Preparing for Practice
Before you start
Before starting practice, either alone or in a group session, please make sure you have read the previous articles in this list, and opened a browser tab with the shruti, or drone accompaniment.
You will need:
- Comfortable, loose clothing
- A drone instrument accompaniment, tuned to A or another comfortable note
Posture
The traditional posture for singing Carnatic music is seated on the floor with crossed legs, but for people not used to sitting in this position for long periods of time, it is important to be comfortable.
- Seated on the floor, with crossed legs, on one or more cushions for support as necessary
- If this is difficult, you can sit on a hard chair with a cushion (preferably not a sofa)
- The feelings will be strongest if your spine is be as straight as possible, with your hips pushed forward
Online Groups
- Make sure to open a browser tab with the correct tanpura accompaniment. We usually use tanpura in the key of A for group work.
- The accompaniment should be loud, so that can you feel it supporting you as you sing. Using heaphones is an easy way to feel this support.