From simple to complex

Jr. has always skipped a few pages on the book with Carnatic music in Western notation for saxophone. 

Enthused by her new instrument, she tried to play Amrithavarshini ragam this morning after playing Christmas songs.

She was not happy with her attempt but I was really impressed. For a first attempt, she is showing a lot of promise. 

Hope that in a few months she can play by ear!

Carnatic music on Alto Saxophone

Now that Jr. is very familiar with reading the notation and subtle nuances on the music sheets, she is back to trying Carnatic music on Alto Saxophone. 

The original plan was to have her do a few Geethams or varnams during the Golu season. There was a time in India where I developed an allergic reaction to "sri chakra raja simhasaneshwari" after listening to way too many girls sing the same song at golus. 

Here in the bay area the song selection seems to be more diverse from the group we interacted with in my childhood. Still, it would have been nice for Jr. to play saxophone at golus. For some reason, she was in the Jazz mood and skipped it.

This week having learned Nagumomu in her music class, she wanted to get the instrument home and practice! 

We were thrilled to hear that. She had attempted the first few bars of it earlier this year and said "too hard. Not there yet! How does Kadri do it so fast? he must have a special saxophone! etc. etc." So it was good to see the change.

Here is a video of her attempting Nagumomu and a thillana.

There is a lot more work to be done, but for a first attempt on the thillana, we were impressed. Now that I have mentioned it on the blog, she will promptly read it and call it quits.. have to work on that tomorrow.. 

Note to everyone else : This is pretty good

Note to Jr. : There is a lot more work to be done

Note to San and all older ladies in the family : No. Her fingers won't fall off because I posted a video on the blog

Note to self : Keep calm and coach on.. 

West and East

Jr. gets to practice saxophone over the weekends. Her teacher is making sure an email goes out saying she practiced and Jr. knows she has to, if the email has to go out!

I am also making her practice Carnatic music when we get a chance. She knows the songs by heart and it is a question of being able to follow the notation in the paper and translating instantly in her head from a different south Indian classical notation. 

She does a great job of both and has improved a lot.

Next week, Nagumomu in Raga Abheri.. at least the first few lines!

More than her practicing, these videos end up with some funny outtakes. Hope the kids have fun watching this years from now.

The Alto Sax Diva..

That is my darling daughter, posing with an attitude when I requested a photo of her playing Saxophone.. 

We then switched gears from the Carlos Santana mode to Carnatic Sangeeham mode and here is the result..

She is getting better with more practice. Have to say a heartfelt thanks to Candida Connolly and Kadri Gopalnath for publishing a book that brings these almost 400 year old tunes to Western notation. Initially she was playing it staccatto and now that she heard the CD that came with the book, has figured out that the notes are to be played slurred and there are tie'd notes where she lips only the first note! 

It is an interesting experience for me watching her figure this out as well as helping her figure this out! 

A funny conversation after we listened to the amazing Kadri play Nagumomu..

me : you see how he just floats that note for a fraction of a second? can you do that?

Jr. : how long has he been playing the saxophone?

me : 30-35 years?

Jr. : Let me guess. That is what he does for a living?

me : yes. I think he is a full time saxophone musician.. not some part time bank employee playing saxophone on the side.

Jr. : I AM A BEGINNER! I DON'T FLOAT NOTES LIKE THAT APPA!

Well, that came out of nowhere! If I had only captured that dialogue on video, it would have made the videoblog even better..

Here's to my diva! 

Jr. figures it out

Jr. has been playing with the Alto Sax, trying to figure out the Carnatic music scales on the instrument. She saw so many kids perform instrument solos at the Navarathri Golu festival and saw it was an easier alternative to singing everywhere. 

Started with renewed vigor today and she did it! (There was no school today and that meant boredom at home. At least the time was used a little constructively for figuring this out!)

Next year at the Golus... Jr. might be playing a Tamil song on the Alto Sax. Can't wait to see that!