After almost a decade of doing radio where I focused often on the wide range of music from around India, rarely did I find people who weren't stunned and excited by two vocal arts, vocal percussion from India (North and South) and Tuvan Throat Singing.  After hearing so many instruments, textures, and timbres, it seems that the voice reigns supreme in connecting with human being after human being.  Of course this does not mean it is an art for everyone, some may not enjoy it as much as the people I know.  But this is the original form of music; the music made from the voice.

 In Carnatic music, the artist improvises within a structure that interrelates with the ragam that is being played and within the talam preferred or inscribed in the compositions.  Whether mridangam, kanjira or ghatam, the percussion is limited to physical realities of their specific construct; the resonence of skin over jackwood, clay shells, or clay pots.  The voice has a direct and playful way of expressing the percussive aspects in music directly.

 At Konnakol.org it is our wish to open the discussion and exchange of ideas to others who are interested in South Indian music as a whole and konnakol as the specific art to explore, sustain and promote.  If you have interest or experience in these arts or simply wish to learn, share your experience of learning, or to ask questions, please contact us and join in the discussion.  We will soon have forums, but for now, you can sign up for our mailing list and be informed of updates and articles as they come.

In the coming months we will post basic exercises and resources related to konnakol.  If you know of recordings, books, websites, or artists, please share this with us and we will post it for others.

is where you can find us.

or register at the login and post articles and resources and we'll do the rest.

 Until then, thanks for your interest.
Chris Sampson - admin