, Dikshitaar and Syama Shastri
Advanced level ( No time limit)
- Varnas in 3 kalas and trisram
- Syama Shastri swarajatis- Yadukula kambhoji and Todi
- Complex Krithies by various vaggeyakaras
- Concept of manodhrama sangeetham- Raaga alpana, neraval, swarkalpana
- Concept of 'taanam' and different types of 'taanam'
Voice care
- Voice can be considered as a natural instrument of sound in human body. Healthy body and healthy mind are the primary requirements to maintain a good voice. Then comes the role of maintenance of this natural instrument. Just like any instrument too much or too little use would make it unfit for use.
- Regular practice is essential but the practice sessions must be broken into large number of small sessions initially so that the voice is not strained.
- Drinking ample water will keep the vocal cords moist and thereby provide the singer an ease. Singing with an open voice improves the sound quality.
- Practising lower octave notes is equally important as higher octave notes. It should be done with 'omkara' starting from lower 'pa' to 'sa' in all three octaves for short periods of time. Initially the lower octave notes may not be heard, still with the ‘swarasthana’ in mind only lip movement can also help. Very soon the ‘sadhaka’ will be able to sing lower octave notes with clarity.
- In case of sore throat you can gargle with water in which a handful of pudina (mint) leaves are boiled with a pinch of salt. This is a wonder drug.
Diet tips
- Avoid cold food items like refrigerated water, ice cream, cool drinks etc.
- Avoid spicy food
- Avoid oily food
- Avoid taking meals late in the night
- Consume two tablespoons of honey every day
- Chew leaves of 'tulasi'(Basil) and 'pudina' ( Mint)
Pranayama for vocalists
Singing demands a strong lung power. Pranayama can help one increase their lung power. The breath control improves the song quality as it strengthens the voice and increases the blood circulation, reduces hypertension and increases confidence in the singer. There are several pranayam techniques useful for singer of which three easy and effective ones are :-
- Bhastrika: Sit in padmasana or sukhasan, close your eyes and inhale breath slowly through the nose and exhale slowly through the nose
- Anulom-Vilom: Sit padmasana or sukhasan, close your eyes, close the left nostril with left thumb, inhale slowly from right nostril, now close the right nostril with third finger and exhale form the left nostril. Repeat this process 50 times.
- Brahmari: Sit in Padmasana or Sukhasana and ensure that your back is straight. Keep the index fingers on your temple, third finger on the tear gland and remaining fingers resting on your face. The thumb should be placed on your ear cartilage. Inhale filling and while exhaling through nostrils keeping mouth closed try to say 'om’ like humming bee. Repeat this process several times. Return to original position and slowly open the eyes.
Books Authored by Dr. Lalitha Pappu
1. Sangeetha Sopanamu Vol. 1: 20USD ( Saralariswaras to ata taala varnas, print in different colour for swaram and sahityam)
2. Theoretical aspects of carnatic music: (useful for all exams) 20USD
