Raagdari in Ghazal
By Gayatri Asokan
Completed on 4:30PM
3 September 2022
Skanda Manjunath on Konnakol, Ghatam and His Global Journey
Meet Skanda Manjunath, one of the exciting young voices emerging from India’s rich rhythmic tradition.
A Ghatam artist and Konnakol performer from Bengaluru, Skanda comes from a remarkable four-generation musical family. In this episode of Future Legends by LivDemy, he talks about discovering rhythm, learning Ghatam and Konnakol, his early years making videos with his father and guru Vidwan B. C. Manjunath, and what it means to grow up surrounded by music.
Skanda has already performed internationally, including collaborations with musicians across Europe and a remarkable 2022 performance in France alongside approximately 200 French musicians. He shares how working with musicians from different cultures has changed the way he thinks about rhythm—and why he believes “music is infinite.”
We also get into the fascinating world of Ghatam: how one instrument can produce dozens of sounds, why it needs such careful handling and tuning, and what it takes to practice for 2–3 hours every day.
From Carnatic music and Konnakol to Michael Jackson, Western music, fusion and his dream of playing with musicians from around the world, Skanda offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a young musician who is just getting started.
Future Legends by LivDemy celebrates young and promising artists of Indian heritage who are pushing boundaries, exploring their craft and shaping the future of music.
🎵 Future Legends | LivDemy
Music education, conversations and stories from the next generation of musicians.
Medium
English, Kannada
Difficulty
intermediate
Duration
30 Minutes
Recording
Available
Submitted questions
Questions can be submitted by the attendees of the session till 1 hour before the session starts. The host goes through them and discusses the relevant one in depth during the session.
About the Artist
Skanda Manjunath
Skanda Manjunath is a young Ghatam artiste and Konnakol performer from Bengaluru, carrying forward a remarkable four-generation musical legacy. His great-grandmother was Rajyavidushi Karnataka Kalashree A. Rajamma Keshavamurthy, while his grandfather is Vidwan B. K. Chandramouli and his father is Vidwan B. C. Manjunath.
Skanda trains in Ghatam under Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Vidushi Sukanya Ramagopal and in Konnakol under his father. He has also trained in Tabla and drums, giving him a broad and evolving rhythmic vocabulary.
A recipient of the CCRT Central Government Scholarship in Ghatam, Skanda has won multiple national-level awards, including First Prize at The Hindu Margazhi Utsav in both Ghatam and Konnakol. He has also performed internationally, including alongside approximately 200 French musicians in France.
With tradition deeply rooted in his musical DNA and a curiosity that takes him across genres and cultures, Skanda represents a new generation of Indian rhythm artists—grounded in tradition, yet eager to explore what lies beyond it.
LivDemy Pro
LivDemy is a next generation music learning platform that provides 250 hours of high-quality music lessons from celebrities to help you become an expert in your favorite genres.
There are over 1000+ video lessons available 24/7. You will also be able to attend live session with these celebrities on a regular basis.
Recommended Classes
Frequently
asked questions
How do I attend the session?
The sessions will be held on livdemy.com. Log onto the site with your registered account 15 minutes before the time of the session and go to the session page. You should see a button to enter the password there when the session starts.Test your mic and video just to make sure everything is working fine.
I'm not able to see or hear anything while in class. What should I do?
LivDemy classes are best taken on Chrome or Firefox. Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version. If you are still facing any technical issue, please try refreshing your browser. In case that doesn't help, please contact the LivDemy admin via the group chat within the session or ping us on Facebook/Instagram.
Will I get a recording of this session?
You will get a notification of the recording of this session sent to you via mail within 2-3 days of the live session. The recordings will be made available for a limited time. You can watch them on livdemy.com only.
How can I take a live chat in the session?
You need to go to the Live Chat tab in the sidebar in the session. You need to provide livdemy access to your camera and microphone first to be able to use this feature. Once you have granted the permissions you can request a live chat by clicking the button.The live chat session will start as soon as the teacher accepts it.
I hear an echo, what to do?
Use earphones or headphones to avoid any echo/audio-feedback issues during the session. If earphones are not available, please mute your own mic when the presenter is talking.The live chat session will start as soon as the teacher accepts it.
I have registered for the class, but it is asking me to pay, what should I do?
Registration for the class is not the final confirmation. You need to finish the payment for the confirmation to take place.