Convocation Photograph 2

 

My first flute class

Finally I joined the flute class. The first class was great. I told my flute teacher that I learnt something on my own.. tried playing Titanic Theme Music. He heard it and said it was wrong, showed me how to play it properly and said that the period that I learnt on my own was helpful in the context that, I now have good breath control (and nothing beyond that)... Well, in the right sense, it was true, since, I never had professional touch, and the way I played was RAW.

He pointed out some places where I had issues:

• I wasn't holding the flute properly, my left hand thumb was way too close to the blow hole, which shdnt be. He said that I should be able to hold the flute with left thumb and the index finger.
• My left hand little finger was always below the flute, which shouldn't be.
  
• I was never using my right hand little finger.
  

I am now learning to play "Maya Mala Gawla" Raaga. I m learning to play each swara in one full long blow. It seems that this is the first lesson. I had problems in over blowing notes, which I m practicing...

After that the next practice was to play two successive notes in a single blow. Then it is to play four successive notes in a single blow. The whole idea of this seems to get familiarized with the swaras and ability to switch between swaras seamlessly, which gives great playing speed..

Cycling....Going Environmental friendly

Of recent, a lot of things have been happening. I recently got a cycle ( Hero 18 gear cycle) and use it commute to office (which is around 2 KM from home)....

First Day: Entry into office basement, security asks: "Do you work in this company?" :-).. I show him my ID, he enters my cube extension, registers my cycle and I park at basement.. Things have gone better now. I explained to few of my friends..

There is one main reason why I took the cycle. I am not a sport buff, who thinks a regular GYM going keeps good health, or atleast, all these take lower priority with work.. So, it made sense to get cycle, to alteast have some work-out. I am sure if I didnt have a cycle, I wouldnt even have this basic workout...

Another guy in my PG also got a cycle (I am not sure if he was inspired from me, but he bought after me.. so I take false credit, even though I may not be the reason ;) )...

Another friend @ my office (Krishna) also now bought a cycle..alteast I am not the only one going by cycle to office now..

Playing the Flute Video II

Playing the flute video part II. I just tried my hands at another song :-).. more on the cards soon, as I learn to over blow properly...

Playing the Flute - Video

I recorded a song that I played in my flute and uploaded to google video. You can hear it at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3708834113060738179&hl=en

I took a picture of me playing the flute and have added it as the image.
The second line of my playing didnt go well, since I was too conscious that I am recording my play and made me a bit nervous :p.

Learning to Play the Carnatic Flute Part III

Lot of help pouring in for learning the flute.

Mr. Ramachandran gave me a legend of the 12 swaras ( 7 ordinary and five half notes ) and their mappings on the flute.

I am pasting it here so that others who are searching for the mappings like me would benefit.

Please see my handwritten pdf here for the right one.
http://s.varun.googlepages.com/flutelegend.pdf

Learning to Play the Carnatic Flute Part II

Recently, I started to get myself much more organized to play the flute, but in vain. I created sheets where I drew this and filled them with black color if it has to be closed and uncolored(white) if the hole has to be open when playing the flute. Unfortunately, I dont know what holes should be closed for which swaram. I have been able to understand that for Sa , the first two holes need to be closed and everything else open. My learning has improved to play any song to a decent extent that the listeners can understand that I am trying to play that song and can play comfortably quite a few songs.

I have also learnt a few things:
1) The eight hole (the right most) is never used .
2) The first three holes are operated with your left hand fingers and your right hand fingers takes care of the remaining 4 holes.
3) If you are in Ga in which you dont close any hole and want to move to a note/swaram above it, close all the holes and over blow. This is something that I have been having trouble with/havent mastered. I get overblown notes when i try to get to the lowest note (closing all the holes), but never when I really want to play the overblown notes:p..
4) Most of my song control comes from my breath, ie., controlling the blowing, rather than by closing/opening the holes. In other words, my playing ability in terms of controlling the opening /closing of the holes need improvement, which I hope will be done as I practice more......
5) I am seriously looking for someone who can give a flute legend mapping for the swarams, like what holes should be open/closed/half closed for which swaram.