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Other: How can I learn to play the harmonium easily?

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      CommentAuthorabhiram
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2008
     
    with little practice and fast results.

    hehe. :)
    • CommentAuthordeena
    • CommentTimeJan 24th 2008
     
    You can't. :)
    • CommentAuthorshina
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     
    it can't be so difficult...
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      CommentAuthorabhiram
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     
    I just want a "Lear harmonium in 7 days course"!!!
    and you only have to pracice 5 minutes a day...

    i cant be so difficult. it is like a mini piano
    • CommentAuthorPraveen
    • CommentTimeJan 25th 2008
     
    vayasaki das has a nice DVD on playing the harmonium. Its pretty easy to follow, you should try that out.

    Oh. And the harmonium is difficult. Its nothing like playing the piano unless all you're into is learning chords.
  6.  
    Hari Bol, Namaskar Check these page of Jagganath Mishra Prabhu with his son Arjuna Das, its Mrdanga lessons. do you know some other Link when we come to inquire for learning to Play the Harmonium ? tabs from sooong or something like that.

    i can share these one, you can pass through the lessons and leave a Comment.

    Thanks, http://mrdanga.wordpress.com/

    Hari Om !
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      CommentAuthorsitapati
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2008
     
    Playing harmonium, for a devotee, is a service.

    The harmonium is spiritual energy, paraphenalia for worship of Sri Krishna, and as such we recognize it as a manifestation of Sankarshan, or Lord Balarama - adi-guru.

    So therefore before attempting to do service to sri harmonium, we should approach with great respect and offer flowers and incense. Then in this way we can do some service, if he is pleased to allow us. Harmonium will play himself, and we are the servants who are allowed to take part in the service to the Lord.

    With this orientation you will not practice playing, you will render service, and your Krishna Consciousness and ability to serve the harmonium in kirtan will grow side-by-side.

    See also: http://www.atmayogi.com/node/437 "Basic Kirtans"
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      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2008
     
    interesting the worship of "sri harmonium" as a spiritual character.
    is there any shastra quote or particular mantra we can use in its pooja?
    i know some for cars if someone is interested.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsitapati
    • CommentTimeJan 29th 2008
     
    The harmonium is used in Krishna's service. He is in santa rasa. Unlike us, he doesn't engage in sinful activities. He isn't inimical to Krishna, and he doesn't try to imitate Krishna out of envy. Therefore he is a superior devotee and worshiping him with this understanding is the beginning of understanding where we actually fit into the scheme of things.

    Scriptural quote?

    trnad api sunicena
    taror api sahisnuna
    amanina manadena
    kirtaniya sada harih

    One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
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      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2008
     
    I am truly amazed at the santa rasa category of sri harmonium, still do not find specific scriptural reference, could be yada yada hi dharmasya or apit cet suduracaro, or om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.
    It is not a practice of our acaryas to concatenate references in such a free style.
    For me "sri harmonium" unless proven by sadhu shastra and guru, is an ordinary instrument, and special inasmuch everything in the creation of Krishna is special.
    Again where are the direct references? Otherwise, danger, danger, you know how easily we can astray...

    We have 1 sadhu that says so, so far
    NO shastra quote
    and NO guru quote
    •  
      CommentAuthorrasa108
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2008 edited
     
    I know the harmonium can be "spiritualised" - just as the nature of any object used in the service of the Lord is changed from material to spiritual - as opposed to an object used only for sense gratification (including the harmonium which can still be a mundane object unless used in Krsna's service).
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      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2008 edited
     
    OK, lets worship...
    a shoe used to walk on street sankirtana,
    a computer used in the service of the Lord (some do already, but they only whorship the latest model as genuine arca vigraha).
    you name it.
    For me, and unless someone shows me evidence, this is sentimentally trying to be on a platform we are not, that is to see everything as divine and encourage this is a kind of sahajiya mentality, everything cheap.
    •  
      CommentAuthorabhiram
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2008
     
    but...how can i play the harmonium easily?
  14.  
    Deena prabhu already answered your question.
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      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2008
     
    it is not difficult. Actually is easier than mrdanga. For example you can practice fingering like this:

    begin by the thumbnail on the first white key to the left in a sequence (only the white keys) and when you reach the middle finger , pass the thumb under the middle finger and complete this time up to the pinkie.

    and from right to left, begin with pinkie all the way to the thumb, then pass the middle finger above the thumb and finish with the thumb, this way you do the eight sounds in scales all the way up and down the keyboard.

