What’s the difference between Hindustani and Carnatic music?

At first, this question seems easy to answer: just watch performers from either strand of Indian music and you’ll know Which is Which, merely going by the instruments in use, or how they dress and watching the body language involved: harmonium or sarangi vs. violin for melodic accompaniment for most vocal recitals, and tabla drums … Read more

A brief introduction to Carnatic music

Whatever one’s personal background and aspirations may be, Carnatic music bamains a quest for undiluted aesthetic experience (rasa).1 Three basic concepts are essential for daily practice as well as proper appreciation: rāga (tuneful rendition with minute intervals and rich in embellishments), tāla (rhythmic order marked by mathematical precision), and bhāva (expression of thoughts and emotions). To … Read more

Kalaimamani Sri TR Sundaresan

Kalaimamani TR Sundaresan (Chennai) is a versatile percussionist with “A-grade” ranking at the national Indian broadcasting service (All India Radio). He is known for his mastery of several South Indian percussion instruments in addition to the Mridangam (double-sided drum), Ghatam (claypot), Kanjira (small tambourine), Morsing (Jew’s harp) and Konnakkol (rhythmic solmisation). The Kalaimamani title is the … Read more

Adapting Indian Universals in Music Education

We design activities that enrich the lives of children, young people and adults: Melodious music and captivating rhythms in which to immerse ourselves joyfully and spontaneously; with self-confidence yet always together. Indian music fosters intercultural collaboration. Each facet lends itself to being adapted so as to reach out even to those for whom making music had so far seemed a distant dream. We … Read more