About NMK
N. Muralikrishnan “NMK”, an accomplished Veena and Keyboard performer and teacher hails from Tanjore District in Tamil Nadu, South India. NMK has been teaching Carnatic music in the Los Angeles area for more than twenty five years, and was a key person in introducing the Veena traditions in many American Universities, such as University of California at Los Angeles, San Diego State University, Cal Poly Pomona and several other institutions. Both Connoisseurs of Carnatic music and casual listeners have been captivated by his mastery with the Veena. Many critics often write, “His Veena literally sings…” to describe his performances. The following quote from India Currents Magazine (a popular Indian Magazine in the United States) aptly captures his dedication to the cause of Carnatic music. “The heritage of Carnatic music continues to gain a foothold in America, thanks to the efforts of dedicated Veena artist, N. Muralikrishnan….” NMK has brought, maintained and grown the Carnatic music tradition in the United States of America for over fifteen years.
A Music Performer
N. Muralikrishnan “NMK” has performed several concerts in USA, India, Indonesia, and several other countries. He has performed at major concert halls in USA such as Bovard Auditorium at the university of Southern California, the Carpenters Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, and the Schoenberg Hall at the University of California, UCLA, to name a few.
NMK with his knowledge in Western classical music notation, developed a unique notation system to notate the Indian Ghamakas (Ornamented Notes) which brought a wide array of Indian musicians and Western classical musicians together to perform Indian Music in a live concert, “Gayaka Vadhya Brundam”. It depicted the ancient Indian tradition, and was presented to a fully packed house a the Carpenters Performing Arts Center.
NMK performed several fund raising concerts. To name a few, fund raising concert at the Bovard Auditorium to support India’s leading organization “Udavum Karangal” to support orphan children in India was worth mentioning. His veena concert in the largest open-air theater in Medan, Indonesia, was the first Indian music performance Organized in Indonesia. He has also participated in many concert series at colleges and universities throughout California such as SDSI, UCSD, Palamor college, CSU San Marcos, UC Santa Barbara and many other community colleges. NMK has represented his expert interpretations of South Indian Music for the Music Academy of the west, the center for Jazz and World Music festival are few remarkable venues. NMK has done several recordings for All India Radio, and given expert interviews for KPBS San Diego Radio.
NMK was well aware of the challenges involved in trying to teach Carnatic music to students being raised in North America. In order to excite, inspire and motivate Indian American children to learn traditional Indian Music, he explored new avenues and pioneered the development of a new genre of Carnatic music played on the electronic keyboard. He conceived, developed and stylized the art of playing Carnatic music on the Keyboard. His hard work can be singularly attributed to his love for music and his desire to impart his knowledge to students of Carnatic music all across North America. His model “Changing Trends without changing Traditional values” was the basis for this new genre of music.
The fruits of his hard work are very visible. Students love to work with him on the keyboard. Moreover, as the keyboard is essentially a Western instrument, students are at ease in playing the instrument to audiences who do not necessarily understand Carnatic music,such as at the school bands and talent competitions. His extensive research work in the development of musical notation system is evident in his innovative notations in the publications “South Indian Music Work Book I & II”. These workbooks are extremely valuable tools for his students.
NMK with his knowledge in Western classical music notation, developed a unique notation system to notate the Indian Ghamakas (Ornamented Notes) which brought a wide array of Indian musicians and Western classical musicians together to perform Indian Music in a live concert, “Gayaka Vadhya Brundam”. It depicted the ancient Indian tradition, and was presented to a fully packed house a the Carpenters Performing Arts Center.
NMK performed several fund raising concerts. To name a few, fund raising concert at the Bovard Auditorium to support India’s leading organization “Udavum Karangal” to support orphan children in India was worth mentioning. His veena concert in the largest open-air theater in Medan, Indonesia, was the first Indian music performance Organized in Indonesia. He has also participated in many concert series at colleges and universities throughout California such as SDSI, UCSD, Palamor college, CSU San Marcos, UC Santa Barbara and many other community colleges. NMK has represented his expert interpretations of South Indian Music for the Music Academy of the west, the center for Jazz and World Music festival are few remarkable venues. NMK has done several recordings for All India Radio, and given expert interviews for KPBS San Diego Radio.
NMK was well aware of the challenges involved in trying to teach Carnatic music to students being raised in North America. In order to excite, inspire and motivate Indian American children to learn traditional Indian Music, he explored new avenues and pioneered the development of a new genre of Carnatic music played on the electronic keyboard. He conceived, developed and stylized the art of playing Carnatic music on the Keyboard. His hard work can be singularly attributed to his love for music and his desire to impart his knowledge to students of Carnatic music all across North America. His model “Changing Trends without changing Traditional values” was the basis for this new genre of music.
The fruits of his hard work are very visible. Students love to work with him on the keyboard. Moreover, as the keyboard is essentially a Western instrument, students are at ease in playing the instrument to audiences who do not necessarily understand Carnatic music,such as at the school bands and talent competitions. His extensive research work in the development of musical notation system is evident in his innovative notations in the publications “South Indian Music Work Book I & II”. These workbooks are extremely valuable tools for his students.