About the Course

Designed specially for professional and semi-professional Indian musicians, this course introduces learners to the basic concepts of Western music. Students will learn how to read and write Western notation, and understand how these concepts can be translated to Indian music.

About the Instructors

Western Theory Instructors

Dr. Bindu Subramaniam, described as a 'third generation prodigy' by the Hindustan Times, 'a Bangalore woman changing the way children learn' by Femina Karnataka magazine and an 'assured young soprano' by the Times of India, is a singer, song writer, entrepreneur, author, and music educator. Bindu Subramaniam is also the Founder and CEO for SaPa and SaPa in Schools.

Dr. Ambi Subramaniam hailed as 'the new king of Indian classical violin' by The Times of India & 'India's Itzhak Pearlmann' by Ozy Magazine, is a violinist, entrepreneur, and music educator. He has been trained by his father and guru, Dr. L. Subramaniam, since the age of three, giving his first performance at the age of seven. His is also the co-Founder Director for SaPa and SaPa in schools.

Mahesh Raghvan is a Carnatic Music Fusion artist whose artistic goal is to present and create Indian Classical Fusion Music in contemporary ways for modern audiences. He plays new electronic musical instruments. His experiments with Carnatic Music on the iPad are published on his YouTube and Facebook pages.

Who can take this course?

Beginners, or professional Indian musicians looking to build a foundation in Western music theory.

What you'll learn

Bindu Subramaniam, Ambi Subramaniam, Mahesh Raghvan - Western Theory for Indian Musicians

  • Course Introduction (Video) Preview
  • Metronome, Tambura, and Tuner - User Guide (PDF)
  • An Introduction to Western Music (Video)
  • History of Western Classical Music (PDF)
  • The Listening Quiz (Activity)
  • Write Your Music (Worksheet)
  • Quick History of Indian Music (Video) Preview
  • History of Indian Music (PDF)
  • Important Concepts of Indian Music (Video)
  • Raga, Tala and Nadai (PDF)
  • The Seven Swaras (Video)
  • Scale Degrees (PDF)
  • Scale Degrees (Activity)
  • Do you "C" the note? (Activity)
  • 12 Semitones (Video)
  • Learn your notes (PDF)
  • Identify the Intervals (Activity)
  • Interval and Swara (Activity)
  • Talas (Video)
  • Understanding Tempo (PDF)
  • Absolute vs Relative Pitch (Video)
  • Notes on a Piano (Video)
  • Sharps and Flats (Video)
  • Introduction to Western Notation (Video)
  • Understanding Notes and Pitches (Video)
  • Staff and Notes (PDF)
  • Treble Clef - What are the notes? (Activity)
  • Tone, Semitone and Accidentals (PDF)
  • Find the Missing Alphabet (Activity)
  • Note and Rest Durations (Video)
  • Durational Values (PDF)
  • Time Signatures (Video)
  • Dots and Ties (Video)
  • Time Signature (PDF)
  • Key Signature (Video)
  • Treble - Above and Below (Activity)
  • Circle of 5ths - Sharps for Major Scales (Video)
  • Circle of 5ths - Flats for Major Scales (Video)
  • Writing Key Signatures (Video)
  • Circle of Fifths (PDF)
  • Transposition (Video)
  • Transposition (PDF)
  • Transpose (Activity)
  • Listening and Notating (Video)
  • Listen and Notate (Assignment)
  • Listen and Notate (Answers)
  • Bass Clef (Video)
  • Bass Clef - Guess the Notes (Activity)
  • Key Signatures in the Bass Clef (Video)
  • Writing Key Signatures for the Bass Clef (PDF)
  • The Relationship between the Treble and Bass Clefs (Video)
  • Bass - Above and Below (Activity)
  • Minor Scales (Video)
  • Best Ways to Choose a Key Signature (Video)
  • Minor Scale Patterns (PDF)
  • True or False? (Activity)
  • Notating Irregular Times (Video)
  • Notating Irregular Beats/Notes (PDF)
  • Notating Quavers & Semiquavers in Irregular Time Signatures (PDF)
  • Simple vs Compound Time (Video)
  • Modes and Ragas (Video)
  • Modes and Ragas (PDF)
  • Additional Information about Notation (Video)
  • Articulations (PDF)
  • Misconceptions about Western Music (Video)
  • Conclusion (Video)
  • Western Notation Workbook (PDF)
  • Workbook - Answers (PDF)
  • See you in Part 2

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