Before you begin your first lessons, you must be ready. For go through the Carnatic introductions (check the main page). When you have a basic understanding of the notes of Carnatic, it will help you sing better. Now, continue.

What you need
As you start
Notations used

You will need the following:

• A good teacher. This is essential because this person will correct your mistakes and set a good example to follow. Your teacher should be someone capable of performing and have a good reputation for teaching. Treat your teacher with respect and consideration at all times, even when you are no longer learning from her. Instrumentalists must be sure to learn from both a vocal and instrumental teacher. From the instrumental teacher you will learn technique and from the vocal teacher how to play as though your instrument is singing the words.
  
• Dedication. It is not enough to just show up for class once a week. Practice everyday, even for as little as half an hour. For those who wish to be performers, weekday practice should be 4-5 hours.
  
• Listening skills. You must be ready to listen carefully to your teacher and to other performers. Listening to great recordings of (especially) past greats will help you learn music faster. Attend concerts as well.
  
• A shruthi box or tambura. This will provide the basic notes sa and its fifth pa. Ask your teacher to help you find your ideal pitch so you can sing at least two whole octaves comfortably. Find out exactly how to tune either your shruthi box or tambura. Listen to the notes carefully at least five minutes.

Things to think about as you start (especially for singers):

1. Don't sing like a robot. You have to enjoy what you're doing. Music is fun!
   
2. Don't strain your voice. If you can't get a note, sing it softly or shift your shruthi down. With regular practice you will be able to hit the higher notes more comfortably.
   
3. Keep a steady speed. There's no need to rush. Don't try to think you have to get through everything quickly. Instead, do it slow, go through a little at a time, getting everything right. It's more important to be correct than it is to be fast.
   
4. Sit up straight. Sit cross-legged on the floor and keep your back comfortable but straight. Hold your neck back, not sticking out, but relaxed. Rest your hands loosely on your thighs or knees.
   
5. Now sing sa, pa, and high sa. Hold LONG notes and see that they match with the shruthi box. Your teacher will help you.
   
6. Choose a raaga for your beginning exercises. They are usually sung in the raaga maayamaaLavagowLa, but some teachers use shankaraabharaNam or any other raaga that has 7 notes in its scale.
   
7. When you sing, sing long. Hold each note as long as possible (kaarvai), holding your breath and singing "from your belly." Try to get the note smooth and even, without wavering. Try to hold it for as long as a minute.
   
8. When you have practiced the lessons and know them well, sing them accurately (ask your teacher), you can sing them in akaaram. This is when you use the sound aaaa... instead of the notes sa ri ga ma pa da ni for your exercises.
   

NOTATIONS USED:

In these lessons, a few symbols are used. Check the symbols page for more information, but a summary is below:

s = sa, r = ri, g = ga, m = ma, p = pa, d = da, n = ni

lowercase notes (s r g m p d n) = notes in normal (middle) octave

uppercase notes (S R G M P D N) = notes in upper (mEl, taara) octave

note + dot (s. r. g. m. p. d. n.) = notes in lower (keezh, mandra) octave

note + apostrophe (S' R' G' M' P' D' N') = notes in octave above upper (ati taara)

note + two dots (s.. r.. g.. m.. p.. d.. n..) = notes in octave below lower (anu mandra)

vertical bar (|) = taaLam division of drutam or anudrutam or laghu

double vertical bar (||) = end of one taaLa cycle

dash (-) = separation of phrases. You must sing so that each phrases is continuous and the notes are only split where the dashes occur.

Now begin by choosing a lesson: