Carnatic Flute
Instructor: Srinath Gaddam
The bamboo flute is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, and has taken a prominent spot in Carnatic and Hindustani music for centuries. Its distinct melodious tone makes it a perfect instrument for solo performances as well as for adding unique color and ornamentation as an accompanying instrument.
Srinath attended UMass Amherst and holds an advanced degree in Computer Science. He has been playing the flute for over ten years and has trained under Ram Nath, Loka V. Shankar and more recently, Dr. N Ramani. He performed at a very memorable Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana in 2002 as part of a 25 member flute orchestra accompanying Dr. Ramani, and has also participated in various music and dance productions in the Boston area over the years. He is also a huge fan of Indian film music, as well as fusion music from around the world. Apart from playing the flute, and when Srinath is away from his professional work life, he enjoys sailing, snowboarding, and spending time with friends.
Classes are typically an hour in duration.
Time and location is determined on a case by case basis
Beginner Flute
The beginner class assumes no knowledge of Carnatic music and/or no prior experience at all playing the flute-Western, Carnatic/Hindustani etc.
Goals:
- Develop an understanding and appreciation of the instrument and its potential in Indian music
- Learn how to hold and finger the instrument properly
- Gain exposure to ornamentations (gamaka), and an understanding of the structure of a piece.
Material Covered:
- Basics of playing: Blowing & Fingering
- Basic exercises (sarale, janti, and daatu varse; alankara, saadhaka)
- Basic Theory: ragas, talas, structure of composition
- Guided listening to professional renditions of pieces.
- Beginner’s composition, time permitting
- To improve upon pre-existing technique, focusing on developing blowing technique, clarity, and speed
- Execute more complicated oscillations and ornamentations (gamakas, brukas)
- Build a sizeable repertoire
- Basic exercises (see above) as means to improve clarity and speed
- Gamaka-versions of the basic exercises
- Reportoire including geetham, swarajathti, varnam, keerthana
- Aalapana
- Guided listening sessions to help improve understanding of music
Intermediate Flute
This class assumes any level of prior exposure to the Carnatic flute beforehand. This class will also briefly survey semi-classical, fusion and Hindusthani genres.
