Carnatic Music Learning Roadmap - Chapter 2

CARNATIC MUSIC  Learning Road Map :

For learning any skill a roadmap can be an invaluable resource. And when it comes to learning Carnatic Vocal Music it’s hard to find one. So I created these series of chapters to help someone who is just starting out and needs some guidance

Phase 1 :

In Carnatic Phase 1 , We will learn the concepts of Carnatic Music. How to produce the sound, what is swara? What is pitch? how to sing a note and how to master the 7 notes, What are is Base Shruti, how to practice, when to practice and why to even practice?

The one who masters in the basics can sing all 7 notes correctly in pitch. The basic lessons are as follows.     

                 1)   Swarawali Varisais

                 2)   Swarawali Mastering Techniques

                 3) Jantai Varisaigal

                 4) Dhattu Varisaigal

                 5) Upper Octave Practice

                 6) Lower Octave Practice

                 7) Alankarams

Phase 2:

In phase 2, we will get introduced to the 12 Swara concepts through 

                 1) Geethams

                 2) Nottuwarams

                 3) Jathiswarams

                 4) Swarajathi.

                 5) Other Raga Exercises

1) Geethams will open the door for learning other ragas and their special notes.

2) Nottuswarams are very important for the beginner to understand the basic plain notes of the Raga “ Dheera Shankarabharanam." Though it is Gamaka Pradhadhana Raga, while singing nottuswaram, we sing as a plain note only. These are the fun ways of learning The Shankarabharanam Raga.

3) Swarajathi will introduce the form of Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam.

Note : Geethams and Nottuswarams do not have Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam concept.

4) Jathiswaram is a composition very much like the swarajathi in the point of musical structure, but has no Sahityam . It is widely used in Bharathanatiyam performances.

5) Raga Exercises are taught for registering and mastering the notes.

During this stage many small songs will be taught to introduce the Raga .

We get to explore and dissect each and every song that we come across. This is one of the interesting phases of the learning series 😊

Phase 3:

1. Basic Varnams  

• Ninnukori(Ragam: Mohanam)
• Saami Ninne (Ragam: Sankarabharanam)
• Evvari Bodhana (Ragam: Abhogi)
• Taruni Ninnu (Ragam: Kambhoji)
• Vanajakshi (Ragam: Kalyani)

2. Popular Krithis

Phase 4 :

Complex Varnams

Manodharma

Raga Alapana

Pancharathna, Dikshithar Krithis 

RTP ( Ragam , Tanam, Pallavi) 

Thilana , Javali 

Phase 5 :

Concert level Training