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CARNATIC MUSIC IN MY LIFE

1/31/2017

Carnatic Music is an ancient type of music which originated in India. It is not simple and takes time, effort and passion to achieve it. Those that do, put all their energy and time to accomplish it and that can be easily seen it the eyes of the musicians who perform for HCMA. Their enthusiasm and hard work doesn’t go to waste. These artists inspired in my own years of musical education. Not only, do these artist put on spectacular show they teach us. They teach us how to better people, more disciplined, they teach how to be more efficient when we practice. They teach how to identify new ragams and work with the musicians ( mridangam and violin ). These artists have so much fun up on stage, they bring smiles on anyone’s face who listens to them. Their vigorous attitudes make the concert enticing. Therefore, I always think of them and wish to sing like them whenever I go up on stage. Carnatic Music is something that shouldn’t not be ignored, even if you don’t learn you should always try to listen. Carnatic has made a great difference in my life and will in yours too.

-VIBUSHA VADIVEL

WHAT I LEARNED FROM HAMSADHWANI CONCERTS

1/30/2017

After listening to hamsadhwani’s amazing
concerts, I learned to identify a few ragams that I was
taught. When I first started learning music, I barely knew
about a Carnatic music concert and its purposes. Now, I
realized that music relaxes people and that it is a special
talent that people get to learn. Listening to the songs at
the concerts can also help you in improving gamakams,
sangathees, Madhyamakalam, or anything else you are
having trouble singing. Now I know listening to concerts
has a lot of benefits and prospects.
- YATIN PANEM

WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO LIVE CONCERTS?

1/30/2017

Why should we listen to live concerts?
I like to attend live concerts because I find the overall atmosphere electrifying and lively. So many artistes accompanied by so many different types of instruments just makes me feel very intrigued and excited. It also helps me understand the beautiful chemistry between the singers, and the accompanying artists. I love the magic they are able to perform and the spontaneous improvisation all in a live setting. For example, how the violinist tries to understand the singer and brings in the synergy to make the singer sound even better. Listening is also important because it helps you to learn how to sing it and appreciate the other singers style and perspective.

Going to live concerts exposes people like me to so many ragas, songs, composers and their compositions and helps me to appreciate our music and our great musical culture. It helps me appreciate the hard work, sincerity and dedication by various artistes to uphold this valuable tradition. It inspires me to work hard and be sincere and makes me feel very privileged to be a part of something that is very precious to us. As a young boy learning the ropes I like to note down the ragams, compositions and their composers so that I am able to identify songs in the same ragams. It gives us a platform to interact with artists and understand their perspectives, their stories of hard work and inspires me to become a better artist myself.
Lastly, the concert is where I catch up with friends, listening to various artists and have a lot of fun. While it used to be little boring in the beginning, I have truly started to enjoy going to concerts and I am also working hard so that I am able to perform on stage myself.

-PRITHVI VENGARAI

IMPACT OF CARNATIC MUSIC IN MY LIFE

1/30/2017

The impact of Carnatic music in my life is infinite. My passion and love for music has greatly affected the way I enjoy Carnatic music. All of the Hamsadhwani concerts I have been to, show how hard musicians and vocalists work in order to perform. They would learn a new song in just days before the performance. For them to be able to perform, they made sure to focus and practice. Practicing is one of the most important things to do as you learn Carnatic music. Every time you practice, you will always correct the mistakes you made and perfect them. In performances, the musicians and vocalists always enjoy themselves as they play instruments and sing. These performances will always bring joy and smiles to every one who listens to Carnatic music. Carnatic music teaches me not to give up, and always try your best when you perform. Whenever I sing on stage, I make sure to always think positive thoughts, and the performance goes out very well. I would like to thank my teacher, Indhu Auntie, for teaching me everything I learned so far. I am very excited to learn many new songs in the future. I am very grateful to have a teacher that takes time out of her day, to teach me new lessons every week. Therefore, Carnatic music takes a very large part in my life.

-Saanvi Ganesh

HOW MUSIC IMPACTED MY LIFE

1/24/2017

Music is very calming and makes me happy everyday. Once I got to know the basics of Carnatic music it really calmed down my mind. Carnatic music involves a lot of mathematics and has been proven to increase the brain activity. It also has a very systematic way. Attending Hamsadhwani Concerts have a big impact on me. Listening to the live concerts made a whole lot of difference on the way I look at it. Initially my mind wasn’t set to the tune of carnatic music but later on it really grasped my mind and got to my attention. It got me more focused which eventually helped me get better grades at school. Also it helped me in dance with the beats and when to start and when to stop. It helped in many ways. For example, if I was at a concert and the vocalist was singing a song in the ragam of Rasikapriya, the next day if I was to learn a song in that same ragam,I would grasp it easily and have that sense of tune in my mind. All this happened because of my wonderful teacher, Indhu aunty, who constantly pushes us to do the best. I didn’t know I had this much to say/offer about carnatic music today.

