Skip to main content
Loading Events

Learn to Play Veena with Sahana S.V

Sign Up Now
12 January 2026
6:30 pm

Get a taste of musical wonders of Veena with Sahana in this beginner session

Join us for an inspiring online taster session with the talented veena player SV Sahana, offering beginners a unique opportunity to explore the serene and majestic sound of this ancient South Indian instrument.

Whether you’re completely new to the veena or simply curious about delving into the world of Carnatic classical music, this introductory workshop welcomes all enthusiasts with no prior experience necessary.

Sahana will guide participants through the fundamentals of veena playing, including proper sitting posture, hand positioning, basic plucking techniques, and the production of melodious notes, whilst sharing insights into the instrument’s revered place in Indian classical tradition.

This taster session provides the perfect introduction for those considering enrolling in the full beginner’s course, offering a glimpse into Sahana’s patient teaching style and the veena’s rich, contemplative tonal character. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn from an accomplished musician and discover the timeless beauty of the veena’s meditative voice.

About the Artist

SV Sahana is a distinguished veena player whose performances are characterised by their graceful musicality and deep reverence for the Carnatic classical tradition.

Trained under eminent gurus in the rich lineage of veena playing, Sahana has developed a refined technique that showcases the instrument’s full expressive range, from delicate gamakas to powerful jarus.

Her concerts demonstrate a profound understanding of ragas and their emotional landscapes, captivating audiences with performances that balance technical precision with soulful interpretation.

The veena, often regarded as the queen of Indian instruments, finds an eloquent voice through Sahana’s artistry, as she brings centuries-old compositions to life with contemporary sensitivity. As a dedicated teacher, Sahana is committed to preserving and sharing the sacred art of veena playing, guiding students with warmth, expertise, and an unwavering passion for this noble instrument. Her contribution to Carnatic music continues to inspire both listeners and aspiring musicians alike.

Instruments

'T' for Tabla with Gurdain Rayatt

Learn to play tabla from beginners to advance with Gurdain Rayatt. Online classes are starting soon!

Jayanthi Kumaresh | Raga Shanmukhapriya | Saraswati Veena

Jayanthi Kumaresh | Raga Shanmukhapriya | Saraswati Veena

Recorded for Darbar Festival 2013, at London’s Southbank Centre, on 19th September. Musicians: - Jayanthi Kumaresh (saraswati veena) - Patri Satish Kumar (mridangam) - RN Prakash (ghatam) - Mithila Sarma (tanpura) Raga Shanmukhapriya Jayanthi Kumaresh’s gently electrified saraswati veena is an ancient instrument, but produces a strikingly guitaristic tone, leading a dual-drum lineup on Shanmukhapriya. Learn more about the music: Jayanthi Kumaresh’s saraswati veena is an ancient instrument, named after the Hindu goddess of arts and learning. But her gently electrified version produces a strikingly guitaristic tone, igniting Carnatic classical melodies with sweeping bends. She started playing aged three, and learned under her mother Lalgudi Rajalakshmi, before leaving home aged 13 to study with her aunt Padmavathy Ananthagopalan. She also received instruction from her great-uncle, violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman, and noted veenai S Balachander. A few years later she became one of the youngest artists to receive an All India Radio ‘A’ grading, earned a doctorate in veena history, and founded the Indian National Orchestra, uniting musicians from India’s classical traditions in a large ensemble. On recent recordings she has experimented with recording seven layers of veena on top of each other, and continues to write for dance and film. Shanmukhapriya’s ominous melodic structure is often associated with Murugan, the god of war, and Shiva, the destroyer. It is a sampoorna [seven-note] ragam, ascending and descending symmetrically as SR₂G₂M₂PD₁N₂S. There is a wide interval jump between Ri and Gi, and its distinctive shape has been widely used for song composition for centuries. Subscribe to the Darbar Player to access the full, uncut performance.