The learning path

Read the modules in order. Each lesson ends with a Mark as read button; your progress is saved in this browser only.

Start here: What is Carnatic music? · 0 of 40 lessons read

1. Module 1: Orientation

   What Carnatic music is, how it relates to Hindustani music, and how it is learned.

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   • ○ What is Carnatic music? (not read)
   • ○ Carnatic and Hindustani music (not read)
   • ○ How the tradition is passed on (not read)

2. Module 2: A short history

   From ancient texts and the Vijayanagara era to the Trinity and the modern concert.

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   • ○ Roots and early texts (not read)
   • ○ From treatises to Purandara Dasa (not read)
   • ○ The 72-scale scheme (not read)
   • ○ The Trinity and the courts (not read)
   • ○ The twentieth century and today (not read)

3. Module 3: Sound fundamentals

   Shruti, the seven notes, the twelve positions, octaves and notation.

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   • ○ Shruti and the tonic (not read)
   • ○ The seven swaras (not read)
   • ○ The twelve swarasthanas (not read)
   • ○ Octaves and notation (not read)

4. Module 4: Raga fundamentals

   What a raga is, how it is described, and the 72-parent system.

   0 of 5 read

   • ○ What is a raga? (not read)
   • ○ Arohanam, avarohanam and scale shapes (not read)
   • ○ Gamakas, phrases and key notes (not read)
   • ○ Parent and derived ragas (not read)
   • ○ Mood, time and season (not read)

5. Module 5: Tala fundamentals

   Cycles, sections, hand actions, the 35 talas, and how a beat is divided.

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   • ○ Counting time (not read)
   • ○ Angas and hand actions (not read)
   • ○ The seven talas and five jatis (not read)
   • ○ Chapu and other talas (not read)
   • ○ Nadai and eduppu (not read)

6. Module 6: Musical forms

   Training pieces, kritis, light forms, improvised forms and the concert.

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   • ○ Gitam, swarajati and varnam (not read)
   • ○ Kriti and kirtana (not read)
   • ○ Padam, javali, tillana and ragamalika (not read)
   • ○ Improvised forms (not read)
   • ○ The structure of a concert (not read)

7. Module 7: Composers and figures

   The composers, scholars and performers who shaped the tradition.

   0 of 3 read

   • ○ Early composers (not read)
   • ○ The Trinity (not read)
   • ○ Later composers, scholars and performers (not read)

8. Module 8: Instruments

   The voice, the drone, melodic instruments and percussion.

   0 of 3 read

   • ○ The voice and the drone (not read)
   • ○ Melodic instruments (not read)
   • ○ Percussion and the ensemble (not read)

9. Module 9: Raga and tala study

   How to study with the raga pages, tala pages, chart, comparison and generator.

   0 of 3 read

   • ○ Reading a raga page (not read)
   • ○ From the melakarta chart to a janya, and comparing ragas (not read)
   • ○ Reading a tala page and using the generator (not read)

10. Module 10: Listening literacy

    Following a concert by its structure: items, raga, tala, improvisation and ensemble.

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    • ○ What each item of a concert is for (not read)
    • ○ Hearing the raga and the tala (not read)
    • ○ Inside a song and an improvisation (not read)
    • ○ The ensemble in conversation (not read)