Build a Western Harmony → Carnatic Svara Dictionary so Carnatic-trained students can read AP Music Theory chords in the notation they already think in.
Geetanjali School of Music teaches Carnatic music to students who often go on to sit AP Music Theory. The gap is real: our students understand svaras intuitively, then hit a wall when the syllabus asks them to name a C minor triad or spell an inversion of G7. We want a translation layer, not a rewrite of theory.
Your deliverable is a Western Harmony → Carnatic Svara Dictionary. Start from Western chords, identify their component pitches relative to a tonic, and represent those pitches with Carnatic svara names. When C is treated as Sa, a C major triad (C–E–G) becomes S–G₃–P. A C minor triad (C–E♭–G) becomes S–G₂–P. Extend this across major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads, all common seventh chords, suspended chords, common extensions, and inversions.
Treat this as a translation system, not a claim that Western and Carnatic theory are the same thing. Flag the places where a direct svara mapping works cleanly, and the places where a Carnatic musician needs an extra sentence of explanation. Handle register clearly — the same svara across octaves should never be ambiguous.
What to ship:
- A dictionary of at least 30 Western chords translated into Carnatic svara notation, with Western and Carnatic notation shown side by side
- An interval chart showing the Carnatic equivalent of each chord's intervals
- At least 10 annotated audio examples
- A 5–8 page written explanation of the translation system
- 20 practice questions with a complete answer key
- A 3–5 minute instructional video on how to use the dictionary
You'll get access to our reference materials, the AP Music Theory course framework (apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-music-theory), and direct feedback from our teaching faculty on drafts.