Music gets a young' touch

As the city is gearing up to celebrate World Music Day on Sunday, with participation from more than hundred musicians, a young group is getting ready to present Hindustani music under the guidance of their teacher Harini Rao.

Says Harini, “It’s been nearly 18 years since I started learning from Swati Phadke. Now, the time has come to spread the knowledge to the younger generation. Hyderabad always encourages young talent. I’ve seen a receptive audience. At the same time, I find that people look forward to something creative, sometimes out of the box or theme-based programmes.”

Harini’s student, Nikita Aleti, is very excited about participating in the celebrations. “I used to learn Carnatic music before I finally started learning Hindustani. There is a lot to explore and a kind of liberty to work on this kind of music. It’s also fun to learn with a teacher who inspires you.”

Dedeepya Annabattun, another student, appears to have imbibed a bit of music from her grandmother, Kalikamba, who sang Bhajans and played the Harmonium. Says Dedeepya, “We learn detailed nuances in each raga. Then we also explore and experiment. It’s the most exciting part of the whole process that goes beyond the normal class hours.”

Varun, who is autistic, was initially trained in music by Kamala Prakash, before he began his musical journey under the tutelage of Harini. His mother, Madhavi Adimulam, recalls Varun’s interest in music from the age of two. “Varun was non-verbal till six, but would always hum classical compositions of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi or Pt. Jasraj that were played at home by his father. Now, he practices music every day and I am sure that he will take up music as his career.” Says Harini, “Despite his challenges, Varun has his own strength in terms of memory and retention.”

Harini also conducts voice culture workshop for students, spanning homemakers, tech professionals, actors, public speakers and teachers. “There are many IT professionals who come over the weekend just to unwind,”she adds.