Beginner class · with Nandi Laya Vidyalaya
Mridangam Classes in San Jose
Learn the rhythmic anchor of Carnatic music: syllables, phrases, rhythmic patterns, and thala. Ages 7+.
Beginner class · with Nandi Laya Vidyalaya
Mridangam Classes in San Jose
Learn the rhythmic anchor of Carnatic music: syllables, phrases, rhythmic patterns, and thala. Ages 7+.
One of the world's oldest percussion instruments
The mridangam is one of the oldest and foremost percussion instruments in the world and the primary rhythmic anchor of Carnatic music, the classical music tradition of South India.
- In this beginner class, students learn to:
Recite and play the syllables, phrases, and rhythmic patterns of the mridangam vocabulary
Understand the basics of thala
Keep time with thala
Recite and play to thala
Mridangam at UPF Cal
Group classes of 4–5 students, once a week, 1 hour each.
- Age
7+
- When
Sundays, 2–3 PM
- Where
UPF Cal Center, 5369 Camden Ave, Ste 280, San Jose, CA 95124
- Tuition
$100 per month
Now in session: classes began Sunday, September 13, 2026.
We offer a complimentary trial class for new students, so you can meet the instructor, see the class, and decide whether it’s the right fit.
About Nandi Laya Vidyalaya
Nandi Laya Vidyalaya is a San Francisco Bay Area school for mridangam and Carnatic layam, founded in 2015 by Guru Shri Natarajan Srinivasan, a respected mridangam artist, performer, and teacher. Its students have won recognition at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, the Papanasam Sivan Festival, the University of Silicon Andhra Festival, and OSAAT, and regularly accompany performances at CCC, LOTUS, SR Fine Arts, Rasamanjari, and Tri-Valley Music Circle. Several have completed their mridangam arangetrams.
Through this collaboration, UPF Cal students build a foundation in mridangam, rhythm, technique, and Carnatic layam within the school’s teaching tradition.
Meet Your Instructor
Niranjan
Instructor, Nandi Laya Vidyalaya
Niranjan is a rising young mridangam artist and a disciple of Guru Shri Natarajan Srinivasan for the past 11 years. He completed his mridangam arangetram in May 2023, performs regularly at music and cultural organizations across the Bay Area, and is a teaching assistant at Nandi Laya Vidyalaya.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is each class?
1 hour.
How often are classes?
Once a week.
Is the class 1:1?
No. Classes are in a group of 4–5 students.
Do I need my own mridangam?
Yes. If a student doesn’t have one, Nandi Laya Vidyalaya will arrange a beginner mridangam; students should get their own within about 6 months.
What else should students bring?
A notebook and a pencil or pen for writing down lessons.
Are learning materials provided?
Yes. Students get lessons and recordings on Google Drive.
Enroll
Ready to join? Complete the form below to enroll.
Not sure yet? Book a free trial class first.
2026–27 Holidays (no class)
Sep 7 · Labor Day
Nov 23–29 · Thanksgiving break
Dec 21–Jan 4 · Christmas / New Year break
Feb 13–19 · Winter break
Apr 10–16 · Spring break
May 30 · Memorial Day
Policies
Class cancellation: If UPF cancels a class, the student’s instructor will set a makeup class.
Makeup class: UPF may offer an online makeup class, but it isn’t guaranteed because class schedules are limited.
Enrollment cancellation: Plans change, and we accept cancellations. Please email accounts@upfcal.org at least 30 days in advance.
Vacation pause: Memberships can be paused for extended vacations with at least 30 days’ notice. A $15/month maintenance fee applies during the pause, and the remaining balance is refunded to the card on file. To request a pause, email accounts@upfcal.org or text 408-638-6743.
Recurring payments: Payments are processed by a third-party merchant service, so we need notice to stop a recurring payment. If we don’t receive your cancellation 30 days before the next billing cycle, your card may still be charged for it.