Raga Academy of Indian Music/ Music Lessons

Launching a new initiative on my birthday! Six deserving students are each getting a $500 scholarship - Acer Laptop & $100 for school supplies. Starting small. Plan to make it bigger by next year. What a remarkable way to spend my birthday designing the flyer! Blessings & directions from above! Youth Engagement for Success or Y.E.S. is a VI-SH Koranne Foundation initiative. Celebrating perseverance & beating the odds to succeed on July 9th. These students are going off to college. Congratulations & Best of luck!! If you want to attend please RSVP to info at korannefoundation.org

Have a marvelous Monday friends! Mondays can be a real drag but not when you hum a little tune & sing a little song! Happiness galore on 6/12/24‼️

Happy World Music Day friends! Revel in the bliss offered by music, specially Indian music. And instantly connect to the divine which exists in everyone & everything! How fortunate we are to have the gift of music in our lives.

Health is Wealth! And having Music in your life is an added bonus! Have a Wonderful Wednesday!!
-Heera

Heera Koranne Kulkarni Presented our rich heritage of Indian vocal & instrumental music in a wonderful Indian music concert to a non-Indian audience on 6/12/24 afternoon with Raga Academy of Indian Music/ Music Lessons

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 We successfully completed the 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐟𝐢𝐥-𝐄-𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫. 𝐎𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 $𝟒,𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬. This non-profit works with Sacramento’s homeless population. We would like to thank all the students of Raga Academy of Music who participated & donated funds. We thank each & everyone connected with this show from the bottom of our hearts. Here is a list of people who made it possible to raise the funds for a great cause. Thank you!! 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐬 -Shivesh Sinha & Bhavana Bilagi 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Divya Sinha 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Daljit Singh & family & Heera Kulkarni
𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 (𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬): Neil Nayyar
𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢: Sharada Balakrishnan & Gayatri Devi
𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡: Ambarish Lankipalli & Gayatri Devi
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 ($𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎)): “Heal with Heera” Plant-Based Dietary coaching program to reverse chronic health conditions www.healwithheera.com
𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 ($𝟓𝟎𝟎): Neil & Esmeralda Singh of La Sierra Plumbing, INC (916) 549-0263 Natarajan Gutta of Key Business Solutions (916) 287-8487
𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 ($250): Savita & Abdul Farooqui of Axyom & SymSoft Solutions (916) 567-1740 Heera Kulkarni of Raga Academy of Indian Music/ Music Lessons [email protected] Babuji Lankipalli Meenakshi & Ajay Raina Shashi Devaraju ($200) Real Estate (916)-307-3444 Chandrakant & Smita Patel ($180)
𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 ($100): Sharada Balakrishnan, Nita Acharya, Priyanka & Ishanvi Sinha, Shanti Ram, Nandini & Atiksh Kanyal, Amit & Shaurya Verma, Namrata Khemchandani & Ashwin, Mridula Udayagiri, Dr. Bhavin Parikh, Mary Oonh Ta, Venugopal Acharya, Sirisha Pulipati & City of Rancho Cordova, Priya Walimbe, Divya & Shivesh Sinha 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 & 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚: Sound system & Keyboard managed by Vineel Krishna & Tabla by Daljit Singh

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
We successfully completed the 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐟𝐢𝐥-𝐄-𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫. 𝐎𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 $𝟒,𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬. This non-profit works with Sacramento's homeless population. This has been our best fundraiser so far. We would like to thank all the students of Raga Academy of Music who participated & donated funds. We thank our Gold, Silver & Bronze Sponsors. We thank the people who bought the tickets & attended the show. We thank each & everyone connected with this show from the bottom of our hearts. Here is a list of people who made it possible to raise the funds for a great cause. Thank you!!
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐬 -Shivesh Sinha & Bhavana Bilagi
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Divya Sinha
𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Daljit Singh & family & Heera Kulkarni
𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 (𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬): Neil Nayyar
𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢: Sharada Balakrishnan & Gayatri Devi
𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡: Ambarish Lankipalli & Gayatri Devi

