Summers today have become bustling. Holidays to exotic destinations are being sold vehemently, producers vie with each other to dole out new movies, and there is an abundance of summer workshops for children. Children seem to have lots of time and parents short of patience, so it suits everyone fine. I have been seeing an upsurge of classical music and dance workshops as well. This is a fairly new phenomenon like so many others and provoked some thoughts in my mind.
The late scholar musician Dr S. Ramanathan used to call “diploma” courses in music as a mere dip in music. Often referred to as the “ocean of music”, he averred that it is too vast a field to be conquered by a small course. Workshops are even shorter. But of course, the goals differ largely. I recently saw an advertisement for residential dance workshops in a village in Kerala, sounding wonderful and at a very affordable cost. I keep seeing many more. But I am happy to see such events happening, especially those for children and initiation workshops. Because the time has come to spread more awareness about classical music and dance, especially in the wake of our younger generation being submerged in so many divergent interests. Some years back, while speaking to a group of young students in their twenties, they admitted they did not know who Bhimsen Joshi and Balamurali Krishna were.
A couple of decades ago, almost every South Indian family sent their wards for music and dance lessons. It was the norm and even if most children did not continue and blossom into performers (which was not the sole objective), they learnt and went back home with knowledge. Matrimonial advertisements insisted on or boasted of music knowledge. The traditional “seeing the girl” ritual included a customary song by the eligible girl. As a child I have attended many such ceremonies with my parents for prospective grooms in the family and heard some not so very memorable music ! The eligible boy was never asked to display his talents sadly. Today, the scenario is so very different. South Indian families have changed and so have their ways of parenting; the passport for marriages has changed too, needless to say.
Some months back, an international school in Mumbai invited me to initiate their students into classical music over a few sessions. Their American music teacher was very interested but wary of his students’ reactions. Having worked a lot with children and having a particular fondness for them, helped in creating an instant rapport with them. The satisfying part was that immense interest that the mixed batch of Indian and foreign kids showed. It was thoroughly heartwarming. I came back feeling good having ignited more than a strong curiosity in them for classical music.
The situation at large is, however, enigmatic. Huge classical music events are organised with strong corporate sponsorships. Prime educational establishments like St. Xaviers’ College in Mumbai have their music groups that have gained popularity and momentum over the years. So to say that classical music finds no place in today’s world would be a pessimist’s dry view. Classical forms do not get the same visibility at the same frequency and intensity perhaps as other forms of art.
But such is the way of the world and I would not fret over it. One does not have “box-office” hits out of classical music — it is not intended for the masses. It is looked upon by many as boring and uninteresting and musicians as “old-world”. What perhaps is needed, is the reworking of the image of classical music and sharing the timelessness of the medium to parents and to children. Not with the ultimate goal of making musicians out of the participants but to create an audience that appreciates. Neatly and creatively designed workshops could serve this purpose, in summer or best, through the year. Let’s not forget, there’s always some music for every season. But of course, with a creative helmsman, if not, the entire idea would be defeated.

Dr Vasumathi Badrinathan is a Carnatic vocalist based in Mumbai. She can be contacted on vasu@vasumathi.net