Harmonium

Level 1: Ragas for Bhajans

4 UNITS  ●  15 HOURS  ●  SELF-PACED
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Learn the basics of playing harmonium or keyboard for bhajans. Immerse yourself in four frequently used ragas (melodic frameworks) through four bhajans. Mastering these main ragas will enable you to play numerous bhajans! Part of the AVA Membership.

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We will start out with an introduction to Indian music and ragas, along with the basics of the keyboard notes and notation we will use in this course. The four ragas and the bhajan for each raga are:

• Shankarabharanam Raga: Guru Charanam
• Mohanam Raga: Amritanandamayi Jai Jai
• Shuddha Dhanyasi Raga: Bandha Krishna
• Yaman Kalyani Raga: Arati

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We are excited to offer Harmonium classes online!

You are invited to learn this sacred instrument. Enrollment is open!

Course Details

  • Enrollment is open

    You can enroll for this self-paced course at any time by joining the Amrita Virtual Academy Membership. When you join this course, course starting materials will be visible on your student dashboard immediately upon enrollment.

  • New lessons every 2 weeks

    Materials will be released to you in intervals of two weeks after your unique enrollment date. Video lessons for each raga and bhajan include on-demand videos of live interactive classes, handouts, practice exercises, and short demo videos.

  • Self-paced and progressive

    Progressive harmonium lessons on-demand and at your own pace. 5 Units of lessons.

  • Special Guest Instructors

    Exclusive guest instructors such as Amma's senior disciples Swami Amritaswarupananda, Swamini Suvidyamrita Prana and Brahmachari Madhavamrita Chaitanya

  • Learning as a sadhana

    Our unique program incorporates Amma's teachings to bring spirituality into your musical journey. Delve deep into yourself as you learn the harmonium.

  • Instructor & Community Interaction

    Upload your assignments and receive personalized feedback & guidance from the instructors via email. Ask questions and interact with other students via the Music Community forum. Email [email protected] for assistance.

Harmonium Instructor

Swarna Iyer

Swarna Iyer has had the opportunity to be a musician in Amma’s musical repertoire and play keyboard and harmonium for Amma on all of her world tours since 1992, as well as at Amma’s Ashram in Kerala and Indian Tours. Swarna met Amma in 1987 at age 13, with little musical skill and was invited to sit on stage by Amma for Amma’s Bhajans. Within a year or so, Swarna picked up playing harmonium and was soon playing for the swamis, Amma’s senior disciples who are also extremely accomplished musicians.

At age 21, in 1995, Amma called Swarna to play harmonium for Amma on stage during the October program in Paris. This incredible experience led to many more wonderful opportunities for Swarna to play for Amma, and within a few years she picked up playing keyboard. Having had no formal training whatsoever, Swarna completely attributes her musical capabilities to Amma’s inspiration and is extremely grateful to Amma for these precious experiences.

"Pure music is as big as space. It is the secret of allowing the pure sound of the universe to flow through you."


- Amma

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome Unit

    • Welcome to Harmonium: Level One!

    • Important Information & Contact Info

    • Opening Prayer

    • Welcome Letter and Course Overview

    • Course Syllabus

    • How Long Does the Course Take?

    • Inner Reflection
  • 2

    Forum Link & Email for Questions

    • Forum Link (Music Community)

    • Email Swarna (Instructor) Directly
  • 3

    Course Resources

    • Rhythm Loop Apps

    • Apps for Tambura & Tabla Loops: iTambura and Sur Sadhak Demo

    • Suggested Book: Svarasudha - PDF Purchase Link
  • 4

    GETTING STARTED: The Harmonium, Ragas & Basic Concepts

    • A Quick Note…

    • Video 1: Let’s Get Started

    • Video 2: Harmonium and Melody

    • Video 3: What is a Raga?