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 ($𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎)): "Heal with Heera" Plant-Based Dietary coaching program to reverse chronic health conditions www.healwithheera.com
𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 ($𝟓𝟎𝟎): Neil & Esmeralda Singh of La Sierra Plumbing, INC (916) 549-0263
Natarajan Gutta of Key Business Solutions (916) 287-8487
𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 ($250): Savita & Abdul Farooqui of Axyom & SymSoft Solutions (916) 567-1740
Heera Kulkarni of Raga Academy of Indian Music/ Music Lessons
[email protected]
Babuji Lankipalli
Meenakshi & Ajay Raina
Shashi Devaraju ($200) Real Estate (916)-307-3444
Chandrakant & Smita Patel ($180)
𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬: Sharada Balakrishnan ($125), Nita Acharya, Priyanka & Ishanvi Sinha, Shanti Ram, Nandini & Atiksh Kanyal, Amit & Shaurya Verma, Namrata Khemchandani & Ashwin, Mridula Udayagiri, Dr. Bhavin Parikh, Mary Oonh Ta, Venugopal Acharya, Sirisha Pulipati & City of Rancho Cordova, Priya Walimbe, Divya & Shivesh Sinha
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 & 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚: Sound system & Keyboard managed by Vineel Krishna. Tabla playing by Daljit Singh
with Shivesh Sinha, Divya Sinha, Neil & Esmeralda Singh, Natarajan Gutta, Bhavana Bilagi, Sharada Balakrishnan, Bhupesh Kanyal Nandini, Shanti Ram, Amit Verma, Nita Thoreson, Priyanka Sinha, Meenakshi Raina, Mridula Udayagiri, Mary Onnh Ta, Venugopal Acharya, Priya Walimbe, Namrata Khemchandani, Dr. Bhavin Parikh, Savita Farooqui, Chandrakant Patel

My Life Line…Gayatri, Sharada & Nandini!! My lovely & creative students! Cannot survive without them‼️ Hope you also have such wonderful people in your life‼️

These special people in my life spread the happiness everywhere they go and shower me with so much love. It’s unbelievable!! With Bimal, Miya & Nilesh on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024. Teachers live for moments like these!! What do teachers need? Students who are humble, hard working & talented. They are also the Gold sponsors of our Ghazal fundraiser!

Grabbing every opportunity to promote Indian music and culture to bridge the cultural gaps. Had to get ready by 6:00 AM & out the door. Anything for the ARTS! At the KOVR Channel 13 in Sacramento, CA.

Promoting our Indian music & Indian culture at the Asian Pacific Culturefest on CBS Channel 13. Proud of my students Bimal Singh, Miya Singh & Swaraat Bilagi.

Asian Pacific Culturefest THIRD ANNUAL ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURE FEST

By invitation only! In honor of our beneficiaries, donors & sponsors! A big SALUTE to our talented singers! Thank you Universe & the Higher Power! 🙏

Pay attention to the little things that make you happy! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

लाल गुलाबी फूलों की तरह मुस्कुराते रहो, दोस्तों! Happy Weekend my Friends!

Getting back into writing poetry - Hindi, Marathi & English, wherever the inspiration comes from.....It’s an incredible feeling! Actually I never stopped. In the last few years I have written some songs for my music students & a few poems. But just now resolving to become consistent.

Our esteemed Emcees! Without these people's expert handling of the artists' lineup of performances, the Mehfil-E-Ghazal would not have been a smooth running show. Thanks you to Shivesh Shivesh K Sinha, an engineer from Intel & Bhavana Bilagi, a prolific Poet. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. This is the second year of Shivesh K Sinha's help at this fundraiser of the VI-SH Koranne Foundation. First time for Bhavana Bilagi. Check out her poetry at https://www.instagram.com/from_what_i_pen/

Chosen a beautiful venue this year- I am always amazed at the response of the universe with each of these Mehfil-E-Ghazal events….. मैं अकेला ही चला था जानिबे मंज़िल मगर लोग साथ आते गये और कारवाँ बनता गया - मजरूह सुलतानपुरी

All are cordially invited. We are raising funds for the Humanitarian Action Network. Calling all the Antakshari lovers. Please register soon! We are waiting to hear you all sing…Please join us and be part of the show!!
Thanking our sponsors-
Gold- LGH Sierra Plumbing
Gold- Key Business Solutions, Inc
Silver-Heera Kulkarni, Raga Academy
For sponsoring this event call (916) 686-5785

Singing the glories of Shri Ram on January 21, 2024 at 5:30 PM.

