Workshop for senior artistes

The renowned Carnatic and Hindustani musician and teacher, Dr Sriram Parasuram was in Hyderabad recently to conduct a masterclass for selected senior music students and performers in the city.

The event was organised by Saptaparni along with Rageshree Foundation at Banjara Hills. Harini Rao and Manasi Prasad, two of Hyderabad's upcoming and talented vocalists were behind this admirable initiative which gave a chance for senior students and performers to polish their art form and imbibe the rich and varied experience of a great and versatile artiste who is one of the rare musician’s expert in both Hindustani as well as Carnatic styles.

Indeed, he has the unique ability of switching seamlessly in the same raga from one style to the other without any break leaving the audience in astonished wonder.

The first three days of the workshop dealt with Hindustani music. Dr Sriram covered raag shree and kedar, where he delineated the intricacies of the raga and also taught compositions. He also taught several lighter compositions including Bhajans, Abhangs and a Hori.

He explained that the great saint composers who had attained the fullness of sainthood created their compositions for devotees to be awakened to the glory of the Lord and the delights of revelling in bhakti.

The next three days were of Carnatic music, where Dr Sriram shed light on ragas ‘Amritavarshini’, ‘Natakuranji’, ‘Shanmukhapriya’ and the slightly rare ‘Yadukula Kambodhi’. He also taught a javali and a bhajan.

However, the distinctive feature of Dr Sriram's style of teaching is that, in addition to his virtuosity, he is gifted with the power of communication, where he could help the students to visualise the music in different ways.

He gave them invaluable techniques to improve every aspect of their singing - voice culture, pronunciation, speed and control, emotion- thus showing how students can continually improve to make their music more effective and brilliant.

He also touched on the psychological aspects of singing - how to keep the mind completely focused, the power of self-belief, and how to inculcate a passion for music.

All in all, the students were inspired and fired up to continue their musical journey with renewed zeal and focus. Dr Sriram expressed his feeling that he learned as much as he taught during these workshops and enriched himself in the interactively and musically educational process.

By Anna Rao Gangavalli