    • Figure 1: Swaras and Their Relative Positions on the Keyboard

    • Video 4: Shruthi and Harmonium Basics

    • Video 5: Notes of the Keyboard in Western Notation

    • Video 6: Notes of the Keyboard in Indian Notation

    • Video 7: Examples of Various Ragas in Bhajans

    • Ragas Commonly Used in Bhajans and Examples

    • Notes & Main Points
  • 5

    GETTING STARTED: Supplemental Materials

    • Coupler Feature Demo

    • Knobs of the Two Reed Harmonium

    • The Paul & Co Harmonium
  • 6

    GETTING STARTED: Saraswati Puja

    • Lighting the Lamp of Knowledge

    • Sakala Kala Devate - Lyrics & Meaning

    • Audio - Sakala Kala Devate

    • Special Puja

    • First Assignment: Share a Practice Space or Lamp Photo
  • 7

    UNIT 1: Shankarabharanam Raga & Guru Charanam

    • Video 1: Let's Play!

    • Video 2: Shankarabharanam Raga

    • Guru Charanam - Lyrics and Meaning

    • Guru Charanam - Swaras, Verse 1 and 2

    • Video 3: Let's Play Guru Charanam! Verse 1: Overview

    • Video 4: Guru Charanam - Verse 1: in Depth

    • Video 5: Guru Charanam - Verse 2.1: Akhila Janarchita

    • Video 6: Guru Charanam - Verse 2.2: Samastha Devi

    • Guru Charanam - Swaras, Verse 3

    • Video 7: Guru Charanam - Verse 3: Guru Mahima
  • 8

    UNIT 1: Supplemental Materials

    • The 123-12345 Fingering Method for Western Piano
  • 9

    UNIT 1: Practice Videos

    • Talent & Practice

    • Practice 1: White Notes of 1 Octave (Looped)

    • Practice 2: White Notes of Entire Keyboard (Looped)

    • Practice 3: Black and White Notes of One Octave (Looped)

    • Practice 4: SLOW Guru Charanam First Line (Loop with Metronome)

    • Practice 5: MEDIUM Guru Charanam First Line (Loop with Metronome)

    • Practice 6: SLOW All Verses Guru Charanam (Loop with Metronome)

    • Practice 7: MEDIUM All Verses Guru Charanam (Loop with Metronome)

    • Practice 8: NORMAL Full Guru Charanam (Loop with Metronome)
  • 10

    UNIT 1: Recorded Live Session

    • UNIT 1: Recorded Live Session
  • 11

    UNIT 1: Submit Your Assignments!

    • How to Submit a Video Assignment

    • UNIT 1 - Assignment A Upload

    • UNIT 1 - Assignment B Upload
  • 12

    UNIT 2: Mohanam Raga & Amritanandamayi Jai Jai

    • Video 1: Welcome to Unit 2

    • Video 2: Guest Musician, Brahmachari Madhavamrita Chaitanya

    • Video 3: Let's Play Mohanam Raga

    • Video 4: Mohanam Scale on Entire Keyboard

    • Amritanandamayi Jai Jai - Lyrics & Meaning

    • Amritanandamayi Jai Jai - Swaras

    • Video 5: Amritanandamayi Jai Jai - Melody

    • Video 6: Verse 1:1 - Amritanandamayi Jai Jai

    • Video 7: Verse 1:2 - Mangala Karini Ma

    • Video 8: Verse 1 - Entire Verse

    • Video 9: Verse 2 - Prema Tarangini Ma

    • Video 10: Verse 2:2 - Subhra Varanalase

    • Video 11: Verse 3:1 - Satya Svarupini Ma

    • Video 12: Verse 3:2 - Shakti Maheshvari Ma

    • Video 13: Verse 4:1 - Karma Vidhayini Ma

    • Video 14: Verse 4:2 - Jagadhodharini Ma

    • Video 15: Verse 5:1 - Satguru Jnanamayi

    • Video 16: Verse 5:2 - Dukha Vimochini Ma

  • 13

    UNIT 2: Supplemental Materials

    • Style and Embellishments While Playing
  • 14

    UNIT 2: Practice Videos

    • Practice 1: Mohanam Scale in 1 Octave

    • Practice 2: Mohanam Scale on Entire Keyboard

    • Practice 3: SLOW - Amritanandamayi Jai Jai with Metronome

    • Practice 4: MEDIUM - Amritanandamayi Jai Jai with Metronome

    • Practice 5: NORMAL - Amritanandamayi Jai Jai with Metronome

  • 15

    UNIT 2: Recorded Live Session

    • UNIT 2: Recorded Live Session
  • 16

    UNIT 2: Submit Your Assignments!

