RAAGA SCHOOL OF MUSIC
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    • Carnatic Vocal Classes >
      • Smt. NCS Ravali
      • Vidwan Dr. Umashankar
      • Smt. Srirajalakshmi
      • Vishwesh Swaminadhan
      • Aarthi Ravichandran
      • Akshaya Ramanath
      • Sri Anirudh Bharadwaj
      • Ms. Sushmetha Mohan
      • Smt. Usha Prabhu
      • Smt. ​Bharathy Subrahmanyam
      • Smt. Srividhya Kumar
      • Smt. ​Yamini Indrakanti
      • Dr. Harish Ganapathy
      • Smt. Radha Srisailam
      • Smt. Pratyusha Chaganti
      • Smt. Sindhu Natarajan
      • Ms. Mayuri Vasan
      • Smt. Sunandini Radhakrishnan
      • Smt. Sreevidya Pasumarthi
      • Smt. Madhura Subramanian
      • Shambhavi Bhaskar
    • Tabla Classes >
      • Shri. Ravi Gutala
      • Smt Rama Garimella
      • Shri. Nikhil Pandya
    • Mridangam Classes >
      • Akshay Prabhakaran
    • Carnatic Violin Classes >
      • Kalaimamani Meera Sivaramakrishnan
      • Vishwesh Swaminadhan
      • Sri. Kaushik Sivaramakrishnan
      • Parur MK Ananthlakshmi
      • Abhay Anil Kumar
      • Sri. Sasidhar Madugula
      • Sri. Siddharth Ashokkumar
    • Hindustani Vocal Classes >
      • Smt. Sujata Gurav
      • Smt. Amrita Rao
      • Smt. Lalita Sharma
    • Veena >
      • Smt. Radha Srisailam
      • Smt. Srirajalakshmi
    • Sitar >
      • Shri Bruce Hamm
    • Sarod >
      • Shri Bruce Hamm
    • Carnatic Flute >
      • Sri Paddu Vedam
      • Sri Anirudh Bharadwaj
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    • The Joys of Learning Carnatic Music
    • Benefits of Learning Carnatic Music
    • Carnatic Vocal: What to Expect in Beginner Lessons
    • Carnatic Music - How to Identify Swaras
    • How to use Zoom recordings to practice at home
    • Preparing for Carnatic Vocal Tests
    • Sapta Swaras: The 7 Swaras
    • Mayamalvagowla
    • Carnatic Vocal Workshops
    • Preparing for Performances
    • Vijayadashami Carnatic Lessons
    • Understanding Raga Mohanam
    • An introduction to Varnams
    • An introduction to Geetams
  • Performances
    • Sampada Exams - 2021
    • Aug 11 Performance
    • Annual Day 2019 - Students
    • Annual Day 2019 - Teachers
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Picture
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Mridangam

The mridangam , also known as Tannumai, is a percussion instrument from India of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble, and in Dhrupad, where it is known as the pakhawaj. During a percussion ensemble, the mridangam is often accompanied by the ghatam, kanjira, and morsing.

In ancient Hindu sculpture, painting, and mythology, the mridangam is often depicted as the instrument of choice for a number of deities including Ganesha (the remover of obstacles) and Nandi, who is the vehicle and follower of Shiva. Nandi is said to have played the mridangam during Shiva's primordial tandava dance, causing a divine rhythm to resound across the heavens. 

Today the mridangam is most widely used in Carnatic music performances. These performances take place all over Southern India and are now popular all over the world. As the principal rhythmic accompaniment (pakkavadyam), the mridangam has a place of utmost importance, ensuring all of the other artists are keeping their timing in check while providing support to the main artist. One of the highlights of a modern Carnatic music concert is the percussion solo (thani avarthanam), where the mridangam artist and other percussionists such as kanjira, morsing, and ghatam vidwans exchange various complex rhythmic patterns, culminating in a grand finale where the main artists resumes where he or she left off.
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Mridangam is used as an accompanying instrument in Yakshagana Himmela (orchestra) where it is called the maddale. However, the mridangam used in Yakshagana is markedly different in structure and acoustics from the ones used in Carnatic music.
Significant players of the mridangam in modern times are T. K. Murthy, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Vellore G. Ramabhadran, T S Nandakumar, Karaikudi Mani, Trichy Sankaran, Mannargudi Easwaran, Yella Venkateswara Rao,[11] and Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam, who have been playing and advancing the technique for decades.

