| Folk Arts - Master Artist - Raman Iyer
Raman Iyer is a master Carnatic violinist, specializing in musical traditions found in Southern India. Iyer was born in Kochi India, located on the southwestern peninsula near the Arabian Sea. Iyer has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over ten years and currently resides in Bellevue, Washington. N. Shivanandan taught Iyer to play the violin at age six and his parents taught him Carnatic vocals to accompany the musical style. In the mid 1990’s Raman had the honor of briefly studying with Dr. L. Subramaniam, a world-renowned violinist who was adept in both Indian and Western Classical genres. Iyer was deeply influenced by Dr. L. Subramaniam, who has remained an inspiration since. Currently, Mrs. Sreevidhya Chandramouli guides Iyer Raman in his lifelong commitment to music. Mrs. Sreevidhya is a tenth generation Vainika belonging to the famed Karaikudi tradition.
Traditionally, Carnatic violin has accompanied vocalists. Carnatic violin has evolved into a lead instrument, often played alone in modern Indian musical contexts. Many classical Indian art forms take years to learn, including Carnatic violin. Most experts in classical Indian art forms were taught the art at a very early age.
As a recipient of a 2005 and 2006 Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant, Iyer taught Shilpa A. Coorg to play the Carnatic violin. Shilpa A. Coorg currently resides in Seattle, and attended the University of Washington. She has been studying under Iyer for the past nine years. Shilpa is extremely dedicated to the traditional Indian art form and is inspired by Raman Iyer’s teachings.
In 2009 with another apprenticeship grant award, Raman will be teaching Sahana Suresh violin techniques as well as the vocal aspects of the Carnatic music. Raman chose to teach Suresh because of her great desire to learn the violin, as well as for her patience and persistence. | |||
