Indian Classical Music for Children~5
Traditionally, when children (or adults) are taught beginner lessons in Carnatic music, they are taught in the Raga Mayamalavagaula. Seetha Rajan, a resepected guru and performer, has disepensed with that tradition however, and teaches the first lessons in the Raga Mohanam (Bhoopali in the Hindustani system). I have written about this here.
Mohanam has five notes, S R G P D S. It is an easier raga to grasp than Mayamalavagaula, and arguably more appealing, particularly for children. It can have a light and bright air about it, and since all the notes are sharp, the notes more evenly spaced etc, it’s easier to sing.
Seetha Rajan has produced a cd, Bodhana, with swara (note) exercises in Mohanam. I have enjoyed singing along with it. Vidya says her daughter enjoys Bodhana too. Even if not learning music formally, this could be a fun cd for children (and adults).
Apart form swara exercises there are small songs (geetams), bhajans, namavalis etc There are also some exercises in other Ragas.
The first two tracks from Bodhana are below:
1. Swara Exercises in Mohanam:
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2. A short and sweet geetam (song) Vara Veena in Mohanam:
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The rest can be heard in clips below:
Bodhana is available here, here and here
mohanam is all that is happy and childlike. bilahari also. shankarabharanam at times.
The suddhasaveri gItam “shambho samkara” (whether some phrases border on durga is beyond the scope of this comment) in the vol II. It goes in a gait similar to that old hindi tune sayanora ..
Vidya-eerie-was just listening to Sayonara (Bhoop? Deshkar?)