SUSHRAVYA: 2009

Friday, November 06, 2009

MY MUSICAL SAGA part 1

“VijiCome on...! Get ready… , we’ll have to go to music class now!” Shouts Amma!

What?! I have come just now from school! Now why should I go to music class again now? What’s the use of all these things to me? Oh! I’m tired. God, plz help me!!! I would scream to myself every time before going. But I was helpless & just used to follow amma to music class. I was around 12 years of age then.

I still remember the first meeting with my very first Guru Smt. Rohini Prabhunandan. Rohini aunty, as we call her, greeted us with a great charming smile & spoke to me with all the nicest words on the earth.

I was very pleased & me, Viji the most reluctant, got a little interest in learning music. I then thought “Music?! Yes, some thing is there in this! I should certenly give it a try!”

Aunty asked me to sing a song just to know my voice. I sang a small Bhajan “Aadishesha anantha shayana” that I learnt in school.

“Very nice! U have a good voice. I’ll teach u music.“ said aunty. & this is how I started learning Carnatic music.

Few months passed. Hurray! I had already finished my basic lessons till Geethams& also learnt few bhajans & Devaranaamaas.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

THANK YOU ANI DEAR!

The only best friend I have in my life is Anitha, who is now married & settled in Chennai

Here is her comment she has posted in the Deccan Herald website after reading the article on me:
By:
anitha,chennai
On:
06 Jul 2009 06:08 am
My dear am so happy and joyful. Tears are floating in my eyes for ur achievement..Am proud to be ur best friend..I pray for ur further shine in music. U will
surely shine like a star & i dont really feel words to say my dear..I really feel this as my success! Infact i feel that what i didnt achieve in my music
n feel everyday for that but now i feel that god has given me such a great friend n i dont want any achievement to myself..I LOVE U DEAR..Takecare..Keep
singing..
Link:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/11367/visionary-musician-like-none-other.html

Dear Ani: Tears are flowing from my eyes as well after reading your comment. Thanks Thanks & lots & lots of Thanks!!! What more can I say? I cant really give u any thing in return to the most valuable friendship u have given me.

Love u Dear!

Thank you God for giving me such a wonderful friend!

MYSELF IN SULEKHA.COM

A few months back, I was surprised to find the article in Deccan Herald on me being posted in one of the blogs in sulekha.com. The blog owner was Mrs. Lakshmi M Bhat. I signed up for Sulekha.com just to send a thanks note to her.

It was a very pleasant experience to read on the comments & views etc posted by various people after reading the article. After signing up, I also left a thanks message on the comments board for the people who were the source of encouragement through their valuable positive comments.

Here is the link:
http://mukha.sulekha.com/blog/post/2009/07/visionary-musician-like-none-other-by-l-subramani.htm

Once again, I thank all of them profoundly.

___
All Glories to God!

Monday, October 19, 2009

ONLINE RADIOS FOR INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

Below are some links for listening Indian Classical music on the web.

Sunaada - Suswara Naada Dhaara

http://sunaada.in/

This is the internet radio exclusively for Indian Classical Music to Enjoy Carnatic and Hindustani classical
music round the clock.

HARI DASA INTERNET RADIO

www.hari-dasa.com

This is a 24 hour radio for Dasara padagalu.

Happy listening!

Monday, October 12, 2009

SOME JANYA RAGAS DERIVED FROM THE MELA RAGAS

LIST OF 72 MELAKARTA RAGAS

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

MY FAVORITE QUOTES

"Many things are impossible, until they are done"
-Nelson Mandela

"Happiness keeps u Sweet, Trials keep u Strong,
Sorrow keeps u Human, Failure Keeps u Humble,
Success keeps u Glowing, But only God Keeps u Going...."

The highest result of education is tolerance. -Helen Keller, author and lecturer (1880-1968)

"One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in
both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence
fixed on Me, such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me."
Lord Sri Krishna- Srimad Bhagavad gita 12.13

"For one who constantly meditates upon my presence within all persons,
the bad tendencies of rivalry, envy, and abusiveness, along with false
ego, are very quickly destroyed."

