Sangeeta Pallava, the six-week Minor Course that started in July, concluded in the third week of August. The intensive, short term, interactive and experiential Carnatic Vocal Music workshop offered by the School of Kalayoga was conducted by Assistant Professor Dr. P. N. Prabhavathy. The course was also offered to non-CVVians as a workshop.
This course, for students aged 12 and above, took off from the foundation laid in the Carnatic Vocal Basic workshop conducted earlier. There were sixteen participants, five of whom were non-CVVians. The classes were held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 to 9m.
The participants learnt Sadhakam exercises which help to gain control over the rendering of swaras (notes) and sancharas (phrases). Sarali Varisais, Janta Varisais and Alankarams in Raga Mayamalavagowla. They were taught Tala exercises with alankaras in Dhruva Talam and practised Alankaras in all the Talas learned by them, in all the three octaves.
There was a special session by Dr. L. Sampath Kumar, Assistant Professor and Head of the School of Linguistics and Literary Studies, on the Katapayadi nomenclature and insights into lyrics of the Sanskrit/Tamil compositions that had been taught. He also enlightened the participants on the legend of the divine poet Andal.
The participants were taught various ragas like Abhogi and Malayamarutam. A folk-style composition by Oothukkad Venkata Kavi was also taught and they were familiarised with the 72 Mela System and the Melakarta Chart.
The students were given weekly singing assessments as part of the CIA. Interim theory evaluations were also done. While the CVV students will earn credit for this course, the non-CVVians will be awarded a Certificate of Participation.