Indian Classical Music with Joel Veena

Service Description

My name is Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer, I am a musician and educator based in southern Vermont, USA. I am happy to be partnering with Halcyon Arts New England to offer online music classes through our Global Music Institute. I am a musician of the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar and offer instruction in north Indian classical music, also known as Hindustani music. I am steeped in the oral tradition of this music, traveling back and forth between the United States and India, since 2007; studying with my teachers, performing and touring across India, Europe and the US. I offer instruction in Hindustani music adapted to your instrument for beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. For those interested in playing the Indian slide guitar, I can guide you on how to modify an ordinary acoustic guitar to play this style and connect you with the makers of the instruments in India. The north Indian music tradition offers us an incredible artistic well of musical technique, approach and philosophy. In particular, the use of cyclical time offers a layer of rhythmic depth and beauty that can enhance all musicians' grasp and implementation of timing. In addition to this, the unique melodic form known as 'raag' is a deep dive into melody and its potential in compositional and improvisational forms. I teach in a systematic way, building materials and techniques around a student's interest and ability. In addition to meeting regularly for class online, I provide students with notations and recordings to refer to. I am also a trained western musician, conversant in the theory and practice of popular music styles, and I bring this experience to our sessions to help bridge the gap between different global musical approaches. Studying and playing Hindustani classical music has been one of the greatest sources of joy and inspiration in my life. I'm looking forward to traveling on this road with you and hope you will join us for classes at the Halcyon Arts Global Music Institute.