Unleash the violins

Sometime when I was young (really young, ~10 types), I threw a major tantrum during a Kanyakumari concert, clearly expressing my lack of interest in what was going on onstage. My parents refused to take this lying down. What better way to inculcate a liking for the violin than learning to play it? Soon, I had started to go for violin classes.

Despite this history, I seemed to have some decent talent for the instrument. Reached the varnam stage, the first varnam only though. I could also to some extent follow my teacher's alapanai in a few raagas. (the geetham ones like Mohanam, Malahari, etc). I even performed on stage at one of my dad's office functions. This was only Ra Ra Venu Gopala and one piece in Mohanam.

Four years, three teachers, but I still did not seem too interested. One reason was that whenever I changed teachers, I had to start off from scratch as the new teacher invariably had views contrary to what the previous teacher instructed. (classic case, Janta Varisai, whether to use one bow stroke for one swara or two bow strokes one for each swara) Conveniently acads also came to my rescue and my violin career seemed to have ended in class 9. In hindsight, "acads" was not too bad an excuse afterall.

Sometime in the recent past, the urge to pick up the violin again took birth in me. Thinking about it, I seem to have been inspired by junta whom I know. Bhattad (his attempt to learn the guitar), PS(who is learning the violin) and a family friend's son, Arvind ( who is also learning the violin, which I played on when I visited them sometime in the recent past) are the ones in question.

Some enquiring and I found out that there was near my house, this Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha where violin, among others, was being taught. There were two violin teachers, one who came on a weekend and another Mr. Sivasubramanian, who taught on Mondays and Thursdays in the evenings. Weekend classes would mean the weekend activities would be constrained by them. I decided to join the weekday classes.

Today was my first class. I was rusty, especially the bow-ing. At the same time, thankfully, I did seem to have a decent feel for the shruti. And as usual, the third speed was hajaar fight. Especially the janta varisai. I have been asked to practice the Sarali varisai on my own and the sir started off with teaching the janta varisai. And its one bow stroke for two swaras.

After the class, I made a trip to CMH road and bought a violin, a Chinese-make for 3.3K. (surprisingly here, the Chinese violin was costlier than the Indian one) Nearly 10 years have passed since I last picked up the violin, but the standard book for Carnatic music has not changed. Its still the Ganamrutha Bodhini.

As opposed to the first attempt, the second attempt should be more successful as unlike the past, this time I myself am interested in learning to play the violin well. The first question that the teacher asked was if I would have enough time to practice, and I surely will have enough.

I can fiddle while my food is cooking.