Carnatic 101 singing course comprises of the fundamental exercises that are needed to get you started with a lifetime of learning singing in the Carnatic style. It consists of videos introducing you to the concepts of sruti, tanpura, svara and svarasthana, exercises to practise single svaras and sarali svaras of different complexities. All the exercises are in the scale structure of the raaga Mayamalavagowla. These are the first exercises any student of Carnatic music would practise.
This course consists of the following learning and practice modules.
1. Prakriti Svaras
This module contains lessons focusing on the aspects of practicing the prakriti or natural svaras which are the tonic (Sa) and its fifth (Pa) for long durations in order to attain pitch stability and breath control. This module is a perfect starting point for absolute beginers.
2. Beginner Sarali Svaras (three speeds)
Sarali svaras are simple patterns of svaras knit together as learning exercises for absolute beginners. This module introduces the following most basic sarali svaras which are very simple to repeat. Each successive sarali pattern focuses on different svaras enabling the student to get a feel for each of the svaras by the end of the module.
Arohana and Avarohana
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
Focus on Ri and Ni
S R1 S R1 S R1 G3 M1
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 S N3 S N3 D1 P
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
Focus on Ga and Da
S R1 G3 S R1 G3 S R1
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 D1 S N3 D1 S N3
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
Focus on Ma and Pa
S R1 G3 M1 S R1 G3 M1
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 D1 P S N3 D1 P
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
3. Focus on Longer Svaras (three speeds)
This module emphasises on holding a selected svara for slightly longer duration of time compared to other svaras in the sequence. The svaras focussed in successive sarali svaras in this module are same as those in Beginner sarali svaras, but are held for longer time. Here are the exercises provided in this module
Ma and Pa
S R1 G3 M1 P ; S R1
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 D1 P M1 ; S’ N3
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
Da and Ga
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 S R1
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 S’ N3
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
Ni and Ri
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 ;
S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S’
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 ;
S’ N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S
Other Carnatic Music Courses