Source for most content is Wikipedia. 

Picture

Akshay Prabhakaran

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We are a very open learning environment. Please stop by to talk to one of our faculty about Carnatic and Hindustani Music, the History, the Instruments and the Teaching Methods we use to inspire our students to continue this rich musical and cultural tradition. Fill out the following form to schedule a trial class. Please feel free to call us at +1.408.337.2245 or email us at info@raagaSchool.com ​

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Phone: +1.408.337.2245
​email: info@raagaSchool.com

  • Annual Day 2022
  • Syllabus
  • Workshops
  • FACULTY
    • Carnatic Vocal Classes >
      • Smt. NCS Ravali
      • Vidwan Dr. Umashankar
      • Smt. Srirajalakshmi
      • Vishwesh Swaminadhan
      • Aarthi Ravichandran
      • Akshaya Ramanath
      • Sri Anirudh Bharadwaj
      • Ms. Sushmetha Mohan
      • Smt. Usha Prabhu
      • Smt. ​Bharathy Subrahmanyam
      • Smt. Srividhya Kumar
      • Smt. ​Yamini Indrakanti
      • Dr. Harish Ganapathy
      • Smt. Radha Srisailam
      • Smt. Pratyusha Chaganti
      • Smt. Sindhu Natarajan
      • Ms. Mayuri Vasan
      • Smt. Sunandini Radhakrishnan
      • Smt. Sreevidya Pasumarthi
      • Smt. Madhura Subramanian
      • Shambhavi Bhaskar
    • Tabla Classes >
      • Shri. Ravi Gutala
      • Smt Rama Garimella
      • Shri. Nikhil Pandya
    • Mridangam Classes >
      • Akshay Prabhakaran
    • Carnatic Violin Classes >
      • Kalaimamani Meera Sivaramakrishnan
      • Vishwesh Swaminadhan
      • Sri. Kaushik Sivaramakrishnan
      • Parur MK Ananthlakshmi
      • Abhay Anil Kumar
      • Sri. Sasidhar Madugula
      • Sri. Siddharth Ashokkumar
    • Hindustani Vocal Classes >
      • Smt. Sujata Gurav
      • Smt. Amrita Rao
      • Smt. Lalita Sharma
    • Veena >
      • Smt. Radha Srisailam
      • Smt. Srirajalakshmi
    • Sitar >
      • Shri Bruce Hamm
    • Sarod >
      • Shri Bruce Hamm
    • Carnatic Flute >
      • Sri Paddu Vedam
      • Sri Anirudh Bharadwaj
  • Testimonials
  • Enroll Now
    • Enroll - Carnatic Vocal
    • Enroll - Hindustani Vocal
    • Enroll - Flute
    • Enroll - Tabla
    • Enroll - Sitar Sarod
    • Enroll - Carnatic Violin
    • Enroll - Mridangam
  • Teach Here
  • Articles
    • The Joys of Learning Carnatic Music
    • Benefits of Learning Carnatic Music
    • Carnatic Vocal: What to Expect in Beginner Lessons
    • Carnatic Music - How to Identify Swaras
    • How to use Zoom recordings to practice at home
    • Preparing for Carnatic Vocal Tests
    • Sapta Swaras: The 7 Swaras
    • Mayamalvagowla
    • Carnatic Vocal Workshops
    • Preparing for Performances
    • Vijayadashami Carnatic Lessons
    • Understanding Raga Mohanam
    • An introduction to Varnams
    • An introduction to Geetams
  • Performances
    • Sampada Exams - 2021
    • Aug 11 Performance
    • Annual Day 2019 - Students
    • Annual Day 2019 - Teachers
  • PAY/SCHEDULE