South Indian Percussion

With over a decade of experience in Carnatic percussion, the instructor has performed at prestigious venues around the world, including the Philharmonie de Paris, the Musée Guimet, and major festivals in India and Europe. As a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, they have developed innovative methods to teach the rhythmic language of South Indian music (konnakol) and applied these techniques to jazz, percussion ensembles, and world music.

His unique pedagogy bridges traditional Carnatic rhythms with contemporary musical styles, offering students a dynamic and immersive learning experience. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned musician, you'll benefit from their expertise and passion for rhythm.

From playing alongside Indian classical stalwarts like Violin Chakravarthy L.Subramaniam,Kalaimamani Suryaprakash,Mambalam Sisters , Mandolin U Rajesh,Ambi Subramaniam Flute B .Vijayagopal Dancers Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, Methil Devika,Sreelakshmy Govardhanan..,to sharing musical dialogues with Hindustani talents like Ashok Pathak and Sanju Sahai, Tanmoy Bose, his range is vast.

His global collaborations have seen him travel from Mauritius Island,Guadeloupe, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Germany. He works with numerous cross-genre collaborations with producers, jazz ensembles,orchestras,and global musicians including Gilles Apap, Dominique di Piazza. He played with prestigious Western classical music orchestras including the Philharmonie of Paris and the Normandy National Orchestra.

Studying kanjira and morsing with Balakumar Paramalingam is an incredible experience! Balakumar is full of ideas and tailors each lesson to my curiosity and interests, introducing me to the fascinating world of Carnatic music. He applies the rhythmic grammar and typical phrases of South India with precision, while explaining key concepts such as Korvai, Mora, Koraippu, and the rhythms unique to different styles and artists. His approach is both simple and highly effective. I highly recommend his classes to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of percussion and enrich their musical practice with authentic elements of Carnatic tradition.

Nicolas

Italian Frame Drummer

Taking konnakol lessons with Balakumar Paramalingam has been a transformative experience for my drumming. As a passionate teacher and a master of Carnatic rhythmic tradition, Balakumar makes an intricate and rich musical world accessible, opening new horizons for musicians of all backgrounds. His lessons have helped me develop rhythmic precision and fluidity, which have significantly enhanced my playing. Through konnakol, I’ve learned to integrate Indian rhythmic cycles, sophisticated subdivisions, and a unique phrasing approach, which I now apply with ease in my music. His teaching has strengthened not only my auditory memory but also my sense of rhythm, allowing me to structure my improvisations more effectively and explore new rhythmic patterns. Balakumar’s teaching is precise, generous, and perfectly tailored to the needs of contemporary musicians. I highly recommend his classes to anyone looking to expand their rhythmic vocabulary and gain a deeper understanding of Carnatic rhythms.

Drummer J.

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