Circle Songs & Group Improvisation

These sessions are not about having the perfect voice or reading notation from a sheet. It is about listening to the person next to you and responding in real-time. Whether we are jamming at a studio in Bangalore or holding a workshop elsewhere, we use simple structures, like Bobby McFerrin’s Circle Songs, to create a safe space where you can experiment with melody, rhythm, and your own unique sound without any judgment.

My musical journey has taught me that the best music often happens when we stop trying to control it and start listening to each other. When we gather for these workshops, we aren't just learning scales or theory. We are building a musical family in that moment.

How We Create Together

We draw heavily on the philosophy of Circle Songs. This involves creating a continuous, polyphonic web of sound where everyone contributes. I often bring in elements from my own background, using the rhythmic complexity of Konnakol or the melodic depth of Carnatic ragas, and we blend them with jazz sensibilities.

We start with the basics—simple humming, rhythm tapping, and finding your pitch—so even if you feel like a beginner, you will find your place. From there, we move into group improvisation. You might find yourself looping a melody while someone else harmonizes over it, creating a spontaneous song that will never be played exactly the same way again.

Why Join a Group Session?

• Building Confidence: Singing with others is the quickest way to shed performance anxiety.
• Ear Training: You learn to listen differently, identifying harmonies and rhythms on the fly.
• Community: It is my own little 'jaathre' or musical fair. You meet people from all walks of life, from professional singers looking to expand their improvisational palette to beginners who just want to find joy in music.

My goal is to make these sessions feel like a playground. We use whiteboards to sketch out ideas, we use our bodies for percussion, and we spend time just laughing and exploring the limits of what our voices can do. Bring your curiosity and an open mind. That is all you need.