    Then, you start practicing with the black keys.

    I might post a small video if I find the time.

    if you have ear for music and strong will for practice you can get all melodies by ear without much problem.

    But practice is obviously a must. No shortcuts. :)
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      CommentAuthorrasa108
    • CommentTimeFeb 3rd 2008
     
    It is an art and keep in mind it's used to help keep the voice in tune as you will notice with Srila Prabhupada's recordings and experienced bhajan players (mainly single or double fingered playing)
    • CommentAuthorsaivishnu
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008 edited
     
    Mishra Ji

    I am also very much interested to learn harmonium for Bhajans,recently I got one in ebay just started learning it.

    The tip you provided was very usefull,This single tip it self more than reading a 100 page book to learn harmonium.could you please shed some more light on this topic.

    If you have any video clips that shows the finger movement on both white and black keys,could you please let us know ?

    Thank you very much for your help.
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      CommentAuthorsitapati
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     
    ----------------------
    The sound of a bell embodies all music. If a devotee lacks instruments and kirtana he should simply ring a bell, for that sound in itself is dear to the Lord. Thus one should worship the puja bell before worshiping the Lord, as an item of His paraphernalia that is very dear to Him. Many functions of worship require that one ring a bell with a handle.*
    ----------------------
    While offering the bell a flower petal dipped in candana, chant:
    ete gandha-puspe om jaya-dhvani-mantra-matah svaha

    • Now affix the flower petal to the body of the bell with the candana. Then ring the bell briefly with your left hand and replace it on the plate, all the while thinking of the bell as a servant of the Lord. Then with joined palms chant:

    sarva-vadya-mayi ghante deva-devasya vallabhe
    tvam vina naiva sarvesam subham bhavati sobhane

    O beautiful bell so dear to Sri Krsna, the God of gods, you embody the sweet sound of all music. Without you there is no auspiciousness for anyone.
    ---------------------------

    These are quotes from the Pancaratra-pradipa about the bell and worship of the bell.

    If you see the video Abhay Caran, there is one scene where Bhaktivinode Thakura is singing bhajan in his house before the deities, "Bhajahure mana". Bhajan is also deity worship, and bhajan performed during arati is part of the arati worship. Whoever is leading or participating in the bhajan or kirtan is worshiping the deity.

    The harmonium when used in this way is an instrument of worship to the Lord. Just as we worship the bell and consider ourselves to be a servant of the bell in the matter of worshiping the Lord, we are also servants of the harmonium. Practicing playing the harmonium is not an attempt to "master it", but rather to render service to it. In this way when the harmonium is pleased with our service, it will allow us to participate in its service to the Lord.

    Srila Prabhupada indicated that harmonium should not be used in temple arati, but it can be used to accompany the congregational chanting of the maha-mantra and devotional songs.

    This world is all Krishna's energy. It all belongs to Him, and it should all be used in His service. Even if we do not yet have this realization about *everything*, at least we can understand it about "overtly devotional things". In this way Srila Prabhupada's shoes *are* venerated, and items and instruments such as conch, bell, mrdanga, cartal, and harmonium used in the worship of the Lord are understood to be sacred objects.
    •  
      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     
    saivishnu:

    i will make short video in the next few days and post here.
    • CommentAuthorsaivishnu
    • CommentTimeMay 8th 2008
     
    Mishra Ji :

    That would really help so many who wants to learn on their own,Thank you very much for this divine work.
    •  
      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeMay 8th 2008 edited
     
    Thankful People: saivishnu
    • CommentAuthorsaivishnu
    • CommentTimeMay 9th 2008
     
    Mishra Ji :

    I can't believe this... you made this video so quick :)

    Finger movement is clearly shown in the video, it seems like you used left hand ,but since the rules for the right hand should also be the same,so it is helpful to start the practice.

    Thank you so much for your help. :)

    "MAY DIVINE LOVE AND GRACE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS."
    Thankful People: mishra
    •  
      CommentAuthormishra
    • CommentTimeJul 15th 2008 edited
     
    lessons by Bhairavesh das

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