We will be posting new videos made for Konnakol.org from Sri Ghatam Suresh.  Thank you Sureshji.

It is exciting to see that the art of konnakol is growing every day.  In the coming months, two DVDs will be released that should open up more of the art for enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.

The Art of Ghatam and Konnakol - Sri Subash Chandran
Sri Subash Chandran demonstrates the ghatam from beginning strokes and developmental excercies to compositions, korvai and mora.  It represents a great foundation for the beginning ghatamist and to intermediate and even advanced percussionists who study cross-techniques.

The Konnakol lessons start from beginning phrases, compositions, mora and korvai.  You will learn the varied syllables found in Konnakol that vary from traditional drumming syllables, and how to change the vocalizations as you approach more concert phrasing.  There are extras to practice the lessons in a more focused manner.

The DVD features on screen vocalizations for each lesson, 3 camera views of ghatam, and an interview with Sri Subash Chandran on his music career and perspectives.
DVD available July 2007 worldwide via OMRadio.com. (disclaimer: konnakol.org is operated by the owners of omradio.com)

John McLaughlin and Sri Selva Ganesh
John McLaughlin has just released "Gateway to Rhythm" with percussionist V. Selvaganesh. The material is presented to give a view of rhythm through Now available worldwide at Abstractlogix from Mediastarz.

In the six chapters, John and Selva approach the divisions of 3, 4, and 5, and the use of tha di ki ta thom to express the various nadais or subdivisions.  The notation is on screen and easy to follow.  As Selva approaches much faster speeds, it is very accessible based on the foundational materials at the beginning.  It closes with a great performance of students from Sri Vikku Vinayakram's school and a refreshing glipse of the next generation of konnakol artists.

Sri John McLaughlin demonstrates how these phrases have been used in developing his melodic choices with konnakol as his mental backdrop.  For musicians other than drummers it offers a glimpse at how you can develop rhythmic phrasing to your guitar, bass, horn, or other.