Guru as the source of inspiration
LALITHAA KRISHNAN
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DISCUSSION The teacher-disciple relationship was highlighted in this programme, third and last in the special series, organised by Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha.
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The third presentation in the three-feature series organised by Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha (Vani Mahal) and Mudhra, was a panel discussion coordinated by Radha Bhaskar.
The seven panellists shared an account of their learning experiences, the personal attention bestowed by caring generous gurus highlighting the guru-sishya bhava, different teaching methods and sources of inspiration.
R.Kausalya, Head of the Department of Music, Tiruvaiyaru Music College, stressed the need for acquiring and laying a strong foundation.
Her siksha under gurus like Chittoor Subramania Pillai had impressed upon her the importance of aspects like retention of authentic patanthara preserved by notation and open-throated singing.
Also, listening to stalwarts and absorbing through natural osmosis had proved invaluable.
Pramila Gurumurthy, The Head, Department of Indian Music, University of Madras, dwelt upon her early lessons from great vidwans and vidushis and absorbing a variety of genres including Carnatic, Hindustani and Harikatha. She mentioned that the University also offers short-term courses open to all, in areas like music appreciation, enabling effective orientation.
Institutions
Propounding the role of institutions, Suguna Varadachari, vocalist and retired professor of music, said that although initially, institutions are obliged to teach all those who join a degree course, irrespective of aptitude, over time, the students do gain an appreciation of classical forms.
Thus, an awareness of musicality is generated, creating a rasika base. Her own talents were nurtured with care by Musiri Subramania Iyer and other vidwans, and later, by Calcutta Krishnamurthy, from whose ideas, suggestions and vast repertoire she gained immensely.
O.S.Thiagarajan, Dean, Department of Music, Annamalai University, and B.M.Sundaram, musicologist, elaborated that the aim of a student would determine his approach and attitude. With several classical musicians foraying into film music, it is inevitable that many aspirants view the learning of Carnatic music as a launch-pad for playback singing.
For many others pursuing a music degree, the qualification is job-oriented. Very few learn music as art for art's sake.
On the subject of e-learning, ghatam artiste, V. Suresh explained that he limited internet-enabled teaching to those students who had attained a certain level and lived abroad. Otherwise, students were advised to learn directly from a guru, as there is no substitute for personal interaction, as evidenced from his own cherished experience as a disciple of T.R.Harihara Sharma, Umayalpuram Kodandarama Iyer, T.H.Vinayak Ram and T.V.Gopalakrishnan.
Representing the present generation T.V.Ramprasad described the care and attention he had received from gurus of the old school, such as R.R.Keshavamurthy as well as present mentors. Technological aids can only supplement and not constitute the learning process.
Parental encouragement
Summing up, Radha Bhaskar pointed out that parental encouragement was the initial impetus for directing young minds towards a musical path. Knowledge given unstintingly by the guru shapes and hones an artiste's musical instincts. On the other hand, institutions prepare an artiste for the reality of the present day scenario through research, teaching methodology and documentation.
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