Frustrating moments in learning CM. How did you overcome it?

[musicloverrr]

I really love carnatic music. But this is really no easy art. According to my guru I grasp the sangathis quickly. But the tala is so difficult to master especially the eduppus they drive me nuts. If I have to sing without putting tala I sing perfectly. But if I put tala I either drag or accelerate it. idk, I suppose it is just a mental block. I had this problem at various stages and it got corrected automatically over time. My progress has been steady but at times its extremely frustrating when you are not able to get it right. I feel like giving up learning. Has anyone undergone the same feelings? What were your top frustrating moments in learning carnatic music? What did you do to overcome it? Also I have problem singing in higher octaves above 'ga'. It is not necessarily a pitch problem. Because even if I try to lower the pitch and sing my throat pains. I'm just afraid to sing higher octaves notes that I will sound bad. I try my best to not use false voice. Sometimes I reach it effortlessly though. I appreciate your inputs.

[VK RAMAN]

when you are listening to music, try putting talam and see you can coordinate with the music/singer. It will then become a natural thing. You are too conscious of making mistake; and then you do the mistake. It is like driving a vehicle, once you get used to driving, you know when to accelerate,when to put brake, and still continue listening to music, talking to friends, etc. Easier said than done.

[msakella]

Dear brother-member, musicloverrr, Driving a vehicle doesn’t need any instinctive talents. But, unfortunately, many are not at all aware that learning music absolutely needs certain level of rhythmical instinct. Many experiments on individuals revealed that reasonable rhythmical control over both Chaturashra & Tisra-gatis is absolutely needed to sing anything along with Tala successfully. For this the level of the rhythmical instinct of the aspirant must properly be assessed by the efficient teacher and nourished to bring it to the needed level to learn music. Me too came to know this only after my retirement and from then onwards I have been searching to find an efficient teacher who knows this but couldn’t find yet. For this purpose only I have formulated 28-Special-laya-exercises and furnished in the 287th post in the sub-thread, AMS Easy Methods-2007 – Teaching / Learning music’ in the main thread, Music School for the benefit of the aspirants.

If you are interested and if you contact my ID, msakella2002 on Skype (only after 11th March), I shall test you in this respect and, if needed, I shall give you some rhythmical exercises in increase your rhythmical level. amsharma

[krishnaa]

dear member...
I do understand what you are saying very well...
i have had similar experiences in dance, but looking at the topic (frustrations in CM) i will not put the details here. The only thing that held me during those times was staying calm... keep the things that are troubling you aside... then slowly catch it after a while.. I agree with what VKR says that you will make a mistake if you are too conscious about it...
I had started learning music when i was very young. My problem was that I could not sing high pitches. I tried and tried... always keeping in mind that i cannot sing in high pitches... it didnt work.. i got frustrated and i quit singing... that was not at all a good decision. If I would have kept aside the harder parts and picked them up slowly, it would have been better. do not give up... i also had tala problems in dance, my guru told me dont think anything about tala while dancing, just do your dance. Slowly slowly i got it and now i can do quite well with talas...

All the best!!!