Videos

Carnatic Saxophone Raga Alapana Structure Lesson | 3 Types Covered

Happy Lunar New year everyone! 🐲🐲 I’m glad to share a full Carnatic saxophone lesson/tutorial on Youtube on how to structure a raga alapana in short, medium and long lengths. Hopefully this should demystify the process a little bit. If you haven’t reached improvisation yet, it might be a good introduction. For intermediate/advanced practitioners or those who might be interested in the raga approach of my Guru, Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, this should be very useful. There is plenty of music to illustrate in ragas Bilahari, Hamsadhwani, Kalyanavasantham and Bhairavi.

Enjoy the video and feel free to share if you like and subscribe if you haven’t yet. Thanks!

In this video, Carnatic saxophonist Prasant Radhakrishnan shares a clear explanation on how to structure a raga alapana (raga improvisation played before a composition). It is broken into 3 different types: the short sketch raga of about a minute, a medium length raga for up to 5 or 6 minutes and a longer one of 5 to about 15 minutes. Prasant explains and demonstrates on the saxophone the approach for each of these and how to navigate these raga alapana structures while still enjoying the spontaneous aspect of improvising.

The style of Prasant’s Guru, saxophone pioneer, Dr. Kadri Gopalnath is emphasized, which is special in that he would explore the lower octave early in the raga alapana. This method can be applied to any instrument or voice and is not limited to the saxophone. While all music practitioners can benefit from the material shared here, some level of comfort with improvisation, especially in the raga form will be useful in getting the most value out of this video.

Along the way, there is quite a bit of music played, including ragas like Bilahari, Hamsadhwani, Kalanavasantham and Bhairavi. So please enjoy the music as well!

0:00 Overview of the 3 lengths of raga alapana covered here
2:22 How to do the sketch raga alapana (Bilahari and Hamsadhwani ragas demonstrated on the saxophone)
6:27 How to do the medium length raga alapana (Kalyanavasantha raga demonstrated on the saxophone)
14:49 How to do the long length raga alapana (Bhairavi raga demonstrated on the saxophone). Opening and lower octave
21:42 Moving up from the lower octave and using the first 2 anchor notes
24:50 Upper Sa and onwards in the longer length raga
27:00 Concluding the raga alapana in Bhairavi
28:41 Final melkalam (high speed phrases) in the raga conclusion
31:22 Summary of what we covered and concluding remarks

If you found this useful, please subscribe to this channel, like and share to help support more of the work. You can also message Prasant directly and listen to his albums through the website below:

Connect with Prasant:
Website: https://prasantmusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prasantmusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prasantmusic/
Satsang (held online via zoom): https://prasantmusic.com/satsang/

Prasant Radhakrishnan is a versatile saxophonist steeped in both South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and jazz music. A disciple of Carnatic saxophone pioneer, “Padmashri” Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, Prasant had the privilege of apprenticing with him for several years since 1996. He had further training with Dr. T.R. Subramaniam as well as mentorships with other senior artists in India. His parallel exploration of jazz led him to express original music arising from both Carnatic and jazz as well as traditional Carnatic music on the saxophone. Prasant has shared music around the world through albums, performances, artist residencies, lecture demonstrations and teaching. In addition, Prasant shares insightful and easy approaches to meditation and Self Realization through music and sound, which leads naturally Silence and Peace.

New video: Sri Ragam Saxophone Meditation for Self Realization and Profound Peace

Enjoy this brief Sri Ragam Meditation on the saxophone for Self Realization and Profound Peace. Music that naturally arises from the source of sound, the Silence itself is extremely helpful for allowing us to settle back in to our own nature, the Self. The Self is ever present in perfect completeness at all times, but we momentarily get distracted by arising thoughts and their resulting identities, culminating in the identification with the ego or I-Thought. By dissolving our attention into the sound and then resting in its silent Source, we allow the i to dissolve and the Self to be realized. No particular method or approach is required while listening to the music. Simply relax and allow.

It begins with a very brief talk, the music meditation in Sri raga and a brief silent sitting. Thank you for being here!

0:00 Intro talk on this Sri raga meditation on saxophone
1:21 Saxophone raga meditation begins
9:30 Brief silent sitting meditation (natural resting in Silence)

Download Prasant’s meditation albums free and contact Prasant.

