Bootcamps and Workshops

[VK RAMAN]

It seems boot camps, workshops, training of youngsters, voice culture, etc etc are all becoming popular and available to the very limited number of brahmins in the whole scheme of Indian population. These are organized by major CM Artists - seems like a commercial for profit operation. How many of these participants are getting benefit out of it. I know a case where these two brothers had bootcamp in a cruise ship.

[msakella]

Dear brother-member, VK RAMAN, Most of all about what you wrote is absolutely true and I can very well understand you as we both are suffering from the same decease of helping our society.

In fact, these workshops are supposed to be held periodically to make the aspirants more knowledgeable and efficient in the art to prosper as ideal legends, maestros and experts of the art. For example, to train an aspirant as a reliable tailor the teacher must train the aspirant not only in obtaining the respective measurements of the body of the person but also in efficiently cutting the cloth without any waste and in efficiently stitching it. But, if the teacher trains the aspirant only in stitching the cloth but not in other technicalities making the aspirant always dependent upon others what the aspirant can do?

Unfortunately, in our sacred music, simultaneously not only to escape from all the responsibilities of the aspirants but also to squeeze more and more from the aspirants and their parents, our ancestors have very conveniently evolved this quantitative method in teaching music which facilitates to merely go on singing or playing a large number of items or compositions and make the aspirant also follow the teacher in singing or playing elongating the process much to the desire of the teacher.

In fact, from the first day of the music-lesson, basing upon an affective plan, if the aspirant is initiated to work on his/her own in learning the needed grammar of Laya and Swara, the process becomes very easier and quicker to learn music. In our institution, Swarabhangima at Secunderabad, we all are very efficiently following this system and getting amazing results with the whole-hearted co-operation of the local music-lovers, parents and their kids alike. By practically observing these amazing results more people are also being attracted and, now, we have eight more branches here covering more than 250 school-going kids. But, as most of our honourable music-teachers are more bothered in getting their selfish benefits and facilities than the welfare of our kids and the art it is not that easy to expect such amazing results in other cities also for the time being.

To tell the fact, all are aware that this music-art is mostly dominated by Brahmins. If we have to lament that these workshops are available to the very limited number of Brahmins only we must blame our Brahmins only for their selfish attitude but not others.

Anywhere the elders and knowledgeable persons must remain ideal and behave truly like elders fulfilling their responsibilities towards the society. After becoming legends, maestros and experts and enjoying all the respective fruits of them from the society itself they all must strive hard for the betterment of the society around them. They all must act as watchdogs in safeguarding the interests of the society. How many are doing it? Unless this is done honestly and sincerely no society flourishes well in the future.

For many musicians music has become far more a business than an art. When they can sell even the sacred compositions of the Saint-composers for a price why can’t they sell even other things like neraval, swarakalpana etc., etc., also for a price I do not understand. They have become used to efficiently organize many things of music and make a commercial profit irrespective of the standards or ethics. Besides all these things, as you rightly wrote, how many of these participants in these workshops are truly benefited God alone knows as the aspirants or their parents do not have any yardstick to assess the value of the lesson imparted.

In which way a tailor goes on supplying the needed pants or shirts but doesn’t teach the technicalities of stitching our musicians also teach hundreds of various compositions each for a different price but with a very little of the needed grammar which will not facilitate the aspirants learn things on their own in the absence of any yardstick to assess. In the absence of ethics anybody can do anything in this KALIYUGA. amsharma.

[munirao2001]

VKRaman

Indian Classical music has developed with the base of Samagaana of Vedas and Upanishads. Ideal is Brahmatva, through the means of music-Nada Bramhatva. Religion and Religiosity have become Dharma-righteousness. In the evolution of civilizations, from tribal to states, Politics and Religion became the creative power tools for the social order. Kshatriya and Brahmin became the power centers for Political and Religion. In all the divine, spiritual, prayer and worship rituals, Brahma Veda became the unquestioned authority. Indian Classical music growth out of religiosity naturally became the preserve of Brahmins. ICM was part of the rituals of worship and prayer for many centuries. Only from 12th century, ICM also added manoranjakatvam aspect to Brahmatva. Manoranjakatvam of audience in the temples and ruler's private or public chambers (Darbhar) later reached out rich people (Zamindars) and common gentry ( Pamara). Art music was also subservient to religious music. Thus ICM, KM in particular became Brahminical with Brahmins and Kshatriya or ruler gentry as patrons and practitioners. In the modern times, all those communities who are religious are brahminical in rituals and practices and enjoy the pleasure of ICM. With persian influence, Hindustani music developed as art music with primacy for entertainment. KM firmly rooted in Hiduism, remains unchanged in its core values of worship, prayer and entertainment. Non Brahmin communities have taken to film music for entertainment and even for worship and prayers. KM practitioners have to commit and dedicate time and resources to reach out to non brahmin communities for KM to reach critical masses. Individual initiatives are taking place. With Govt, Private and Public support and institutional intervention, the cause will be well served.

With regard to teaching and teaching methodologies, different actions have to be taken with the goal of supporting the talented and supporting the listening, qualitatively and quantitatively more in numbers. The test of teaching methodologies will be the result of how many vidwans/vidushees have grown in numbers and also the numbers of learned rasikas. Benchmarks are the numbers of graded performing artists; quality teachers and teaching institutions; audience attending the performances.

Humans with evolved intelligence have the goals of Idealism and materialism, both supplementary and complimentary with each other. Human action is naturally driven by the recognition and reward desires, either idealistic or materialistic. Why pot shots? Why being critical? Only individual and collective creativity with various hues and colors will ensure growth and prosperity - "Akashat patitam toyam, Yatha gatchati Sagaram"-'Waters from Sky flowing as river and becoming in union with Oceans'-Bhagavad Gita.
munirao2001

[seema]

While I know this is not about imparting pure Carnatic music, the work undertaken by this musician and his mission are immense - they've reached out, without any fanfare, to nearly all Corporation schools of Chennai and doing yeoman work

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-sh ... 140224.htm

Sometimes I think there is good happening too!