Carnatic Music Workshops and Veena Masterclasses
Join me for hands-on sessions where we explore the intersection of rhythm, melody, and manodharma through the Veena and vocal study.
Here is an exploration into how we can use the framework of arithmetic not as a rigid constraint, but as a creative brush to paint the raga Sahana. The goal is to let the `raga bhava`, the pure emotion, take the lead, so the `kanakku` is felt but not forced.
A glimpse from my Veenopasana stamina session in Chennai. In these intensive workshops, we focus on building control and clarity through hours of dedicated `sadhana`, pushing our instrumental virtuosity together.
My workshops are designed for any curious Carnatic musician, vocal or instrumental. This poster was for a session on finding richness in Alapanas and Swarams, a core part of my `manodharma` training.
A short demonstration of a rhythmic challenge on the veena, combining slow and fast Trishram patterns within a Naatakurunji varnam. This is the kind of intricate `kanakku` exploration we dive into in my masterclasses.
An excerpt from a workshop I conducted at Stanford University. We discussed methods for generating aesthetic ideas in Swarakalpana by melding melodic nuances with the structure of `layam`, or rhythm.
I was grateful to be featured in this article by Scroll.in, which discusses my approach to music and the veena. It captures my goal of making the instrument sing with the quality of the human voice.
A look inside a Kriti workshop where we broke down the `sangathis` of a Thyagaraja composition. My teaching focuses on this kind of detailed, practical exploration to understand the composer's intent and add our own expression.
A visual representation of my musical identity. While the veena is my primary voice, I also explore rhythm through the mridangam, constantly seeking the connections between melody and percussion.
About Featured
If you are looking to join a session, please note that my workshops are split into two distinct formats: 'Veenopasana' is a high-intensity, non-instructional stamina drill for intermediate and advanced players, while my thematic masterclasses are interactive, theory-focused sessions for all Carnatic vocalists and instrumentalists. Knowing which one matches your current goals helps us both make the most of our time together.
My approach to teaching Carnatic music is rooted in my own practice: I believe that technique, or 'kanakku', should never stand in the way of the music itself. Whether we are in a workshop in Chennai or a masterclass during a US tour, the goal is always to use arithmetic not as a constraint, but as a brush to paint the raga.
In my thematic workshops, we move beyond theory to tackle the practical side of performance. We break down the 'why' behind an Alapana, how to structure Swarakalpana, and how to approach the finer details of a composition's sangathis. It is less about repeating formulas and more about finding your own voice through manodharma.
For those purely focused on the instrument, the Veenopasana stamina sessions are different. These are four-hour group drills where we focus on the raw mechanics—fretboard control, gamaka shuddham, and plucking clarity. These sessions are selective because they require a baseline level of proficiency to ensure everyone can keep up with the intense repetition.
My mentoring, both online and in-person, is about honest, critical feedback. We look at the gaps in your playing, whether it is concert planning or correcting specific habits, and work through them together. My schedule changes often due to concerts and travel, so I encourage you to reach out directly to see what sessions are currently available.
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