Prasant Radhakrishnan is a versatile saxophonist steeped in both South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and jazz music. A disciple of Carnatic saxophone pioneer, “Padmashri” Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, Prasant had the privilege of apprenticing with him for several years since 1996. He had further training with Dr. T.R. Subramaniam as well as mentorships with other senior artists in India. His parallel exploration of jazz led him to express original music arising from both Carnatic and jazz as well as traditional Carnatic music on the saxophone. Prasant has shared music around the world through albums, performances, artist residencies, lecture demonstrations and teaching. In addition, Prasant shares insightful and easy approaches to meditation and Self Realization through music and sound, which leads naturally Silence and Peace.

Video: Recognize, Rest and Realize: Saxophone Raga Meditation for Self Realization

Rest naturally in your own Being, the Self in this saxophone raga meditation for Peace and Self Realization. Simply allow the sound to arise in your field of experience and notice it spontaneously dissolve in silence and arise again. As this is happening, rest deeper and deeper into your own natural Silence. This dissolving is of sweetness and is easy. It is not necessary to concentrate or make any effort.

Recognize: Recognize your are the pure awareness, the Self.
Rest: Rest in the Self, your own Being.
Realize: Realize you have always been This and all is This alone.

This video is from a live Music Satsang during #navaratri time. It includes a deep meditation in raga Kharaharapriya and ends with a rendition of the krithi Himagiri Tanaye in raga Shuddha Dhanyasi. If you would like to know more about livestreams and Satsang with Prasant, or would like to view to full Satsang with talk and Q&A, please visit: https://prasantmusic.com/satsang/ or contact Prasant at https://prasantmusic.com/contact/.

Download Prasant’s meditation albums free at the links below. All music and video is original, by Prasant Radhakrishnan during the live performance.

Prasant Radhakrishnan is a versatile saxophonist steeped in both South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and jazz music. A disciple of Carnatic saxophone pioneer, “Padmashri” Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, Prasant had the privilege of apprenticing with him for several years since 1996. He had further training with Dr. T.R. Subramaniam as well as mentorships with other senior artists in India. His parallel exploration of jazz led him to express original music arising from both Carnatic and jazz as well as traditional Carnatic music on the saxophone. Prasant has shared music around the world through albums, performances, artist residencies, lecture demonstrations and teaching. In addition, Prasant shares insightful and easy approaches to meditation and Self Realization through music and sound, which leads naturally Silence and Peace.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prasantmusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prasantmusic/
Satsang (held online via zoom): https://prasantmusic.com/satsang/
Prasant’s music is available on all major platforms, but you can download it directly from him here. It’s also a great way to support his work: https://music.prasantmusic.com/ If you want to explore the merging of Music and Spirituality or Self Realization, check out this playlist: You can Realize Truth through Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQYOeeKfh4Q&list=PLvRlCjx-q4ZTvB_qAfzAn2wKuzdnhZaMH&index=1&t=0s Subscribe to get notified of new videos, enjoy!

How To Overcome Stage Fright, Anxiety and Fear: 3 Steps and 3 Practical Tips From A Pro Musician

Did you know that both beginners and experienced musicians alike can experience some form of stage fright or nervousness before a performance? Here are 3 simple steps and 3 practical tips to overcome stage fright, anxiety and fear long term, not just temporarily. These feelings can affect us outside of music performance as well, so you will learn how to apply this understanding to your daily life and discover a deeper freedom of being.

If you find this useful please subscribe and share this video and channel!

Here are some topic covered in the video:

