Notation for Krithis

[shibi]

Hello,

I am a beginning (adult) learner of carnatic music currently learning through Skype. I had a question for the more experienced teachers/ learners. How important is notation while learning Krithis. At the moment I just learn by repeating after my Guru and do not have a written notation for the songs. I thus do not know the actual swara positions and just rely on the "tune" to sing the songs. I don't have enough experience or knowledge to guess the swaras from the songs. I have a feeling that after a few years, I might forget the songs and thus not be able to remember them. Does one insist on having the notation as well or does one just learn the songs using the tunes. Any explanations as to the experience of other learners/ teachers will be extremely valuable.

Thank you,

Shibi

[saigeetha karthik]

dear shibi
i am a learner of veena and at present learning varnams. I would like to share the tips given by my teacher. she always used to advise us to listen to a lot of music. I practically experienced it, it actually helps in identifying the ragas and it hepls to observe the sangathis also to an extent. But about identifying ragas it is really helpful. so my suggestion to u as a learner is that if you keep listening to krithis, it might help you.

[mohan]

Notations are very useful. While most notation systems for Carnatic music are not 100% accurate (due to the difficulty in notating gamakam), even the basic notation is better than nothing and will help to codify sangati-s for a composition. Unfortunately many teachers do not provide the notation for a composition and expect the student to just learn via listening. As you point out, over the years you may forget the orginal sangati-s that you were taught. In absence of the notation, you should ask the teacher for an audio recording of the composition.

[shibi]

Dear Saigeetha Karthik,

Thank you for your suggestions. I do try to listen and identify ragas but I do so more from the "contour" of the ragas than actually identifying the swaras if you know what I mean. I mean I have no idea of the swaras in Saama ( vaguely know that it is Kharaharapriya janyam) or Ataana or Begada for that matter. I mean it is like the quote of an American Supreme court judge in a radically different context: "I know it when I see it but i cannot define it" (replace "see" with "hear" of course )

Dear Mohan,

Thanks for the advice. Will do so.

[saigeetha karthik]

dear shibi
i just thought of sharing my experience though it may not be interesting, I was listening to janani ninnuvinna by shrimati MS amma and while listening that, film song 'thalayai kuniyun thamaraiye' and 'kangal irandal' the famous no by james vasanthan suddenly crossed my mind. i didn't know what raga was that when i was listening. now i think i can identify reetigoulai to greater extent, though i may not remember the arohana or avarohana of that. similarly when i was listening to devi neeye thunai in keervani, 'asaindadum mayil onru kanden, oothukadu simhandra madyaman- crossed in my mind. ofcourse, the only difference between the two ragas is only the madhyamam. does that match your contouring definition???!!! hope it is not so.......boring