Music – a background score to academic focus

Foreword

We accept without conjecturing a tad that belting out songs in the shower makes us feel good. Strumming out a few chords, humming a lively song or even karaoke night does give man a certain kick out of life be it to de-stress, feel good or just celebrate a good occasion. Insentience, we have already adapted to music in different surroundings like gyms, spas (I wouldn’t be surprised if music will keep us company in elevators too in little time), public events, poojas and even in our own homes.
Egging on music at all epochs, in all chairs, we still fall short in giving it an academic credit. The music festivals and concerts are fortuitous reminders that music continues to be a way of life, a main stream for a section of people as against the customary consideration of music being a past time, part time or just a background score.

We brag of having an affluent musical ethnicity. We allege that in India, Music as a concept is long recognized and patronized. It’s high time we wake up to realize that while winning a couple of Oscars is a hail mark, the need of the hour is to herald a steadfast model of Music education and evolve a milieu to facilitate music academics and degrees in India (than letting students fly to the far States for a music degree and research - though this fraction is so meager to deserve a mention).

What is holding us back?

The problem is solely one of logistics, priorities, economic necessity, attitude and support. What we emphasize on our broods is a comprehension of a few bar-tested subjects, test-taking skills and a meritorious certificate to place them in a celebrated communal firm. Chase the trend - “the no. of Google hits”. Hearting on our state’s statistics, the number of music colleges in Karnataka in 2009 will print us a figure less than 10(I am austerely referring to the ones that offer a valid degree in music).On the flipside, the state embraces 141 engineering colleges and 33 medical colleges. 20,000 Engineering students per year mark off from Bangalore alone contributing a huge might to the 3-4 lakhs assortment in India. Not a surprise, we have a fine cut of people unwaged consequential to the H1 Visas. One can be “yet another” graduate Engineer running from pillar to post in this spell of recession, but shouldn’t be a Music graduate. Fighting against the odds, wading against the whims of others who try to hold him back and finally making it into a music college would brand him an average kid!

Have an untailored natter with a person working in R&D; he would convince you that he is all set to devise technology. Why Technology? To seek solutions to deal with problems caused by the rapid pace and to cater to a more comfortable living .Call on a student of medicine, he would aspect his medical research to people’s comfort and to keep the populace away from diseases and mental worries. Why is an exception to music? Why can’t music be seen as a quarter of medicine (we are not ignorant of its therapeutic side), as a technology-skill placating people; as something more than just a backdrop score, medium of leisure, a material of fame/name/money. Given an academic status to music, we can possibly anticipate more schools and colleges in this roadway. More parents would be convinced to prop up their wards to take music as main stream .It is our biased mind that accepts only a certain academic tributaries as scholastic and ignores the rest. As a support to our prejudiced minds, no enough schools to nourish the uncared talents, no adequate encouragement from family/society and finally the little lot who choose the path less traveled are branded dull heads.

Our world offers a plentiful and rich reward for traders of Engineering and medicine; there is an equally rich attempt to distinguish other professions from their counterparts. The takings that a Doctor, an Engineer, a Government employee is grossed when offered to a Musician, it would tweet a revolution. Music is a passion for many .But what drives people? More importantly, why? Money and confidence to earn a living. Money bestows buoyancy; self-assurance leads to identity. It’s about making a difference, self-discovery till we breathe last. When music is given a stature of a dependable career, more people will dare a bold step; drive music from passion to profession; make it a way of life; esteem it more than a vocation and venture further into its research.

Way forward

We should begin by vetting it like a standard entrepreneurial undertaking. "Music is not different from any other business” (The knack is to be with the operative world while maintaining the passion). We should first resolve a souk for it, and then we will see the profit from it. From passion to profession, from a hobby to business, from entertainment to research; from a background score to therapy and from mundane possessions to bliss – Music needs to trek this long journey.

To wrap up, I admit a bias in my approach. I have a clear preference for music over other arts; Part of my preference is personal than evaluation. This appeal however stands spot on with all art forms left unattended and not given a deserving status that they naturally demand.

Revathi Sridharan