Thanks to my guruji Shri. Dhananjay Marathe-ji, Warje, Pune, who's teaching style is perfect.
First of all, the sessions are online (though offline can be chosen). We get to decide on mutual timings depending on our schedules, so flexibility is there. This was a hurdle for me before I started learning.
But mainly, he has a way of simplifying things so well, and explaining every facet of the raag, that I get to covert the artistic explanation to technical in my mind. This helps me learn. When I know the nature of the raag, what swar should come in what sequence, and how it compares with other raags.
He answers all questions patiently.
My Achievement. (I'll post a pic of the certificate soon)
I passed the Praveshika Pratham oral exam in First class. I'm proud of myself!
8 raags, lakshangeet, tarana, dhrupad and other technical theory... all memorized. Kind of nervous reciting what was asked.
Now I am learning it differently this year. Moved on to Gayaki i.e. slower paced learning where we get to know a raag deeply, to cover vakra taan, raag swaroops, vilambit khayals, chota khayal, tarana, and much more!
For a person handling corporate life, managing home and family, it is a tough job to learn Indian / Hindustani classical music. But it is possible with a bit of management, lots of patience, technology, and loads of passion to learn it.