    • How to Submit a Video Assignment

    • UNIT 2 - Assignment A Upload

    • UNIT 2 - Assignment B Upload
  • 17

    "The Essence of Music," Satsang with Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri

    • The Essence of Music - With Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri
  • 18

    UNIT 3: Shuddhadhanyasi Raga & Bandha Krishna

    • Guest Musician, Swamini Suvidyamrita Prana

    • Video 1: Welcome to Unit 3

    • Video 2: Shuddhadhanyasi Raga

    • Video 3: Shuddhadhanyasi Scale on Entire Keyboard

    • Banda Krishna - Lyrics and Meaning

    • Banda Krishna - Swaras with Links/Bridges

    • Video 4: Listen to Banda Krishna

    • Video 5: Chorus 1:1 - Banda Krishna

    • Video 6: Chorus 1:2 - Gopa Vrinda

    • Video 6: Chorus 1:2 - Gopa Vrinda

    • Video 7: Entire Chorus

    • Video 8: Verse 1:1 - Govemeva

    • Video 9: Verse 1:2 - Devata Vadya

    • Video 10: Entire First Verse

    • Video 11: Verse 2 - Papa Popa

    • Video 12: Verse 3 - Bhusura Sukha
  • 19

    UNIT 3: Practice Videos

    • Practice 1: Shuddhadhanyasi Raga

    • Practice 2: Shuddhadhanyasi on Entire Keyboard

    • Practice 3: SLOW Banda Krishna

    • Practice 4: MEDIUM Banda Krishna

    • Practice 5: NORMAL Banda Krishna
  • 20

    UNIT 3: Recorded Live Session

    • UNIT 3: Recorded Live Session

    • UNIT 3 Live Session Q&A: Playing a Bridge/Link in Banda Krishna
  • 21

    UNIT 3: Submit Your Assignments!

    • How to Submit a Video Assignment

    • UNIT 3 - Assignment A Upload

    • UNIT 3 - Assignment B Upload
  • 22

    UNIT 4: Yamuna Kalyani (Yaman Kalyani) Raga & Arati

    • Video 1: Welcome to Unit 4

    • Video 2: Yamuna Kalyani Raga

    • Arati - Lyrics and Meaning

    • Arati - Swaras

    • Video 3: Listen to the Arati

    • Video 4: Verse 1 - Om Jaya Jaya Jaga Janani

    • Video 5: Verse 2 - Janamana Nija Sukha Dayini

    • Video 6: Verse 3 - Sakalagama

    • Video 7: Verse 4 - Prema Rasamrita

    • Video 8: Verse 5 - Shamadama Dayini

    • Video 9: Verse 6 - Patitho Dhara

    • Video 10: Verse 7 - He Janani

    • Video 11: Verse 8 - Sura Jana Pujitha
  • 23

    UNIT 4: Practice Videos

    • Practice 1: Yamuna Kalyani One Octave

    • Practice 2: Yamuna Kalyani on Entire Keyboard

    • Practice 3: SLOW Om Jaya Jaya and Janamana

    • Practice 4: MEDIUM Om Jaya Jaya & Janamana

    • Practice 5: MEDIUM-SLOW Arati - All Verses

    • Practice 6: Entire Arati with Fast Part
  • 24

    UNIT 4: Recorded Live Session

    • UNIT 4: Recorded Live Session
  • 25

    UNIT 4: Submit Your Assignments!

    • How to Submit a Video Assignment

    • UNIT 4 - Assignment A Upload

    • UNIT 4 - Assignment B Upload
  • 26

    Closing Ceremony

    • Closing Ceremony Assignment

    • Sakala Kala Devate - Lyrics and Meaning

    • Sakala Kala Devate - Recording

    • Closing Assignment A: Play Bhajans with Swami Dayamritananda Puri

    • Closing Assignment B: Play Bhajans with a Friend!
  • 27

    Closing & Course Experience Survey

    • Course Experience Survey

    • Before You Go...

    • Closing Prayers

This course is part of the AVA Membership!

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  • Follow the Schedule

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