Carnatic vocal · Leicester · weekends
LeicesterCarnaticSchool.
One hour in a house. A classmate holding tala. A temple stage within a year — not a certificate on the fridge.
First class 30 August 2026. Tamil and English. Ages five and up, adults in the same hour. 10 seats at £10, then £15.
60 minutes, not 30./£10 an hour for the first 10./Saturday and Sunday, 1–7./A kutcheri, not a grade.
A private booth does not make a performer.
Most first concerts fail because the only person who has heard the child sing is the teacher. Then a microphone, a hall, and relatives. They freeze.
Here a classmate stays in the room. They hold tala, they listen, they go next. That is the rehearsal for Balaji Temple or a Leicester Tamil Association afternoon — the thing the hour is actually for.
The hour
Thirty taught. Fifteen sung back. Fifteen listening.
We do not sell half-hours. When five or more join, the same hour becomes a batch of three or four. The split does not change.
30min
They are taught
New line, voice, correction. One pair of ears on one student — not a group fudge.
15min
They sing it back
Alone. A peer holds tala. The teacher only confirms. This is the first stage.
15min
They listen
Clap tala for the next child. Catch the slip. Learn the phrase before it is their turn.
The room
Beginners, the child who froze, adults, a second sibling.
Beginners, from five
Sarali on day one. No ‘musical family’ required. If they can copy a note, they can start.
The child who froze
They can sing at home and vanish on a stage. We put a classmate in the room so a hall is not the first audience.
Adults who meant to start
Same hour, same syllabus. No children’s class energy. You will be taken seriously.
A second sibling
Ten percent off the second child. Same afternoon, stacked slots, one pickup.
The path
Three levels. One thing they can do at the end of each.
01Foundation
3–6 months
They can hold shruti and tala without looking at you.
- Sarali Varisai at three speeds
- Janta and Dhatu Varisai
- Alankaram in seven talas
- Voice work and pitch alignment
02Geetham
4–6 months
They can sing a song, in time, to a room of family.
- Pillari and Sanchari Geetham
- Swarajathi
- Raga and tala, named and felt
- First home kutcheri
03Stage ready
6–12 months
They can walk on, take a mic, and leave the hall standing.
- Adi tala varnam
- Keerthanai — Tyagaraja, Dikshitar, Syama Sastri
- Alapana and kalpana swaram, begun properly
- Temple / association debut
Saturday
The house is a studio from one until seven.
Last class starts at six. Four until five is never booked. No weekdays. Twelve weekends make a term. Diwali and Christmas weekends are dark, said a month ahead.
Fees and the week- 1:00Doors. Shoes off. Shruti on.
- 2:00Stacked hour — beginners (when we batch).
- 3:10Stacked hour — beginners+.
- 4:00House is closed. No bookings.
- 5:00Geetham and stage prep.
- 6:00Last class starts. Ends 7:00.
Ten seats at £10. The next seat is £15.
First ten students pay £10/hour, locked for six months.
Paid monthly on the 1st by bank transfer. Four-week month £40. Five-week month £50. No cash.
The first class is £10. If you continue, it counts toward the month. 10% off the second child. WhatsApp us 24 hours ahead. One Sunday makeup per term if a slot exists. Miss it and the hour is gone — no weekday catch-up, no refund. If we cancel, you get a makeup inside two weeks.
The house
Open door. Honest credentials.
Home studio. Street address sent on enrolment. Parents may sit any class. No physical contact.
Enhanced DBS and public liability are on the UK path — not invented on this page. We are not affiliated with an exam board, and we will not pretend we are.
Home kutcheri first. Then temple. Then an association hall. Walking on, taking the mic, walking off — that is in the syllabus.
Before you write.
- Can a complete beginner join?
- Yes. Foundation starts at Sarali Varisai. We would rather start late and clean than skip the drills.
- Is this only for Tamil families?
- No. Classes run in Tamil and English. The repertoire is Carnatic. The room is Leicester.
- Will they sit exams?
- The syllabus can prepare a child for London Fine Arts or ABRSM Carnatic grades. We are not affiliated with either board, and we will not pretend otherwise until we are.
- Why not a 30-minute lesson?
- Because the last fifteen minutes — singing back, then listening — is where stage fear dies. Cut that and you have bought a private booth.
- Do you teach on weekdays?
- No. Saturday and Sunday, 1:00–7:00 PM. No weekday exceptions, no weekday makeups. The studio stays a home.
- What about safeguarding?
- Open door. No physical contact. Enhanced DBS, public liability, and a written child-protection note. Parents may sit any class.
- What if we miss a week?
- 24-hour WhatsApp notice. One Sunday makeup per term if space exists. After that the class is forfeited.
Who is singing.
Name, age, a WhatsApp number we can actually reach. We put you beside a current student. Bank details only if you stay.