David and Chandrakantha Courtneys Homepage

Announcements
PERFORMANCES CLASSES Our winter classes are going on. For info check classes Check out our latest music video - Jaijaivanti Tarana

Announcements

PERFORMANCES

CLASSES

Our winter classes are going on. For info check classes

Check out our latest music video - Jaijaivanti Tarana

Who Are We?

We are Chandrakantha and David Courtney, a husband-and-wife team who are involved in Indian Music. We are based in Houston, TX We teach, perform, and have a number of recordings, books and other material for anyone interested in Indian Music

What Is On This Site?

Search & Navigation

Search - Domain wide search engine.
Index - Book style index for the domain

Learning Indian Music

Our Classes - This is a link to information about our classes. We teach North Indian classical vocal, tabla, dilruba and esraj in the Houston TX area.
F.A.Q.s - These are "Frequently Asked Questions" about Indian classical music, and about the learning of this music.
Teachers and Performers - If you do not live in the Houston area, or if you are interested in some subject other than what we teach, this is a world-wide list of performers and teachers of various aspects of Indian music and dance.
Suppliers of Indian Instruments - Obviously if you want to learn an Indian instrument, you must have one for practice. This is a world-wide list of places where you can get them.
Electronic Aids In Indian Music Education - This is a paper that I delivered a long time ago.
New Approaches To Tabla Instruction - This is another paper that I delivered a long time ago.

Products and Services

Tabla Repair - Head replacement and other repairs.
Products and Services - Find our various products and services here, such as CDs books, and other services.
Advertising - Advertise in CHANDRAKANTHA.COM.

Indian Classical Music

Fundamentals of Rag - Introduction to the North Indian concept of the rag.
Index of Rags - A few common North Indian rags.
Laharas - A collection of laharas for tabla / pakhawaj solos as well as Kathak dance performances.
Fundamentals of Tal - An introduction to the North Indian approach to rhythm.

Avartan - The cycle.
Bol - mnemonic syllables
Popular Songs - A breakdown of many Bollywood songs organised by their tals.
Index of Tals - The common rhythmic patterns in North Indian music.
Khali - Waving of the hands.
Lay - Tempo.
Matra - The Beat
Sam - First beat of the cycle.
Tali - The claps.
Theka - The "Groove".
Vibhagh - The measure (bar).

Genre - A breakdown of the styles of North Indian music.
Film Songs in Rags - An index of classical based film songs indexed by rag.
Notation - A discussion of the North Indian approach to musical notation

Filmi, Bollywood, and Other Indian Pop Music

Bollywood / Filmi - The most popular form of music in India today.
Ghazal - A form of song which has evolved from poetic recitation.
Bhangra - This was originally a folk song/ dance that has shed its folk associations and is now considered to be a urban commercial genre.
Kirtan/ Dhun - Kirtan and dhun are forms of Hindu religious songs.
Qawwali - This is a form of Islamic devotional song.
Bhajan - This is a Hindu devotional song.
Geet - A general term for a non-classical song.

Indian Folk Music

The Vaoaiya Folksong Of Northern Bangladesh - The vaoaiya (Bhawaia).
Kushan Theatre Revival in Bangladesh - Efforts to revive and popularise a traditional Bengali folk art.

Dance

Classical Dances

Bharat Natyam - Most popular form of classical dance in India today
Kathak - Traditional North Indian classical dance.
Kuchipudi - Classical dance of Andhra Pradesh.
Kathakali - Traditional folk theatre of Kerala.
Manipuri - Traditional dance of the North East Indian state of Manipur.
Odissi - Classical dance from Odissa.

Non-Classical Dances

Bollywood Dance - Indian Filmi Dance.
Mohini Attam - Traditional dance from Kerala.
Andhra Natyam - Traditional dance from Andhra Pradesh.
Folk Dance - Overview of Indian folk dances.

Instrumental Music

Indian Instruments - The place to go for information on the musical instruments of India.
Tuning Indian Instruments - Overview on how to tune a variety of Indian instruments.
Western / Indian Note Equivalents - A very useful table to assist you in tuning instruments, especially if you are using a keyboard or electronic tuner as a reference.
Sitar - A series of pages on various aspects of the sitar.
Tabla - Introductory article on the Indian drum known as the tabla
Tablasite - Articles, and resources on the Indian tabla
Sarangi - Articles, and resources on the Indian sarangi.
Dilruba - Articles, and resources on the Indian dilruba.
Esraj - Articles, and resources on the Indian esraj.

History Of Indian Music

Historical Development of North Indian Music - A brief overview of the Hindustani system of music.
Mythological Origins of Sangeet - History of North Indian music from a mythological standpoint.
Indian Film Songs & Events of the Year - World events, South -Asian events and film world events as well as videos of film songs for particular years.
The Tawaif, The Anti-Nautch Movement, and the Development of North Indian Classical Music - A look back at this once noble profession.
The Gharana - Brief look at the gharana.
Origin of the Sitar - A look at the history of the sitar.
Natya Shastra - A brief look at the oldest surviving work on stagecraft in the world.
Contemporary Indian Music and The Vedas - A look at historical view relating to the connection between contemporary music and the classical Vedas.

Forums

ICM Newbies - Forums specifically for newcomers to ICM.
General Discussions - General topics relating to ICM.
Carnatic Sangeet - Discussions relating to South Indian music.
Sitar & Surbahar - Technique, teachers, theory, history etc, of the sitar & Surbahar.
Tabla - Technique, teachers, theory, history etc., of the tabla.
Sarod - Everything about the sarod.
Vitat (Sarangi, Dilruba, Violin, etc.) - Everything about Indian bowed Instruments.
Traditional Indian Dance - Everything about Indian dance.
Dhrupad & Rudra Vina - Everything about vocal and instrumental dhrupad.
Classical Film Songs - Discussions related to classical songs from the films.
These Forums - Suggestions, coding and login issues, features, etc.
Forum Archives - Forums past

Chandra & David

Chandra's Bio - Information about Chandrakantha Courtney.
David's Bio - Information about David Courtney.
Contacting Us - Here are our e-mail, snail-mail and telephone numbers.
Other Sites - Other sites of Chandra and/or David Courtney.
Videos - Videos either by us or about us.

Misc. Topics

Biographies - Links and bios of famous Indian musicians.
Rosin & Indian Bowed Instruments - More than you ever wanted to know about rosin.
Chandrakantha Courtney's Music Page - Streaming audio and video of our music.
Introduction to Spectrum Analysis - If you are a newbie to spectrum analysis, check this out.
The Twain Hath Met - A secret brotherhood in India?
Other People - Other people who have contributed to this site.