(Lord Sri Krishna – Srimad Bhagavatam 11.29.15)

"Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, Working together is
success."

DO NOT PRAY FOR AN EASY LIFE. PRAY TO BECOME STRONGER.
DO NOT PRAY FOR TASKS EQUAL TO YOUR POWER. PRAY FOR POWER EQUAL TO YOUR TASKS.

HELP is an act, do it, let it go.
LOVE is a gift, take it, and let it grow.
PATIENCE is a sign, we should wear, let it show.

An optimist laughs to forget, whereas a pessimist forgets to laugh!

____
All glories to God!

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

My Interview in All India Radio Bangalore

Interview aired on 12th August 2009 at 12:30pm in All India Radio Bangalore station.
The interview was in Kannada.

This was an unforgetable experience as it was my first recording for radio.

Download link:
http://www.4shared.com/file/145524686/95b49305/air_interview.html

___
All Glories to God!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

An article about me in ENADU news paper

SARIGAMALU @ ONLINE

Article dated 27/8/09, Thursday.
ENADU Telugu news paper
Page: VASUNDHARA
Section: Mukhamukhi

Direct link:
http://www.eenadu.net/archives/archive-27-8-2009/vasundhara.asp?qry=mukhamukhi

___
All Glories to God!

Monday, July 06, 2009

Visionary musician like none other!

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/11367/visionary-musician-like-none-other.html

Article dated July 4th 2009 Saturday.
In Deccan Herald
Supplements-
She

Visionary musician like none other!

Visionary musician like none other!
L Subramani is amazed by Vijayalakshmi, a Bangalore-based visually-challenged Carnatic music teacher who is taking her art to places where people have
not even heard of the genre

Her path to music may have been an accidental one, but her ability to do things in a different way may have the potential to take Carnatic music to places
where people have not even heard of the genre.

Without meeting any of her 24 students living in the US — or spending on expensive air tickets to visit the country, Vijayalakshmi has taught them Carnatic
krithis, and also made a few of them win prizes in competitions.

"I taught them some of the 'Notu Swaras' — the Westernised notes in Carnatic music composed by Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar that raised the curiosity of their
choristers. After learning the pieces from me, my students would in turn teach it to them. This way, Carnatic music is now changing hands from NRIs to
the white Americans," Viji says, unable to suppress a triumphant smile.

Determined to succeed
What inspired this 24-year-old Bangalorean's attempt to discover a new teaching method for classical music is a rather unheard of eye condition — Retinitis
Pigmentoza — that rendered her sightless as a child. "Blindness had made me use technology profusely on a daily basis. This lead me to discover the Internet
and Skype, through which I teach my US students now," she reveals.

"Skype has been one of the favourite applications for persons with visual challenge," Viji explains. "The idea of making Skype a medium to teach music
occurred since I started to use the programme a few years ago. With a webcam, people can watch and hear me sing. So though it is virtual learning, it is
not actually different from direct learning."

Despite taking a strong liking for classical music, Viji would consider herself to be a hard-nosed, cerebral kind, rather than an emotional romantic, plunging
herself in art with all her youthful passion. "I like taking an academic approach to it (classical music). In fact, the choice to acquire a degree in Carnatic
music (from Madras University) is the best way I can marry my interest for it with my penchant to study a subject systematically," she says.

Amidst suggestions from many people to send her to a special school, her parents decided to sign her up for a mainstream one, since most schools for the
blind were residential and they were reluctant to leave their only daughter alone. Eventually Viji landed up in Premier School (Srirampura), where her
mother Rukmini worked as a teacher. As she sat in her eighth class one day, Viji was shocked when a teacher pointed to her and said: "why should disabled
kids come here?" All that she could feel was a sense of determination to prove the teacher's idea of a disabled kid wrong.
In SSLC exams, Viji scored 85.3 per cent, the top mark in a school where she alone was visually challenged. "That was the first ever distinction for Premier
school and the score silenced many who were sceptical about a visually challenged girl studying in a mainstream school.”

