FAQ

Who is Harmonium 1 for?

Harmonium 1 is a beginner-to-intermediate foundation course designed to give you everything you need to begin playing harmonium with confidence, accompany kirtans, and lead kirtan yourself. It will also give you a solid theoretical understanding.

Do I need previous musical experience?

No musical experience required. This course teaches you the basics in both Indian and Western music.

What harmonium do I need?

Any 2 or 3 reed Indian harmonium works well. A basic beginner model is sufficient.

Keyboard is a good option for beginning. Casio and other brands make small keyboards, 32 notes or so, that are light and very portable. The keys are about the size of a harmonium and they have sounds like organ or accordion that are similar to harmonium. And you don’t have to pump them. Great for kids.

How much should I practice?

20-30 minutes daily is ideal. Careful and consistent practice with correct fingering builds mastery.

Why learn both North Indian and Western music?

The North Indian system develops your ability to recognize notes, scale types, ragas and to play by ear. Western music basics helps you understand chords, keys, and transposition.

What are swaras?

Swaras are the seven notes of Indian music: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni. They help you sing and play by ear.

What is North Indian music notation?

A music system using Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni to represent notes of the scales. It makes it easier to transpose melodies and understand ragas.

Why start with proper fingering?

Good fingering builds strength, agility, and freedom of movement across the keyboard. Practicing good habits from the beginning develops muscle memory so you don’t have to struggle with bad habits.

Why begin with the B♭ Major scale?

It suits most vocal ranges and sets the foundation for easily learning all other keys. The course includes lessons in playing all 12 keys to help you transpose the melodies into a key that’s best for you.

What are alankaras?

Alankaras literally means “ornaments.” In this context alankaras are scale-based exercises that develop your dexterity, rhythm, and confidence in any key.

Why learn alankaras in all 12 keys?

By learning the 12 keys, you can accompany any singer and transpose melodies easily. For accompanying yourself, you may only need a few keys.

How is this course connected to kirtan?

You will learn 12 Maha Mantra melodies and how to use them in kirtan. You will also get practical guidance in the flow of a full kirtan from beginning to end.

Why are there so many Maha Mantra melody lessons?

To experience different traditional melodies and help you learn how kirtan leaders choose, transition, and build devotional energy.

Why are there play-along videos with mridanga and kartals?

To give you an immersive experience of playing in kirtan and help you play in time, practicing with correct rhythm and speed.

Are the melodies difficult?

No, they are all suitable for beginners, but also regularly sung by experienced kirtan leaders. Each melody is taught step-by-step with notation and slow practice sessions.

Do I need to know chords to play kirtan?

No, you can accompany using melody alone. This is a more classic way of playing harmonium.

Chords can add harmonic flavor to a melody. They can be used alone or woven into the melody. In this course you will learn different options.

What are chord inversions?

Chord inversions are different ways of arranging the same chord tones. This is helpful for smooth transitions between chords.

Why do we study major (Bilaval) and minor (Asavari) scales?

Six scales are prominent in kirtan music. Knowing the major and minor scales makes it easy to learn the others with just a few adjustments.

What is transposition and why learn it?

Transposition means to shift a melody into another key. It is often necessary to adjust the key for the vocal range of the singer.

How do I receive the course completion certificate?

Complete all lessons and mark each as finished.

Is there a final test?

No exam—your progress through the course is your demonstration of completion.

Harmonium 1 Frequently asked questions