iRaagam – reference for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Apps, Melakarta system, Mobile device, News and updates, Tips No Responses »
Nov 202011

Information by the makers

The iRaagam is a must-have app for any carnatic music enthusiast. It provides a ready-to-use and easy reference for about 350 carnatic raagams, The user can listen to the arohanam (ascending) and avarohanam (descending) notes that define each raagam. There is also a link to Wikipedia, if the user wants to explore a raagam in more detail on the internet.

The intuitive user interface lists raagams alphabetically as well as by their melakartha number. When viewing by melakartha number, janya raagams of each melakartha raagam can be shown or hidden using the +/- button. The user also has the ability to show/hide the Janya raagams of all melakartha raagas, using the “+ All/- All” button in the status bar.

The “Lite” (Free) version has a limited number of Janya raagams. Get the regular version for a more complete list of Janya raagams. Future updates of the regular version will include more raagams.

Source and more information: App Store – iRaagam
Address : http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iraagam/id317078350?l=es&mt=8
Date Visited: Sun Nov 20 2011 12:32:06 GMT+0100 (CET)

Posted by ludwig at 12:32

Talanome tala trainer App for iPhone, iPhone touch and iPad

Apps, Mobile device, News and updates, Tala exercises, Tips 1 Response »
Nov 192011


Continue reading »

Posted by ludwig at 18:58

Search this course site after logging in

Mobile device, Tips No Responses »
Oct 192011

Several search options are available:

  • if you use a regular internet browser (personal computer, tablet computer or laptop), first have a look at the right side of your screen; here you find a range of convenient search options instantly;
  • if you use a compact mobile device or smartphone, simply choose from two options  to find the contents you are looking for:
    1. choose from Pages which opens a list of Sub Pages as well as Recent Posts; please note that mobile devices display “Recent posts” instead of all;
    2. browse a list of posts in reverse-chronological order; for this click the Search button (you may leave the search field empty)
  • the Sitemaps seen in the main menu give the most comprehensive choice of contents; these are always up to date;
  • using the Search select websites will be equally useful.

All contents are continually updated and categorized. Feel free to suggest a resource!

Posted by ludwig at 12:46

Staying up to date throughout the course

Module 01, Tips No Responses »
Sep 152011

This course is constantly being updated either in response to participants’ queries and suggestions.

Therefore it is interesting and timesaving to find the latest additions by simply selecting “Join in & stay informed!” There you see

• Entries RSS
• Comments RSS

Clicking on either will reveal an overview of all recent additions.

Please note that the last four posts by the course author are also listed under “Recent posts and updates”. Here earlier ones are gradually replaced by newer ones. All posts remain available under “Assignments and current information”.

Posted by ludwig at 11:08

Orientation in the course

Module 01, Tips No Responses »
Sep 152011

Find media contents under the dropdown menu “Assignments and current information”. For this, select the Category that matches a given Module.

If you are currently busy with some other topic (say listening to a favourite singer at home), either

  • go to any other category you are interested in
  • use the Forum to ask questions, initiate a discusssion
  • the “Special features” offers more and encourages participants to suggest a resource in a straightforward manner (click there to see what it entails)

You’ll notice that the course is very flexible to meet the needs of different types of learners; both with and without prior experience. Read more on how to easily stay up to date >>

Posted by ludwig at 11:04

Internet search tips

Module 12, Spelling of Indian names and words, Tips No Responses »
Aug 212011

The following

  • as with any internet search, keep in mind that different spellings are in use in different parts of India (e.g. Hamsadhwani with either “v” or “w”)
  • many names and words are preferably spelt with an “h” in one region yet without “h” in another
  • “th” and “dh” are used differently in Tamil and Sanskrit (thillana = tillana, krithi = kriti); simply try both variants to get better search results
  • many writers prefer “p” to “b” as the Tamil alphabet uses the same letter for both (i.e. they pronounce them differently depending on the context)
  • Tamil writers often use “aa” for a long “a” but “ee” for long “i” (e.g. vina = veena, kirtana = keertana); and “oo” for long “u” (e.g. Oothukkadu = Uttukadu)

To find out how the above works in practice, have a look here:
Special features >Search select websites.

