In this video I’m going to show you some basic exercises to increase you ability to change between subdivision.

We will start with an introduction to subdivision counting, then I’m going to show you the most basic Konnakol gear changing exercise for you to have some fun with.

Firstly, counting in the traditional western fashion is great. I have found that most people practice subdivisions in long periods of isolation, when in reality, it is a more important skill to be able to accurately shift between subdivisions. So our first task is to practice changing subdivisions every 2 bars, then every bar, then every 2 beats, until we are comfortable shifting randomly between subdivisions.

Our more advanced section is an introduction to Konnakol…

Konnakol is a tradition within South Indian classical music, it is essentially vocalisations of Indian drum sounds and patterns. In western music we have hijacked the system as it allows us to execute more complicated ideas that traditional beat counting and intuition.

A full Konnakol course is coming to the member’s section this January, so keep your eyes peeled.