Educating in music and yoga

Indian classical music is one of the oldest musical traditions in the world and has its roots in the Vedas.  Indian classical music is composed of Raga (Melodic scales), with 72 major Ragas and hundreds of minor Ragas, Tala (rhythmic cycles), and Bhava (expressions). Each Raga expresses different emotions, time of day or night, and season. When a Raga is sung or played appropriately at a suggested time, it evokes a certain mood (Rasa). Tala is the second important feature (rhythmic patterns). Every written composition is set to a particular Tala and has a name as well just as a Raga. It is shown by a clap of the right hand, counting of the fingers, and, a flip of the hand.  Bhava means expressions and Indian music expresses all human emotions.

Indian classical music has two styles: Carnatic, which is predominantly practiced in South India, and Hindusthani music, which is predominantly in the North. However, both styles are more similar than different. 

Carnatic style is more ancient and rich in written compositions or lyrics owing much of its wealth to the saintly composers like Purandara Dasa, Annamacharya, Ramadasa, and the Trinity composers, which are Tyagaraja, Dikshitar, and Shyama Sastri, as well as Swati Tirunal, and many more, who enriched it with various forms of compositions called Varnam, Krithi, Keertans, Thillanas, Javali, etc. While there are many different varieties of musical instruments, including the adaptation of the violin, they all are tuned to produce the vocal style of music in Carnatic music.  

We hope to train students in Carnatic music, with a focus on voice. Vocal music is taught by Ms. Prema Bhat and Miss Purnima Bhat, who also teaches Western Violin.