0:00 Intro and brief raga improvisation
0:50 The journey of practicing music and the relationship between individual practice and performing in front of and with people
2:13 The 1st step to overcoming stage fright, anxiety and fear: Discovering an innate aspect of you that does not have stage fright and is witnessing your experience. You can call this Awareness, Pure Witness, or Beingness for example. Guided exploration and explanation to discover that this Awareness is aware of your arising experiences but is not caught up or affected by them.
5:35 Step 2: Recognizing that your arising experiences and sensations, including stage fright, anxiety and fear, have may have an important function.
8:17 Recap of Steps 1 and 2
8:29 Step 3: How to overcome stage fright, anxiety and fear by not resisting or clinging to the experience, sensation, emotions or thoughts, and allowing it to arise and pass through. As this passes through, continue to rest in the feeling of Awareness.
10:09 Practical tip 1: After step 1-3, when you get ready to play, use a few long tones to relax and center yourself before playing.
10:35 Practical tip 2: Answering the “what if?” and other pre-performance fears, ie: what if I forget everything I practiced? Be better prepared for your performance by practicing in advance, and enough that you can play effortlessly.
13:14 Practical tip 3: If possible, choose songs to perform that are appropriate for your skill level and that you can realistically and comfortably perform well in the time you have to prepare. Why chasing a very difficult piece or musical accomplishment may not always be the best choice.
13:53 What the deepest function of music really is.
14:59 How to apply this understanding and technique to day to day life anxiety and fear
16:25 Two causes for anxiety and fear and how to handle them.
17:35 Examples to illustrate the mental tendency of clinging to experience that prevents anxiety and fear from dissipating.

Live Carnatic Saxophone Concert Clip: Pariyachakama – Vanaspati – Rupaka – Thyagaraja

Glad to share a full song from our Carnatic saxophone concert at the 2023 San Francisco International Arts Festival: Pariyachakama in Vanaspati ragam, Rupaka talam. As always, enjoyed playing with my musical brother Rohan Krishnamurthy in a duet. It’s truly a meditative and introspective composition by Saint Thyagaraja set to the ideal raga. We are so lucky to have these compositions as natural vehicles for inner realization and happiness.

For shorter clips, you can check out our Instagram: @prasantmusic and @rohanrhythm

This Carnatic saxophone and mridangam duet rendition includes raga alapana (solo melodic improvisation), krithi (the full composition) and swaras (improvisation with the melody and rhythm within the context of the song).

Prasant Radhakrishnan: Alto saxophone Rohan Krishnamurthy: Mridangam

Prasant and Rohan celebrated playing together for over 25 years during this concert. They first played together in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana in 1997. Special thanks to SFIAF and Brava Theater staff for hosting the concert and also recording this clip. If you enjoyed this, please subscribe and share this video and channel.

#carnaticsaxophone #meditativemusic #mridangam #saxophone #indianclassicalmusic

Absorption in Supreme Sound and Silence | 20 Minute Saxophone Raga Meditation | Raga Sriranjani 

Happy to share this new saxophone raga meditation with you in raga Sriranjani. You’re welcome to use this video for formal sitting or play it in the background while you work. Those with a musical background can improvise along with me for an active meditative absorption.

Enjoy and experience effortless Absorption (Samadhi) in Supreme Sound (Naada) and Silence in this 20 minute music meditation on saxophone. Samadhi in most cases is considered a difficult height to attain through meditation practice, however through music and sound it is surprisingly effortless. All that is needed the effortless experiencing or hearing of sound and complete letting go into the sound. This letting go is such that there is the feeling that there is nothing but sound. Subsequently dropping into the Silence, deeply rest in your own feeling of being. The cessation of mental movement will naturally occur and the awake awareness that is ever present reveals Itself. This may happen on its own without any effort put forth by you.

Download Prasant’s meditation albums free here. All music, video clips and images of nature taken in this video are original.

Prasant Radhakrishnan is a versatile saxophonist steeped in both South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and jazz music. A disciple of Carnatic saxophone pioneer, “Padmashri” Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, Prasant had the privilege of apprenticing with him for several years since 1996. He had further training with Dr. T.R. Subramaniam as well as mentorships with other senior artists in India. His parallel exploration of jazz led him to express original music arising from both Carnatic and jazz as well as traditional Carnatic music on the saxophone. Prasant has shared music around the world through albums, performances, artist residencies, lecture demonstrations and teaching. In addition, Prasant shares insightful and easy approaches to meditation and Self Realization through music and sound, which leads naturally Silence and Peace.

Music Meditation: The Sound That Liberates – Saxophone Hindolam Raga Meditation for Realization

Dissolve in Sound, Rest in Silence

Sound arising from our nature instantly liberates us from all thoughts, concepts, confusion and suffering. These thoughts and feelings arise and give the appearance of unhappiness. They simply are not you. This sound appears to begin from in front of you, but instantly becomes you, your simple nature, Beingness and Awareness.

Allowing that to take over your experience, everything that seems to trouble you dissolves. Rest in your own nature, free of suffering, discontent and trouble.

