Carnatic Music Made Easy: A Guide For Beginners and Parents (With Notations)

Smt. S. Rajeswari received her training in carnatic Music under masters imcluding Sri. Tanjore Balasubramaniam, Ramnad Krishnan, Madurai N. Krishnan, S. Rajam and DK. Jayaman. She has also learnt Thevaram, Thiruvasagam and Periyapuranam under Sri. Dharmapuram P. Swaminathan. In the sphere of music, she was awared its class in M.Phil for her dissertation on the Padavarnams of Lalgudi G. Jayarraman. A top-ranking artist of All India Radio, Smt. Rajeswari began her teaching career as a Lectuer in the Government Music college, Madras. There, she rose to becom a Professor and finally served as Principal Incharge. She was on deputation to Mauritius sent by I.C.C.R. New Delhi to work at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian culture, Mauritius, as Carnatic Teacher cum Performer, for some time.

Smt. S. Rajeswari has contributed to the field primarily as a dance musician, excelling in both dance nattuvangam and vocal music for Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi. She has performed with renowned artists in notable dance festivals across the world. She has given lecture demonstrations on organized by reputed institutions and has participated in numerous seminars. She has also undertaken research on dance music. A dedicated, sincere teacher all her life, she has to her credit a thirteen volume set of CDs teaching Carnatic Basic Lessons and many more instructional and devotional CDS Smt. S. Rajeswari has been honored for her work by several institutions in southern India. She has the distinction of receiving the first Kalaimamani award for dance music. She also has to her credit numerous awards and titles including “Gandharva Nipuna” in 2009 by ABHAI. Recently, she received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2010 for her contribution to dance music.

T. Saraswathy Kishan, is an upcomatic Vocalist from Singapore. She learnt music initially from Smt Bhagya Murthy and later from Kalakshetra-College of Arts. Chennnai, under the pupilage of several gurus such as Dr Lalitha Rukmini, Karaikal Jaishankar, Sri Hariprasad. Later, during her training at the Music Academy Teacher’s Training College, Chennai, she was under the tulelag of the venerable Gurus, Sri Chengalpat Ranganathan, Sri T P Nishanth and Sri Poorna Pragnya Rao. It was from the famed ‘Kalaimamani’ Smt. S. Rajeswar, that Saraswathy learnt to master the GURUKULA style of teaching Carnatic music. Saraswathy obtained First Class in the Tamil Nadu Government Music Examinations. She completed her Music Degree from Madras University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Art-Music.

Since her return to Singapore, Saraswathy has been recognized by her students both from Singapore and Malaysia, to have excellent teaching skills taking into consideration the interests of her students as well as their capabilities.