Correction:
prior to 04/09/02, what should have been the second group of 8 syllables was written with 9 syllables. Here we present the corrected version which contains 8 syllables. We apologize for the error :-)
also: above the second "wave" the old ginnatomta has been corrected to tadinginna. Sorry! here we present the correct version:

Trichy Sankaran's
'Displacement Exercises'


Step one:
Please clap your hands in an 8 beat cycle called
"ADI TALA" :

Like this: clap, 5th finger, 4th finger, 3rd finger, clap, wave, clap, wave.

Note: "clap" indicates a normal everyday clap with the left palm facing up and the right hand coming downwards. 5th finger means same as the clap except use only the 5th finger instead of the four fingers of a common clap. 4th finger means same as 5th finger except use your 4th finger. 3rd finger means same except use your 3rd finger. "Wave" indicates the same motion as the clap except with the back of the right hand coming downwards... with me so far?

Try it: clap, 5th, 4th, 3rd, clap, wave, clap, wave.

K, now please practice doing that "Adi Tala" over and over again without stopping or changing the tempo.
clap, 5,4,3, clap wave clap wave clap, 5,4,3, clap wave clap wave clap, 5,4,3, clap wave clap wave

Note: the "Adi Tala" means "eight beat cycle" and is not the same as our Western time signature system. Please just keep clapping the same eight beat pulse over and over....

K, now! Now that you are still clapping (are you still clapping? lol-"laughing out loud") I want you to say the following syllables which will help you to understand displacement of musical phrases over time... These syllables should be spoken in rhythm as follows:

* Four syllables for each beat of the adi tala system (like 16ths in Western notation) (each clap is equivalent to a quarter note).

Here we go: please say these syllables while clapping at the same time...

Takadimi    takadimi     takadimi     takadimi
takadimi    takadimi    takadimi     tadinginna

aha! Now don't stop. keep clapping

tumtakadi     mitakadi     mitakadi     mitakadi
mitakadi    mitakadi     mitakadi     mitadingin    

natumtaka     dimitaka     dimitaka     dimitaka    
dimitaka     dimitaka    dimitaka     dimitadin    

ginnatumta     kadimita     kadimita     kadimita    
kadimita     kadimita     kadimita     dinginnatum    stop!

lol, hmm did the claps and waves fall apart? Here's how the claps and waves precisely line up with the (16th note ) syllables:

Takadimi    takadimi    takadimi    takadimi   takadimi
clap             clap 5th      clap 4th       clap 3rd      clap
takadimi      takadimi     tadinginna
 wave           clap            wave

tumtakadi   mitakadi   mitakadi   mitakadi   mitakadi
clap           clap 5th     clap 4th     clap 3rd    clap
mitakadi    mitakadi     mitadingin
wave         clap           wave

natumtaka    dimitaka     dimitaka     dimitaka    dimitaka
clap             clap 5th        clap 4th      clap 3rd    clap
 dimitaka    dimitaka    dimitadin
 wave        clap         wave

ginnatumta    kadimita     kadimita     kadimita     kadimita
clap              clap 5th      clap 4th       clap 3rd      clap
kadimita     kadimita     dinginnatum
wave          clap            wave
ta!
stop!

Well practice makes perfect. Try to grasp the concept of accenting the ta of takadimi, and please develop the ability to keep the adi tala strong and constant while perceiving the takadimi syllables as starting on the clap then 1/16 note after the clap, then 2 1/6ths after the clap then 3/16ths after the clap then back in unison with the clap. Then practice this entire exercise over and over and over. This might turn your world upside down for a moment, but the hard work is soooooo worth it! Go for it! Speaking of advanced, let's ADVANCE!

:-)