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" Music culture is.
.going a full circle. "
 


" ORIGINAL MUSIC HAS A BEAUTY OF ITS OWN ",

Nandini Charles, Principal, Vikhe Patil Memorial School, Pune.

Have you ever been to a musical school ? If not, take a look at Vikhe Patil Memorial School, Pune, a school which emphasizes not only on education but also over music.

An interview with Mrs. Nandini Charles, Principal, Vikhe Patil Memorial School, Pune exchanging words with Mr.Randhir Dange and Satyavrat Jadeja on music in school, the Indian Culture, children and her involvement into music, only on www.drummingworld.com
   
•
 There is a remix culture today so how does that affect the present culture ?
NC : I am not fond of the remixes. The originality in the music should be maintained. Original music has a beauty of its own.
 
•
 Do you find it difficult to teach with this remix culture going on and the children growing up seeing item numbers ?
NC : Yes, It is very difficult, but here in our school we have an underlining rule that we don't have any remix and Bollywood numbers in functions and shows of our school. The children are exposed to entertainment at this stage and not towards education. They can't handle such exposure. The Bollywood and remix numbers are also not age appropriate for school-going children. Children just like their tunes so they like them, they don't understand the meaning of the songs.

We don't want to associate them with Bollywood numbers. We encourage folk music, ball dance, classical. We want the children to learn something about the dance forms before they perform that dance so we give them the basic information about them first. We had a trainer here last year and held training about music. Music is a form of Expressing so have to be educated on it that what occasion it is played they shouldn't just go on the stage and perform without understanding that. Should know the cultural background. I would prefer those performances which are enjoyable and out of the regular and takes an insight to some other place.
 
•
 Do you think the parents need to change before the children change ?
NC : Yes, the parents need to change. Six years ago when I joined here as a principal, we had bollywood numbers in our school functions and I remember some parents actually came to me and said that they didn't like bollywood numbers been played and school children performing on them. So that was a pretty good thing. You know there's so much more in music you have to have an insight.
 
•
 Do you have any performance of fusion and bands in your school ?
NC : No, we don't have fusion bands or artists performing in our school. Music is an art form and it is very open. We cannot arrange for classes with music teachers and artists like Aunty Veera not until the students are interested in understanding western music.
 
•
 You are, I think, one of the youngest Principal of a school. What is your background, your career ?
NC : (Laughs) I did my schooling at Cummins High School, Panchgini and there I was exposed to music as we all girls used to do some singing hymns in the school assembly and songs in school functions, in church choirs. We had something called as the community singing where we used to sing different folk songs, a lot of Blues. I learned the Guitar in school. I gave lessons and had some small school level performances.


•
 From junior KG to class 10th, 12th ..what's the music procedure in your school ?


NC : We have a music room in our school. There are teachers who come to teach music and singing on part time basis.
 
•
 So the teachers that come to your school to teach music, are they well-qualified in music ?
NC : The music teachers are qualified. They give a considerable choir training, Piano, Exposes the children to learn a lot, to give performances, it develops a sense of team-spirit, to have patience, children learn how to change their voice, how to make your tone down, voice modulation, helps in taking oneself up, builds up their confidence level .
 
•
 There must be some students who have done really well and have come up with good results in music ?
NC : Yes, there are two children one is Piyush who completed his 10th and other one is his younger brother Dinesh who is in 6th standard they have been doing great work in music. Another student is Ronak, he has actually performed with a band at ABC Farms, he plays the guitar. Sanam Kapre plays the keyboard very well. We are having a small school band also .
 
•
 Can you give any example of someone who was really helped increase confidence by music ?
NC : A student Dinesh who is in 6th standard was a very shy boy. He plays the Violin. Once we caught him to perform for the Teacher's Day function and his performance was appreciated . So that really brought out the true Dinesh. He realized that he is getting recognized and that really boosted his self-esteem and he is in the forefront now when the people recognized his talent. We are helping them get a good platform to showcase their talent.
 
•
 Nowadays, the tradition has changed and there is more noise and no melody in music. So what do you think is the future of music ?
NC : I am very Optimistic. I think very positive in every situation. I think music is going a full circle and it will come back to the starting point one day.

•
 What do you feel, are the children living in a fake culture today ?


NC : Well, I am not an expert but I feel that Indian children are into a fake culture. They want to be cool and want to be 'IN' . They see the music videos and the MTV stuff and feel that being like that is cool so they want to be like that every time. They do not want to be original.

•
What impact do you think it will have on Indian culture ?


NC : I would prefer western and Indian classical music. Pop culture is no to be understood. Our culture is different so you think differently. Children don't understand. There is no contextual meaning to the songs nowadays, they just follow them for prestige, they think that if they don't do like the others, they are not in. But, they will lose out on this.
•
 You are a parent, so are your children into music ?
NC : I have a 22 year old daughter and she's also a music lover. I have seen that as years have passed the noise levels with her music has come down. Realization is quicker. She plays the Piano, has been learning from Aunty Veera since 5 years. She's done 5th grade in Piano.
 
•
 Do you think the culture of India will change ? Will it ever revert back to the old culture ?
NC : The culture has been changing. But there is only a small percentage of the youth that is really influenced by the remix culture. The social setup of our culture is very deep down it will remain the same. The new culture is like phases. It may effect.
 
• Do you read and play music ?
NC : No, I don't read and play music.
 
• What are your plans for the future ?
NC : I am planning for some short Musical plays in our school. Next year we are planning 2 big musicals Robin hood and the Selfish giant and looking to stage it. It is a plan for a long term.