GREAT START FOR HAMSADHWANI

1/23/2017

The concert on January 21 was amazing. The artists (Anirudh Venkatesh, Shiva Ramamurthi, and Vignesh Venkataraman) were incredible. The 2nd song, Vinaradhana was exceptional. The ragam, Devagandhari was somewhat familiar to me but I still couldn't guess it. Bantu Reethi Kolu was a fast paced, beautiful rendering by Anirudh. The song in Kambhoji, Koniyadina Napai, was amazing with the alapanai, neravel, and swaram. Following that was an excellent RTP in Shri Ranjani, with a ragamalika twist in the Pallavi. Overall the concert was awesome, and I got to help set up the mike system at the beginning. I think more kids and people learning or interested in Carnatic Music should come listen because "Listening is an important part of learning" (quote, Indu Aunty). Last but not least, kudos to Woodlands for the delicious food.

- Kashyap Kalvakota,

HOW DOES LISTENING IMPROVE YOUR MUSIC SKILLS

1/23/2017

Ever since I started learning Carnatic music the one thing everyone kept telling me that listening was a huge part of learning. But one question remained in my head and that was how? Until last year I didn't believe this. But recently going to concerts has exposed me to so many ragams and songs I never knew existed. And when I learn songs in these ragams I am able to make a connection. For example recently I learned a song called madhava mamava in the ragam Neelambari. I heard a song during a concert that was in the same ragam and when I was learning this new song I was able to make a connection and I knew what ragam it was. Going to concerts and listening to music helps you comprehend the ragams and helps you become a better singer. -
SHREYA RAMANAN

IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO MUSIC

1/15/2017

When it comes to learning Carnatic music, I wanted to learn just from the guru. After few years of learning, I realized that only fifty percent is achieved because the other fifty comes from what one listens to. When I first started listening to Hamsadwani concerts, I didn't see much of a difference in me. After listening to more and more concerts, I am able to understand the importance of listening and am able to sing better and practice advanced songs and concepts. I was inspired and motivated by Vivrd Prasanna and Kamalakiran who at their young age performed in Hamsadwani concerts and thus LISTENING helps you understand the ragam better, improvise your style of singing, know more about the krithi and lyrics.

-SRUTHI RANGARAJAN

WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO LIVE CONCERTS?

1/14/2017

Youtube has many concert recordings so why drive for live concerts when it is available online? Live concerts are real treats for both ears and eyes, well, for me at least. But it wasn't always like this. I would just listen because my parents told me to listen and I would always be bored. Now, I understand the importance of live concerts. Well, how did that happen? I started to figure out ragams and it made listening to carnatic music more interesting. With learning violin, I watch the fingerings and bowing techniques of the violinist. I've started to learn niraval and kalpana swarams so when I listen to live concerts, I was able to understand how to present it. Hamsadwani's concerts made carnatic music so interesting and educational. Living with a family that loves music, they've really encouraged me to listen and it has really helped me over the past years. Listen online but it won't give you the same result as a live concert experience.

-SWASINYA JAYARAMAN

What Have I Learned from Hamsadhwani Concerts

1/12/2017

I used to think songs were made magically by people who had great minds. After coming to Hamsadhwani Concerts, I realized that songs were more than just a tune and words. Hamsadhwani concerts made me think differently about music since there are many factors behind a song.
The composers help connect the lyrics to a thalam to see which one fits best. Then, they set the song to a specific ragam and there are tons to choose from. After figuring out a ragam, the song is ready to be sung to the world. The lyrics sung in many songs have a meaning behind them and are mostly in praise of God. Hamsadhwani made me figure all of this out and got me interested in carnatic music and the history behind the songs.
-SANJANA CHANDRASEKAR

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HCMA organizes Carnatic music concerts in the greater Los Angeles area, with a mission to promote young and upcoming artistes and foster a community of music lovers

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" Hamsa(swan) is the bird which brought king Nala and princess Damayanthi together. Now Hamsadwani is bringing Rasikas of music and young artists together to render a great service.The young artists are already becoming famous. Wish the organization all the best for continuing this valuable service."

Mr. Raman Chakravarthy (aka our Raman mama)

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