Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

Plan to start a classical music school in Vellore

Special Correspondent

The aim is to revive the tradition of classical music: Gangai Amaran

VELLORE: Vellore will soon have a classical music school to teach vocal as well as instrumental right from the fundamentals. Musicians, including M. Balamuralikrishna, T.M. Soundararajan, Ilayaraja and Sirgazhi Sivachidambaram, will be involved as resource persons in training students.

Music director-cum-singer and director of the proposed school Gangai Amaran told newspersons here on Sunday that the idea came from Priya Suresh, wife of V.N.T. Suresh, proprietor of Priya Textiles, Vellore, when he gave a music programme organised by Vellore Kalai Manram here in February this year.

"Such thoughts usually come only from persons involved in the field of art. But coming as it did from persons involved in business, I sensed something new, for, teaching of classical music is no profitable business proposition, but is actually an expensive task. Besides, it involves `Isai Dhanam' (donation of music). Therefore I decided to help them in giving shape to their ideas," said Mr. Gangai Amaran who was here to select teachers for the proposed school.

Elaborating on the project, Mr. Gangai Amaran said the primary aim of the school was to revive the tradition of classical music--the basic foundation for all forms of music--by providing an opportunity to youngsters to learn the same.

He was currently engaged in the task of integrating all the classical music schools in the State and get them affiliated to the proposed music university, a dream project of his brother and noted music director, Ilayaraja.

"We will talk to the Government and take steps to get employment to newly trained music teachers in government schools," he said. "We will insist on the Government to include music as a subject in all government schools," Mr. Gangai Amaran said, when told that music was not taught in all schools.

Mrs. Priya Suresh who is the managing director of the proposed school, styled as Sri Abirami Music School, said besides vocal music, violin, mirudhangam, veena, flute and dance (Bharatanatyam) would be taught in the school, which would be inaugurated on the Vijaya Dasami day on October 2 on the premises of Priya Textiles in Periya Allapuram Main Road, Allapuram, Vellore.

Mr. Suresh, chairman of the school, said the school would function initially on the above premises till a permanent building was constructed for the same.

V.N.T. Ramesh and A. Narayanan, founder of the Vellore Kalai Manram have also been nominated as directors of the Sri Abirami Music School.

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