Dr. Prabha Atre of Kirana Gharana passed away yesterday. Here is a video of her presenting Raag Shankara.

She received all the three Padma awards and Sangeet Natak Academy Award. She was an expert in all the classical genres such as Khyal, Dadara, Thumri, Tappa, Ghazals, Geet, Natyageet & Bhajans. She created many new Raag-s. Also popularized the singing of sargana in different tempos within the classical compositions.

She was a very creative artist as she wrote the words to all the compositions she sang. I have one of her books “Swaranginee.” I was very fortunate to attend the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav for many years in Pune in December where she was the one who concluded the festival each year around mid-night.

https://youtu.be/EyN-0M93_Ck?si=AfS6P2RkqotpVFNh

January 12th was the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He introduced the teachings of Vedanta & Yoga to the west in 1893 on his visit to USA at age 30. He was a musician par excellence besides being one of India’s greatest monks.
He was trained in Dhrupad singing by his father. Also received training in classical vocal from two other Ustaads. He was skillful in presenting Khayal, tappa, dhrupad, devotional songs. He wrote many poems & also composed music for plays. He trained with different gurus to study Indian instruments. He was an expert violin player & was also great at playing tabla, pakhawaj, mridangam, & khol. He compiled a book of Bengali songs named "Sangeet Kalpataru".
Here is his famous quote on music: “Music is the highest art and to those who understand, is the highest worship.” “Music alone can take you to the highest.” And I have experienced that personally. I was also positively influenced by his quote - “Fear is death & strength is life.” & many others. My humble Pranaam & a big salute to this extraordinary master who taught us many valuable lessons. Today is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He introduced the teachings of Vedanta & Yoga to the west in 1893 on his visit to USA at age 30. He was a musician par excellence besides being one of India’s greatest monks.

He was trained in Dhrupad singing by his father. Also received training in classical vocal from two other Ustaads. He was skillful in presenting Khayal, tappa, dhrupad, devotional songs. He wrote many poems & also composed music for plays. He was an expert violin player & was also great at playing tabla, pakhawaj, mridangam, & khol. He compiled a book of Bengali songs named "Sangeet Kalpataru".

Here is his famous quote on music: “Music is the highest art and to those who understand, is the highest worship.” I was also positively influenced by his quote - “Fear is death & strength is life.” & many others. Big salute to this extraordinary master who taught us many valuable lessons.

Padma Bhushan Ustad Rashid Khan gone too soon at the young age of 55. He belonged to the Rampur-Sahswan gharana which is similar to the Gwalior Gharana. Can you believe that his guru made him practice ONE note of the scale for hours as a child starting at 4:00 AM? This hard work showed brilliantly in his renditions of different Raag-s. He had complete mastery of Khayal singing. He did sing a few beautiful Bollywood numbers. Deep respect to Ustad ji.

Please click on the below link to register ASAP to reserve your spot for this great opportunity to attend the FREE of cost 3-Part virtual series. Space is limited.
http://tinyurl.com/Register-4-Plant-Based-Eating

Wishing you & family a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous & Spiritually uplifting New Year filled with beautiful Music
Raga Academy of Indian Music/ Music Lessons!

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु।
मा कश्चित् दुःख भाग्भवेत्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

May all be prosperous and happy
May all be free from illness
May all see what is spiritually uplifting
May no one suffer
Om peace, peace, peace!

Happy Holidays from Guru Heera Kulkarni & the entire Kulkarni Family. Wishing you Happiness, Prosperity, Delicious Food, Good Health, & a life filled with beautiful Music!