Four World Music Lessons - Lesson 4 - Indian Classical Music: Raga, Tala and Drone

Lesson 4 - Indian Classical music: Raga, Tala and Drone

Overview

The classical music of India is a tradition spanning thousands of years. This lesson will involve a brief description of some basic elements of Indian classical music including raga, tala, and the use of the drone.  Students will then create music using these elements.

Introduction

Video: Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Allah Rakha at the Monterey Pop Festival - http://youtu.be/DO9uloP2nzA?t=5m22s

Lesson

Group Lesson

I. Drone - The foundation from which the music is born.

A. Tanpura - Demonstrate with live tanpura

B. The I and V drone, (vadi and samvadi)

II. Rag - Sing: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni Sa

A. Rag Bhairav - http://youtu.be/R0RO-qz06uk?t=37s

B. Rag Yemen - http://youtu.be/mnYVOAJbMRE

III. Tal - The rhythmic cycle

A. Tintal - 16 beats,

    Dha Dhin Dhin Dha

    Dha Dhin Dhin Dha

    Dha Tin   Tin    Ta

    Ta    Dhin Dhin Dha

B. Rupak Tal - 7 beats

    Tin   Tin Na

    Dhin Na

    Dhin Na

Individual or Group Work, (no more than 3 to a group)

I. Create a piece of music that  includes the following elements:

A. A drone that runs throughout the piece.

B. Instrumental melody, (vocalizations of the syllables are fine, but no lyrics

    please).

C. Melody follows the notes of a rag, (yemen, baihrav or another one of your choice).

D. Percussion keeps the tal, (rhythmic cycle). Please choose from tintal or rupak

II. Present your music to the class with the following information:

A. Rag name

B. Tal

C. The process of creation.

Advanced Work

I. Organize a lunch time concert where you present/perform your music for the Upper Elementary class.

II. Transcribe your piece of music on noteflight.com

III. Go see a live Indian classical music performance and report on it.

Resources

http://chandrakantha.com/ - David Courtney’s website, a great resource for Indian music knowledge.