Courses
Music classes in Kakkanad — guitar, violin, piano and keyboard.
Every course runs offline at our Thengode studio, online for students outside Kochi, and as a short crash course when you have a deadline. Batches are kept small on purpose.
Guitar classes
Who it's for. Children from about eight, and adults at any age. Complete beginners through to intermediate players who can already hold down chords but have stopped improving.
Kuriakose sir plays guitar professionally, so this is the course closest to how the instrument is actually used on stage. Students work across styles rather than being locked into one.
What you'll learn
- Clean chord shapes and changes, then barre chords without the buzz
- Strumming and rhythm patterns you can hold steady against a song
- Fingerstyle — separating bass and melody with the right hand
- Lead playing: scales, phrasing, and how to make a solo say something
- Reading chord charts and tab, and enough theory to work a song out yourself
- Playing with other people, and playing in front of them
Violin classes
Who it's for. Children from about seven, and adult beginners. The violin rewards patience early and punishes rushing, so we set expectations honestly in the first class.
Progress is slower at the start than on keyboard or guitar — there are no frets to tell you where the note is. Students who stay with it past the first few months tend to stay for years.
What you'll learn
- Holding the violin and bow without tension in the shoulder or wrist
- Drawing a straight, even bow — the single biggest factor in tone
- Finger placement and intonation, trained by ear rather than by tape
- Reading notation, rhythm and time signatures
- Western and Carnatic repertoire, depending on where you want to go
- Playing in tune alongside another instrument
Piano classes
Who it's for. Children from about six — it is the easiest instrument to start on, because the note is where you press and nothing has to be tuned or held. Also popular with adults returning after a long gap.
Theory is taught alongside playing rather than as separate homework, so students understand what they are doing by the time they need it.
What you'll learn
- Sitting and hand position, and why they decide how fast you can eventually play
- Reading both staves, then both hands together
- Scales, arpeggios and the fingering patterns underneath them
- Chords and inversions — enough to accompany a singer
- Repertoire chosen to suit the student, not a fixed book order
- Playing a piece start to finish for an audience
Keyboard classes
Who it's for. Children from about six, and adults who want to be playing recognisable songs quickly. The keyboard is the shortest route from nothing to playing something you actually like.
It is also the most useful instrument to understand if you ever want to record or arrange, so students who are curious about production usually start here.
What you'll learn
- Chord play — the shapes that cover most songs, and how to move between them
- Right-hand melody over left-hand chords
- Voices, styles and rhythms, and choosing ones that suit the song
- Playing along with a track and staying in time
- Basic programming and sound selection
- Working a song out by ear
Two other ways to learn
Not everyone can get to Thengode on a Thursday.
Online classes
One-to-one over video call at a fixed weekly slot. You need a phone or laptop, a stable connection, and the instrument. We set the camera on your hands, because that is what needs correcting.
Students outside Kochi — and outside Kerala — have been learning this way for years. One of our piano students has done a full year of classes online.
Ask about online classesCrash courses
A short, concentrated run of classes when you have something specific coming — a school programme, a church service, an audition, or a holiday you want to use properly.
These are built backwards from your date. Tell us what you need to be able to play and how long you have, and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible.
Ask about a crash courseBefore you enquire
Questions parents ask us.
Do you teach complete beginners?
Yes. Most students who walk in have never held an instrument before. The first few classes are spent on holding the instrument correctly and getting a clean sound out of it, because everything after that depends on those two things.
What age can my child start?
From around six years, depending on the instrument and the child. Guitar and violin need hands big enough to reach comfortably, so we sometimes suggest starting on keyboard and moving across later. Come in and we will tell you honestly what we think.
Do I need to own an instrument before starting?
Not for the trial class. After that you will need one to practise on at home, because an hour a week in class is not enough on its own. Talk to us before you buy — we will tell you what to look for and roughly what to spend, so you do not overspend on a first instrument.
How do online classes work?
One-to-one over video call, at a fixed weekly slot. You need a phone or laptop, a stable connection and the instrument. We position the camera so your hands are visible, which is the part that matters. Students outside Kochi have been learning this way for years.
Are there exams or certificates?
Our teaching is performance-based rather than exam-driven — students work towards playing pieces well enough to perform them. If you want your child prepared for a particular graded exam, tell us which board you have in mind and we will discuss whether it is a good fit.
Where exactly are you located?
689 A, Thaikkanath Building, Thengode School, Manakkakkadav Road, Thengode P.O., Kakkanad, Kochi, Kerala 682030. We are on Manakkakkadav Road near Thengode School, a few minutes from Kakkanad.
What are the class timings?
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. We are closed on Tuesday. Slots are fixed weekly, so you keep the same time each week.
Is there a trial class?
Yes, and it is free. You meet Kuriakose sir, your child plays something, and you decide afterwards. Message us on WhatsApp and we will find a slot.