An example for a custom search in the present context: keying “hamsadhvani chaurasia carnatic hindustani bansuri” yields the article from which the above quote is taken:

Jan 22, 2010 … Jugalbandhi by N. Ramani and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. … the highlight was the extremely colourful Hindustani vocal recital of Begum Parveen Sultana. … as ‘Gandharva’ and ‘Kalanidhi’ of Carnaticmusic though she did not have … She presented a vibrant Hamsadhwani claiming to be her favourite …
www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article87860.ece
Posted by ludwig at 21:08

Audio player tips

Audio recording, Mobile device, Module 01, Test, Tips No Responses »
Aug 212011
The new mediaplayer offers a control slider - click here to test how it works!
Here Ritu Guha sings a Tagore song titled “Basanti He Bhubanamohini” based on Carnatic raga Purvikalyani.*
  1. Click the link of any audio file as see above. Once the play button has appeared  click anywhere within the player module – this works well once the audio file has loaded sufficiently for the point you have selected.
  2. You can always see how the loading progresses: this is indicated by a green line as soon as you click on the start button.
  3. From this moment onwards you can click anywhere in the area above the green line. The window containing the title also acts as a control slider.
  4. Now move the control slider forward and backward for listening to a particular section repeatedly.
  5. Here you notice that there is no need for stopping and restarting in between several listenings of the same passage. Obviously this is a useful feature, be it for exploring details in longer concert items or for following an exercise repeatedly. It makes practice so much more enjoyable!

Note: the mobile browser seen on smartphones other portable devices will continue to open as before. As Flash technology is not supported by Apple, a new mediaplayer window opens on its devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod); however, external media resources requiring a Flash plugin cannot be accessed in this manner.

* Source: Rabindranath Tagore: The Singer and His Song by Reba Som. Penguin India  (2009). With mp3-CD
isbn 9780670082483.

Posted by ludwig at 15:06

Mediaplayer plugin – known issues & reporting a snag

Issues and complaints, Tips No Responses »
Aug 102011

Most of the audio and video files embedded in course pages should be playable in the same browser window. This is achieved with the help of a matching “plugin”.

Among the known issues preventing the intended behaviour are the following:

  • some handheld devices (smartphones) play the music and video contents in a new player window by default; in such cases, accompanying notes or illustrations may not be viewable at the same time;
  • playlists that contain several items may result in some delay until all the file contents are loaded by the browser; after a short while, the play button should become visible; depending on your internet connection, this process may take a few seconds (rarely more than a minute);
  • a plugins may may change (but shouldn’t) its “behaviour” after an update by its author; in this case, an alternative may be found and installed at a short notice.
In the event of any other issue that may prevent you from listening or viewing the media contents as indicated, please use the form seen below with the following information:
  • briefly describe the issue at hand
  • identify the page by cutting and pasting the URL from your internet browser starting with http://

Thank you for your cooperation! 

*(denotes required field)

Powered by Fast Secure Contact Form

Posted by ludwig at 19:22

What’s in a name? Music!

Keywords and names, Module 01, News and updates, Tips No Responses »
Jun 222011

Make more of the musical map created for this course:

  • go to “Special features” seen on the right side of your browser window
  • click on “Places of musical significance”
  • listen to your favourite music along with the stories on places and ideas that have inspired its creators for centuries
  • suggest more places by leaving a comment
  • plan your own musical tour – real or imagined – across South India
  • the “Search select websites” link will instantly yield useful information on many places of musical interest
Posted by ludwig at 17:43

Viewing lessons and tala exercises

Lessons, Support, Tips, Video No Responses »
Jun 222011

Make most of the course contents by keeping the following in mind:

  • first find a lesson or excercise by selecting a Category under “Assignments and current information”
  • you typically get to see a list with several posts to choose from
  • click on the heading of one particular post you are interested in; this is preferable to accessing media contents straight from the list

Note: additional information, if any, will only be seen after you click on the heading of a particular post (e.g. source of media contents)

Posted by ludwig at 15:32
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