While she was still in school, her mother asked her to learn Carnatic music and a reluctant Viji could hardly oppose her. But gradually, she grew fond
of music. "I think the natural inclination towards music has got to do a lot with my family," Viji says. "My dad Varadarajan could sing and identify ragas
and my uncle could play the tabla. So, I grew up with a bit of music around me all the time."

Sure enough, music was part of her Bachelor’s degree and she went on to complete Masters in music. The impressive academic qualifications was matched by
stage and television performances. She even took on a unique project of rendering 100 shlokas of Adi Shankara's Soundarya Lahari in different ragas. "If
someone wants, I can teach it through Skype," Viji offers.

Through the Sushravya School of Music, which she established about two years ago, Viji has been teaching Carnatic music to students in the city, as well
as online. She has big dreams for the school. "I want it to be the best institution for learning Carnatic music in South India. I want to spread this music
to many outside the country using internet," reveals Viji, who is also in the process of signing up for her PhD programme.

She has perfected the teach-by-internet mode by backing up live teaching sessions with video recordings and notational scripts. "If students have doubts
in any aspect of music, they contact me through email and get clarification for their doubts," Viji says.

Viji can be reached by mail at: viji.rv@rediffmail.com

_______

ALL GLORIES TO GOD!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Learning Soundarya lahari online

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN

Adi Shankara’s

SOUNDARYA LAHARI

sitting at home through online ?

It is possible from anywhere in the world.

taught by a teacher with Master’s Degree in Carnatic Music & having working knowledge in Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada & Tamil.

You can learn Chanting 100 slogas and / or singing 100 slogas in 100 ragas in Carnatic Music.

Interested persons are requested to contact

Email Id
viji.rv@rediffmail.com

Phone No. 080-26390096

From VIJI’s Sushravya School of Music, Bangalore – Karnataka - INDIA

MUSIC FOR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE

Hi! I'm Vijayalakshmi, daughter of Srimathi Rukmini & Sri Varadharaj. Currently doing my Ph.D in Carnatic music through Bangalore University.

There is a saying – Listening is a fine art and listening to a fine art like music is the finest art

When I think of the role of music in my life, I feel I have so many things to say.

Firstly, learning music has helped me develop high levels of concentration in whatever job I do since, as any one would appreciate, the technicalities in
music warrant a very high concentration.

Secondly, music has given me a peace of mind. My peaceful mind has in turn, enabled me taking the right decision in each step in my life. Also, it has
enhanced my self confidence, and given me maturity to accept both the positive and negative things alike and move forward in life.

Thirdly, music has given me an identity. After all, every person’s aim in life is to create a distinct identity for himself. I’m immensely pleased when
people recognize me as a singer.

Of all the above, music has facilitated as a powerful media to connect my sole with the Supreme Lord. I practically experience this whenever I chant Soundarya
Lahari shlokas in different ragas as taught by my most respected Guru Shrimati Minakshi Ravi.

Finally, I would state that music has given me every thing, and I would like to be with it for ever.

You can download & listen to my songs for "FREE!" in
www.cooltoad.com

in the following link:

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/search.php?TITLE=&ARTIST=&CATEGORY=&RATING=&SINCE=&USER=logica&o=1

Note:

You need to creat a Free cooltoad.com membership (if you do not have 1) in order to download songs from this site.

ALL GLORIES TO GOD!

Learning Maths and Science online

“ON-LINE TEACHING OF MATHS & SCIENCE”
FROM BANGALORE, INDIA FOR STUDENTS FROM 1ST Grade to 10th Grade / 1st Std. to 10th Std.
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
at TIMINGS SUITABLE TO RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES

IF YOU NEED THE SERVICES, PLEASE CONTACT :
RUKMANI V. BSc., B.Ed. (with 24 yrs. Experience in Teaching Maths & Science)

Tel. No. 91-80-26390096 / Cell No. 09740811876

Email ID : rukmani.rv@rediffmail.com

Friday, May 15, 2009

Thanks a LOOOOT

Below are some of the very valuable and encouraging comments I received from people about my site, blog and my endeavors.
I profoundly thank all of them for their kind and encouraging words.

Sreesha:
Hello Vijayalakshmi,

My best wishes for your endeavor in spreading Carnatic music worldwide. It is a great way to protect and spread our culture.

