Carnatic Fun-task-tic – Learning Carnatic Music is Fun!

Learning Carnatic music has always been associated with monotony, and tiring, mundane lessons. Shashikiran’s book ‘Carnatic Fun-task-tic – Learning Carnatic Music is Fun!’ is here is to break this longstanding myth.

The book begins with an introduction to music, in general, and carnatic music, in particular. It explains how the teaching process has changed over time and how teachers must adopt different techniques, based on the student's aptitude and capabilities. Basic concepts like Naada, Pitch, Shruti, Swara, Raga, Tala, Laya, Kalapramana and the 12 and 16-notes concepts are also dealt with.

The book contains all the varisais that are traditionally taught, with lucid explanations, practice exercises, practice planners and worksheets. Using the varisais as the foundation, Shashikiran teaches the readers to innovate and create their own varisais and to make modifications in the existing varisais, in order to attain mastery over the basics. He introduces several new concepts like singing the varisais in 5 and 6-note ragas, and in different talas and nadais. He also stresses the need to develop Carnatic music as a skill, instead of merely learning to recite exercises.

Shashikiran is an expert in Voice Culture. Through his research, he has designed several Voice Culture exercises, each for improving a specific aspect of the voice, like range, fluency, pitch perfection and pronunciation. He has given them fancy names ('Monkey exercise', 'Non-ego exercise', 'Pendulum exercise', etc.), to enliven the learning process. The book contains these exercises, divided into several sections, to enable the learner to sing the traditional varisais with better fluency.

In addition, there is a separate section titled 'Voice Culture and Singing Techniques', which explains voice production, the different types of voices, the correct posture for breathing and singing, determination of the ideal pitch, voice modulation, diction and ornamentation.

Shashikiran also answers an exhaustive list of Frequently Asked Questions, including how and when to practice, singing as a duo, choosing the right guru, learning over the Internet and giving performances. He also explains the ten most common problems of singers.

Published by College of World Music, Australia and priced at Rs. 380 in India and at $20 outside India, the book is a must-buy for all beginners, advanced level students, performers and teachers of carnatic music. A CD with five hours of music lessons comes free with the book.