Student Ensembles: From Rehearsal to Stage
Music is meant to be shared! I guide my students beyond individual practice, preparing them to perform in professional ensembles at venues like Malleswaram Ramamandira and Chowdaiah Memorial Hall!!!!!!!!
The energy during a sound check is electric. Here, my students are in full rehearsal mode on stage at the prestigious Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, ensuring every note is perfect for our upcoming concert.
Our Tarangini Arts Foundation's golden jubilee is a huge milestone, and we marked the preparations with a photoshoot. This is our wonderful group of over 50 talented musicians, all coming together for our mega event.
It was wonderful to see so many musicians participating in the group singing of Vasudevacharya’s compositions at the KCMC inauguration in Mysore. This is a great example of the collaborative spirit in the Carnatic music community.
The traditional lighting of the lamp to inaugurate the KCMC Vasudevacharya's day in Mysore. These events bring our entire musical community together to celebrate the legacies of great composers.
A beautiful evening performing a Pancha Veena concert for the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations at Century Club. Playing in an ensemble creates a rich, layered sound that is a unique experience for both the performers and the audience.
Another view of my students' eight-veena ensemble performance. Seeing them play in such perfect sync is a testament to their hard work and dedication to the art of Carnatic music.
A wider shot of the student ensemble performance at Malleswaram Ramamandira, accompanied by mridangam and ghatam. Learning to play with percussion is a key part of our performance training.
About Student Ensembles: From Rehearsal to Stage
Ensemble playing is completely different from solo practice. When eight of us sit down to play, we have to listen to each other, match our plucking intensity, and stay in perfect rhythm with the mridangam. It takes a different kind of discipline to blend your sound with others, but the energy when it all clicks on stage is absolutely electric!!!!!!!!
Learning to play in an ensemble is where students really start to understand the depth of Carnatic music. It is not just about playing the notes; it is about synchronization, sound check etiquette, and learning to feed off the energy of your fellow musicians.
At Tarangini Arts Foundation, we focus heavily on the nuances of group performance. We practice at venues like Malleswaram Ramamandira and Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, which gives my students the rare opportunity to handle acoustics and stage pressure early in their journey. We cover microphone techniques, sound balance, and how to maintain focus when there are ten other Veena players sitting right next to you.
Whether you are aiming to play for temple festivals or larger concert halls, these sessions are designed to move you from the classroom to the stage with confidence. We work on everything from managing stage nerves to the fine details of Manodharma Sangeetham (improvisation) within a group setting. It is hard work, but the camaraderie and the shared sound are well worth the effort!!!!!!!!
Suma Sudhindra
I am Suma, and I have spent my life living and breathing the Veena. I believe that while solo practice is where you build your soul, ensemble playing is where you build your community!!!!!!!!
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We offer everything from foundation grades to advanced performance workshops.
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