He could be given examples of songs but an explanation based on notes and nuances would help a lot.
At a more advanced level, a knowledge of the structure of a Raagam can help to sing a piece for which there is no recording but notation is available.Ī Rasika can enjoy music whether he knows the theory or not, but most of the time a Carnatic music Rasika wants to find the Raagam of a song he hears! Or he would like to know, how one Raagam differs from another. It is also easier for a teacher to explain mistakes of students on the basis of notes.įor a beginner learning instruments like Veena, knowledge of notes speeds up the learning process. But when he later wants to sing some new Raagam he may have difficulty in avoiding shades of a closer Raagam. Similarly a student with a basic musical sense is often able to repeat melodies sung by a teacher or others without knowing what notes are being sung. This often works for well established old Raagams, but they often find it difficult to distinguish between Raagams having similar groups of notes and differing in Gamakam (nuances) or newer Raagams differing in only one or two notes from older Raagams.
Others who have been listening to Carnatic music for many years are able to identify Raagams by remembering the typical phrases from popular songs and trying to match with what they hear. Why should a Rasika or student know about the 'theory' of Carnatic music such as Raagams,Thaalams, classification, definitions etc.? Many Rasikas enjoy music without bothering even to find the Raagam. Why study Carnatic Music Theory Why study Carnatic Music Theory?