Carnatic Violin
Well Ive been learning vocal carnatic music (South indian music) since 1996 and started violin since 2002. Just love it even though I struggle with it at every level. I know it sounds corny (even for me), but there is a certain bliss when you are sitting down with the violin and start making those noises (carnatic music involves sitting down!).
The person I need to thank most for helping me is my violin teacher, Mr Murali Kumar. My first and foremost guru, he himself learnt the art, unlike me at a very young age, from Violin Vidhwan Kanchi Janardhanan, and later had the great fortune of receiving advanced training from violin maestro, M.S.Gopalakrishnan. Needless to say, for all you MSG fans out there, his style takes a few lifetimes to just understand, let alone master it! Il post out more in the future what Ive learnt (drops) and what I would love to learn (the ocean). If you have any tips for improving MSG style of violin playing please pass them along. Id be eternally grateful to you.
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So where does one hear the great Sri play?
Mate still a long way to go for performances but in the mean time Im playing on the 1st of April (no not kidding) for a temple fund raiser… Wanna get some indian classical? This would be a great one
..
hi sri ! this is soundarya.. can u play for my vocal concert ??
Hi Soundarya,
It would be a pleasure. Though I am not sure if I can make it to India this year
.
How is your practise going anyway?
Cheers
How would you compare your experieces in learning violin vs. vocal? I learn vocal (but started ve…..ry late) and I heard (and I believe), that learning instrument is harder, but learning it gives one a much better hold of basics.
Pl. put up some samples for us to listen.
Arun,
I think they go hand in hand. And another good news I can offer is, it is never too late. If I can do it, anyone can! True it is scary seeing those kids who started at the truly “tender” ages of 5, and 3 and 6 months, act as if the violin is just an extension of their arm. And to them I say kudos…
i wouldnt say that learning one art form is harder than the other. There are a lot of factors that come into play. How much you are drawn to the form (I like singing and playing the violin, but I am a lot more shyier if i had to sing!).. even vocal i started pretty late – age 17! and violin age 22.
All I can say is keep practising and take it at your own pace. Make sure you learn something new in each session.
Can you tell me more about your experiences with learning CM?
Cheers
Sri
Arun,
I guess regarding the smaples. I certainly wouldnt mind putting em up, but it will have to be at your own risk
As you know I am still a student. I guess what I could do is put up my practise-journals on youtube… so I can keep track of my own progress… and this will even force me to not be slack with my practises 
Cheers
Sri
Hi sri – Compared to me you started very very early
. I started twice the age you started vocal – after of course being an ardent listener for many years (although I started listening late also).
I am sort of in the beginner-intermediate varnam stage (8 varnams and a handful of simple krithis). Here in the US with 1 class a week, and a family, things move slow – but i have become quite comfortable with this pace. Obviously I am in no hurry! I practice somewhat frequently but nowhere near what it should be if i have to be good.
Few attempts at public singing were not exactly things I want to talk about
(even though I didnt sing alone). I find varnams to be quite tough – particularly 2nd speed. Love to sing them in slow speed. But learning cm is challenging and very very enjoyable. I was already a huge fan of the music, and this adds that extra dimension that allows me to understand some of the magic behind the music. I simply love that as it enables me to dive deeper.
Arun
PS: dont ask me about my samples
!
Ah but you see Arun, youl make up for the experience and “patience” factor the young uns lack! And youl appreciate every apaswaram you make, or every thalam you miss (I certainly still do)…
actually I used to absolutely loath CM… I think i was jealous of my younger bro who is a fantastic singer… i only started because a mate of mine had started (and i only realised a few months later when he quit, that he had started because of a girl!!)… and i still continued to learn… its quite scary to think how I could have spent my whole life not even coming in contact with CM hadnt it been for that incident!!
well ok i wont ask for samples, but practise journals perhaps?
cheers
Sri
regarding varnams in second speed… i had the same problem.. until one morning (after another night of “damn my brother is better than me” sulking
), my grand father suggested i do some akara sadhakam of the alankarams in first and second speed but slowly and then gradually increase the speed…
i had thought he was just pulling my leg but never realised how much knowledge he actually had… i mean it wasnt like the movies where the next morning the “hero” is transformed into the next BMK, but it certainly made it easier to sing the varnams in a slightly faster speed… hope that helps with your 2nd speed varnams
yes regular methodical practice of swara exercises will work no question – now to do it regularly is the problem
. But may be since I have one more testament now, I should move my lazy behind!
Thanks!
Arun
well its hard initially (for me it was anyway)… but gets easier with practise… just aim for consistent improvement.. even if it is something very tiny thats still gold!