Subscribe to Prasant’s YouTube channel for more videos on this as well as Music for Realization.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prasantmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prasantmusic/

Download Prasant’s solo saxophone tracks for effortless meditation, Peace and Self Realization here:
http://music.prasantmusic.com/album/meditations-ragas-on-saxophone-vol-2

Truth Is Like The Parents You’ve Always Had

In this video, Prasant likens the effortless nature of being who you are, Truth/Silence/Beingness Itself, to the fact that it takes no effort to be the child of your parents on a fundamental level. Simply by being born and existing, you automatically are the child of whoever your parents happen to be. It takes no effort and there is no need to regain the status of being this as no matter what could happen you would always remain the child of your parents by your very existence. Even if they passed away, or you ran away from home, or whatever it may be… The DNA, and all the blueprints of your parents and ancestors, perhaps, exist in you and created the body. They permeate every inch of your body. On the basic physical level, this could not be removed, even if you tried.

Similarly, the Self, the Truth of what you are, is the basic foundation of our existence that cannot be lost or regained. Our very nature always has the Infinite as its Source and Reality as its nature. It is effortless to be the Self, because you are and have always been the Self. Like a runaway child, you may have denied your identity with This. Later, you recognize it is your nature, always. How easy, how joyful! You can celebrate, because nothing could ever take this away. Even being in the so called mind, cannot take you away. If you change your name and runaway, you would still be the child of your parents. If you think you are the mind and identify with your thoughts and run into many problems and frustrations, you still are the Self. You are the Self right now. This is absolutely true. This is your birthright and you simply recognizing this is returning Home and is freedom.

Absorbing this and understanding this within is contemplation and dissolving of confusion. Recognizing this truth as infallible and indestructible in your experience is awakening. Returning to your abode in Freedom and living freely with this imperturbable Knowingness is Unbroken Realization.

Be happy. 🙂

-Prasant

What’s the point? Resolve This Question For Enlightenment

In this video, Prasant delves into the “what’s the point?” question that arises for many of us at some point in our lives. Or for some of us, it is a regular question. For example: What is the point of all of this? Why all this? After going through so many experiences, it all amounts to nothing, so what’s the point? Everything is happening automatically and nothing is “done” by us so what’s the point? So on and so forth. It comes up for those serious about enlightenment and realization and those who are not. Even those who have had awakening or enlightenment experiences can struggle with this.

By going into what “what’s the point” is actually looking for, we uncover the fact that it is the mind that asks such a question to both resist the arising experience and also grasp for some concept, idea, or phenomenon to explain what is happening or motivate itself to continue its own separate existence. The “point” is just that, a tiny point on a vast, open ocean of experience. In trying to find the point, it is easy to miss the Infinite. When the Infinite is realized, then any point is also That.

In the video, Prasant goes into a little more detail to understand this complaint of the mind and arms us with the insight to transcend it at any given time. The result is freedom.

Subscribe to Prasant’s YouTube channel for more videos
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prasantmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prasantmusic/

The track playing at the beginning and end can be downloaded here.

Download Prasant’s solo saxophone tracks for effortless meditation, Peace and Self Realization here:
http://music.prasantmusic.com/album/meditations-ragas-on-saxophone-vol-2

Music Is Instant Meditation

In this video, Prasant goes into detail about not only how music is an instant meditation, but also what the nature of meditation really is. The fact is you are already meditating right now. Your nature itself is meditation. This, right now, is meditation.

Many of us may feel that they are brought into the unfolding ever present NOW while listening to music but the experience fades later on. Prasant shares here that the important insight to take away from every natural experience of music is that the space, freedom and joy you experience with music is always here with or without music. That stays with you when you are away from music. You were there before anything appeared and remain afterwards.

In fact, the experience of Life itself is much like a never ending great symphony of music. Enjoy it by just being yourself…whatever you already are without having to do or change anything to be IT.

Subscribe to Prasant’s YouTube channel for more videos
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prasantmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prasantmusic/

Download Prasant’s solo saxophone tracks for effortless meditation, Peace and Self Realization here:
http://music.prasantmusic.com/album/meditations-ragas-on-saxophone-vol-2

The photo at the beginning and end is of the sacred Arunachala at Tiruvannamalai, India.