Sreesha

usha Sankar:
Dear Viji,
unna pathi Sankar sollidae irupar.
Nee padina cassette
naanum en ammavum kettu
irukom.
Romba nalla voice unaku.
unnoda music pathi
experience ellam ingae share panraiya
nanga padichu theirjupom.
Sankar kum solren
Avarum padichutu unaku reply pannuvar. okva
Unnoda Web Page parthu
Romba Rom,ba Romba Sandhosha padum
Usha Sankar
T.V.Thangamani
prasanna venkatesh

roshini govindraj:
Hello viji
this is roshini who learns music from MSH.this a wonderful site and wonderful to hear all ur achievements in the field of music.i am glad that i learn
music from u.thank u.

Aurthi:
Hi Miss.Vijayalakshmi,
Your website is great. You have a very good voice. Thank you for teaching me song. You are a great teacher.
Regards,
Aurthi.

Ashwinji:
It is really amazing to visit your site. You are doing great job.
The info on the longest tala in the world is fantastic.
Keep posting of the rarities in carnatic music for the benefit of rasikas.

Once again My Tons and Tons of thanks to all of you.

With Great Regards,
Viji

ALL GLORIES TO GOD!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

COOLTOAD.COM

www.cooltoad.com is one of the best sites I use for music.
Here, one can find and download music for free on almost all genres of music in any language.

We need to just create a free cooltoad.com membership and after signing up, we are given free email service too!

Now, comes the most important point. And that’s, we can even upload songs made by ourselves or songs that are free from copy rights etc for more exposure.

Yes, why not! Even I have tried my hand in uploading my songs in this wonderful site.

Check out this link to reach the list of songs uploaded by me in this site:

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/search.php?TITLE=&ARTIST=&CATEGORY=&RATING=&SINCE=&USER=logica&o=1

Happy Listening!!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

My amazing experience of teaching music online.

Friends, in this post I’m attempting to write about my experiences & some advantages of my online music teaching that I’m doing for the past 2 years both on the teacher’s as well as the student’s prospect.

1: It is an amazing experience because, you avoid wasting your time on commuting between your home and teacher's home, and also expenses towardsTravel.
2: Traffic problems and pollution (especially in India) hazards can be avoided.
3: Besides, total focus between a student and the teacher is better for the whole half an hour in this mode & no distraction.
Proximity is not a matter to worry about it.
4: You are not away from home are present for any need during this time.

I feel, in today's context, it is the most preferred mode of learning and both my students and me are thoroughly enjoying it. I am sure, more and more
people would choose this mode in future. In fact, my mother was successfully conducting classes in Maths and Science to US, UK, Singapore students through
online only and the response was quite encouraging. Due to paucity of time due to domestic pressure, nowadays she is unable to continue but still people are
asking her to take classes.
Personally I am happy that I am able to teach our traditional carnatic music to our people abroad, despite their being amidst western culture, and still
keep in touch with our culture.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Do you want to listen to the voice of LATA MANGESHKAR II?! Ya! Here it is!

Dear Readers, below is one of my personal experiences with my music & the internet.

It’s my usual practice to check my mails early morning every day.
One fine morning, around 4 AM IST, when I opened my inbox, I saw a mail with the name quite strange to me on the “TO field”. The subject told, “Hi Lata II”. What! This mail should probably reach “Lata” & not me! I thought to myself & was about to delete it. But my mind gave an intuition to open the mail & read the content & so, here it goes.

“Hi, I’m a music director & composer. I got to listen to the song “yara seeli seeli” posted by U in cooltoad.com. Is that your voice?” & further he went on to say that my voice sounded great & just like Lata Mangeshkar. I was pleasantly shocked. He said that he has added some drum beats with my voice & mixed in his studio.
I myself was astonished to hear my voice in his recording sounding so different.
You can listen to them on cooltoad.com by clicking the following links
1. Seeli Seeli:
http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=337141

2. Naam gum jayega
http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=347714

“LATA MANGESHKAR II”! Wow! The greatest compliment I ever received! (I don’t know whether I deserve it or not though)
Courtesy: Technology!

SUSHRAVYA