Need advice for India tour

soungalo · Post by **soungalo** » 25 Nov 2008, 02:08

Hi there
I would like to request help and advice in planning my tour to India.
I'll be arriving in India in January, and will be staying for 6 months.
My primary goal is to continue my Tabla studies in Calcutta, but I would like your help on the issue of Carnatic music.
Though I don't know a lot about it, I thought it'll be great to get to some concerts. I understand that Carnatic concerts are more common in southern India, but I'd like further direction for specific cities, towns, halls where I can hear it.
Additionaly, I consider taking some Kanjira lessons, so I would be happy if you give me some names of good teachers and where to find them. I don't need a grand-master, just someone that can show me the basics propperly.
Last one, where can I find good instruments for reasonable prices ?

I would appreciate any help, ideas, etc...

Thanks !

appu · Post by **appu** » 25 Nov 2008, 09:27

Nick in our forum is an excellent kanjira player ( I understand from what I have read). Enlist his services

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 25 Nov 2008, 10:02

Soungalo welcome to India (presuming you are a foreigner). Chennai is THE place for Carnatic Music. Bangalore has a fairly active concert schedule but is really a very distant second. If you are here in January you could also consider visiting Thiruvaiyyaru near Tanjore for the anniversary of Carnatic Music's greatest composer, St. Thyagaraja. It is a bit kitschy but I think it is still worth it - and you can also take in the grandeur of the Cholan heartland while you are at it....

Kanjira - yeah. you'd do well to get in touch with Nick. You can try sending him a message through this forum....

Music Shops - there are a couple of good shops on Royapettah High Road in Chennai = Sapthaswara is one of them. You should also find good shops in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai for North Indian instruments

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 Nov 2008, 11:32

Nick the Brit (more Indian, really) is also a mrudngam and morsing player.

soungalo · Post by **soungalo** » 25 Nov 2008, 21:40

Thanks ! I will probbably be in Chennai on my way to Andaman, so now I'll consider staying there for a while.
I'll only be able to get there at mid February. Is it a fine time to visit ?

I could't find Nick, so if anybody runs into him or can easily get in touch with him, I'll be thankful if you could direct him here.

More tips will be greatly appreciated, if you have any...

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 25 Nov 2008, 22:46

February is a great time to be in Chennai - the weather is still present and the clamour of the season would be over which means you will save a bit on tickets (not that it is exorbitant even during the season). The Hamsadhwani festival should be on at that time and you can catch a few good concerts there...