Summary: (http://kamlashow.com/podcast/wp-content/uploads/Trichy-Sankaran-150x150.jpg)Prof Trichy Sankaran (http://www.trichysankaran.com/) is a musician, composer, teacher & author. Based in Canada he teaches Carnatic music at York University (http://finearts.yorku.ca/). A master percussionist, Prof. Sankaran (http://youtu.be/2NhRJh2UReA) plays the double-headed drum mridangam. He has written 2 books on Carnatic music The Rhythmic Principals and Practice of South Indian Drumming and The Art of Konnakkol. Prof. Sankaran (http://www.yorku.ca/finearts/faculty/profs/sankaran.htm) has worked with musicians from different genres from around the world. In 2012 he was awarded the (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXfAbiIji8)Sangita Kalanidh (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXfAbiIji8) by the Madras Music Academy. In Part-1 of our conversation Prof. Sankaran talks about music, education and his childhood. He was the only one among his 6 siblings who took to music. At the age of 4 he was introduced to the mridangam through an older cousin, who was also his first teacher. His first guru was the noted Caranatic music percussionist Palani Subramaniam Pillai (http://www.palanisubramaniapillai.org/). He was 10 years old when he made his debut on stage for a hari katha performance and there was no looking back since then. . Prof. Sankaran was 10 years old when he made his debut on stage for a hari katha performance and there was no looking back since then. For the next 6 years he juggled his life between school and learning to play the mridangam. After graduating from high school he took a year off and spent the time with his guru playing at various concerts. What happened after high school is in Part-2 of our conversation. This is a multi-part interview. Related Links: Trichy Sankaran on Carnatic Music and Solkattu (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gC8VtVW0V0)- video Trichy Sankaran on Sangita Kalanidhi Award (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXfAbiIji8) - video Photo credit: Trichy Sankaran
