The veena also called the Indian sitar, is an ancient Indian string instrument, dating back to the period of the Indus Valley Civilization. It produces beautiful, soothing music, and is often used in Indian classical music or Carnatic music.
While veena doesn’t have much of a presence in popular music today, there are many who’ve dedicated their lives to studying and playing this instrument, so there’s definitely still an audience for this unique kind of music. If you’re interested in learning to play the veena yourself, this article will show you the best online veena classes you can attend, and achieve your goal.
Best Online Veena Classes for Beginners
Here are some of the best online veena courses you can take today.
Carnatic Veena Intricacies (iPassio)
Level – Beginner, Intermediate
Duration – 30 weeks (60mins per session)
In this one-on-one online veena course, Vainika Charumathi the course handler with 10 years of veena experience, takes you, a complete beginner, and moulds you into a fine veena instrumentalist – one capable of becoming a great Carnatic musician. From learning how to hold the instrument to learning the different techniques and styles, this course covers all the basics of playing the veena with Carnatic music.
If you are a complete novice or already have some experience of veena but looking to build up on it, you can take this course. Students to who we recommended this course have given us their feedback and so far, we’ve only received positive feedback from them. Other students who also took this course are very happy they did.
Theory topics treated in this course include:
- History & Parts of Veena
- Carnatic music theory plus basic technical terms
- Sthayi and its types
- Swarasthanas in veena
- Names of the strings
- How to tune shruti in veena
- Raga concept
- Panchadasa gamakas
- Plucking techniques
Practical topics include:
- Sarali Varisai
- Dhattu Varisai
- Meisthayi Varisai
- Saptha Thala Alankarams
- Jantai Varisai
- Geetham
- Nottu Swaram
- Swarajathi
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for both beginners and intermediate learners who want to learn the veena instrument from scratch.
What is needed from you?
You are required to have a veena instrument to enrol for this class.
Where would this class be held?
This is an online class and lessons will be transmitted via Videos, Skype, & Zoom.
Beginner Carnatic Veena (Bmusician)
Course Level – Beginner
Course Duration – Flexible
In this online veena beginner class, students will learn the principles of Carnatic music as well as Veena fingering skills The course, which consists of 5 modules, is focused on teaching the students how to play the veena at the Geetham and Swarajathis levels. Students who complete this course will be able to play basic Carnatic songs (Krithis) on the veena, thereby qualifying for the Intermediate level, where they will study varnams and krithis.
What we like about Bmusician online courses is their dashboard-progress tracking feature where a dashboard with tools to monitor practice, performance, and academic achievement is given to each student. It lists the course modules, feedback from classes, suggestions for improvement, the time of the next session, and even much more. This feature can hardly be found in many online course academies present today.
Topics include:
- Introduction to Carnatic music and Music theory
- Varisaigal
- Alankaram
- Geetham and Swarajathi
- Simple Krithis
Who is this course for?
This course is open to students who have never studied music in school, have never played the Carnatic veena, or have studied other types of music but have never played the veena.
What is needed from you?
You need a laptop/desktop computer with a camera and a microphone attached to attend this course. You are also required to install either, the Chrome browser, Firefox, Safari or Opera browser. You will also need to download and install the Bmusician app on your phone.
Online Rudra Veena Lessons for Beginners (iPassio)
Course Level – Beginner
Course Duration – 54 weeks (45mins per session)
This 1-on-1 online learning session provides an opportunity for beginners to study Rudra Veena. The course spans over 54 weeks and each lesson will last for 45 minutes. During this time the students will master the fundamentals of Rudra Veena. With the use of specific techniques, the students will be led in developing the proper positioning of both their right and left hands, this will enable them to advance in the exquisite instrument known as the “Rudra Veena,” which plays ragas.
The course instructor Siddhartha Banerjee is a well-known Siddha Veena performer and teacher with many years of experience. And in this online veena class, he will be sharing his years of expertise and knowledge with each student.
Who can take this course?
Beginners and those new to the veena instrument.
What is needed from you?
A high-quality veena instrument, the Tanpura App, a notepad, etc.
How would this course be transmitted?
As an online veena course, the lessons will be transmitted via videos, Google Meet, Skype, and Zoom
Recommended Channel for Free Online Veena Classes
If you really really want to learn veena but don’t have the budget or resources to do so, you can always learn veena for free on youtube. These are our recommended online veena classes for you. Watch this video and follow the channel and you will be fine????.
How to Learn Veena Systematically – Devika Bhatnagar
In this video, Devika Bhatnagar shared her journey and experiences in learning veena with you. She then goes further to explain the step-by-step process you need to follow to learn veena perfectly. We also watched her play the veena and were left stunned by her talents. Watch the video and watch the others on her channel as well.
Questions Students Ask About Veena
Here are a series of questions we have received regarding veena. If you have more, don’t hesitate to ask using the comments box below or contact us HERE.
Who discovered veena?
The veena is a traditional string instrument that originated in India. It is believed to have been invented by the god Vishnu and has been played for centuries by both Hindu and Buddhist monks. The instrument was later adopted by the Persian culture and spread to other parts of Asia. Today, the veena is played all over the world.
How long does it take to learn veena?
The veena is a complex instrument, and it can take years to master. However, the basics can be learned relatively quickly. In general, it takes around six months to a year to learn the basics of playing the veena. The exact amount of time will depend on your natural ability and how often you practice.
Do you need a veena instrument to take an online class?
Yes! It is necessary that you get an instrument to take a veena class, especially an online one. If you don’t have your own instrument, you can usually rent or borrow one from friends and neighbors around you. And if you decide to buy, you can order quality veena instruments online from Here.
Can you learn veena online?
Of course, you can. While nothing really beats an in-person class, there are various great courses you can take online to learn veena and that is what we have discussed in this article.
What is the right age for veena?
There is no one answer to this question since everyone learns differently and at their own pace. However, most people agree that the ideal age for starting veena classes is around 6 or 7 years old. This gives the child enough time to develop coordination and fine motor skills, and they will be able to sit still for a longer period of time.
Is playing veena difficult?
No, playing veena is not difficult. In fact, it’s quite easy once you get the hang of it. The veena is a very user-friendly instrument, and with a little practice, you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.
Online Veena Classes (Final Words)
Veena is a great way to learn about Indian culture and music. It is a beautiful instrument that has a rich history and learning to play it can be incredibly rewarding. If you’re thinking about taking an online veena class, we have done some research for you. With the right preparation and determination, you’ll be playing beautiful music in no time!
