Pt. Satyasheel Deshpande a fantastic musician I would say. I am listening to his CD of
Thumri Katha and the best part is the 3rd track with the Tappa-ang in it which I like the
most. It simply mesmerises. I like his compositions a lot. Even "Kahen" was fabulous.
I met him recently and what an intellectual he is . . . . . !
Must listen to him . . . . . . .

Exciting Career Prospects in Music

Gone are the days when music was merely considered to be a hobby, or a good way to pass time. Music today is much more than a vocation. It has to have passion and zest. It is very competitive and youthful. And therefore this article has to be young; having the flavour of something new, probably because I am young, my readers will also be young, and it is the youth who make what the present day India is all about - a Young and Dynamic India. Thus foraying into the vast ocean of Music, and especially into Hindustani Music, many young buds like me are likely to be concerned about their careers in this field. With the growth of the entertainment industry, which comprises of all sorts of faculties and organizations, like the film industry, advertisement industry, radio and television industry etc., music has become a highly respectable and lucrative career option. But unfortunately, many of us from a small town like Allahabad are unaware of where music is actually turning to.
Well, in this fast paced age, where everything has converged to the era of "Nano" (I am talking of the latest technology that has zoomed up like a Sapaat Taan of the Gwalior Gharana), I better express my views in a simple, direct, but in a comprehensive manner.

First things First - What is Music? Let us first know what Indian music in brief is all about.

"Geetam, vaadyam tatha nrityam, triyam Sangeet muchchyate", a maxim from the granth - Sangeet Ratnakar by the famous musicologist Sharangdev.
The above maxim says that Indian classical music, which is a school of thought, comprises of three different arts which are:

(a) Vocal, or Singing (the expression of sound vocally like Khayal, Ghazal, Bhajan etc.);
(b)Playing of a musical Instrument (the expression of music through an Instrument like Sitar, Veena, Harmonium etc.) and last but not the least,
(c)Dancing (The expression of music bodily through the art of Dance).
No matter how you express it, these three arts are interdependent on each other. This is true of either the styles, or Paddhatees, in Indian music -- the North Indian Music and the Carnatic Music.
The growth of the entertainment Industry has opened many new avenues and vistas for those who want to seriously pursue their love for music professionally.
The field of Music (Singing, Dancing and Playing of Instruments) offers many different kinds of jobs based on a person's interest and capabilities. Broad categorizations of jobs available in the music industry include -

1. Teaching: One of the most traditional trades in music. Those who prefer a one to one interaction can start their very own music school where they can teach / train other aspiring singers. You can open coaching class for training students for scholarships and competitive exams such as the Sangeet Natak Academy, MHRD, NET, for shows like Sa Re Ga Ma etc., jingles for ad campaigns. This is no doubt a very lucrative career option as well.
Nevertheless I would like to suggest, come out of this and explore some other options as well!

2. Sound Recording: For this you need to be a trained sound engineer, or a trained sound recordist, a combiner or an editor. But for this one must know the latest computer softwares in the market, recording gadgets and should be able to manage the recording instruments and the techniques easily.
Singers too with a good trained voice can sing at recording studios and lend their voices as back up voices etc.

3. Concerts / Performances and Live Shows: A professional singer/instrumentalist/dancer, or a freelancer, has the choice to perform in front of a live audience at concerts and live shows, including marriage parties, birthday parties and can be a religious music impresario for the NRIs looking back to their roots in religious functions etc.

4. DJ's, VJ's & RJ's: Those who are not directly into singing, but enjoy music all the same, can become a DJ (Disc Jockey), RJ (Radio Jockey) and VJ (Video Jockey). All three deal with music. However, what differentiates them is the medium they use to reach the audiences. A VJ presents music on Television like a Music compere for Antakshari type programmes, an RJ presents music on Radio and a DJ presents music at live shows, or Discos.

5. Instrument Repairing / Instrument Manufacturing: This industry has a lot of scope and prospects, particularly in large urban towns. The traditional as well as modern electronic instruments, or instrument substitutes, are spreading their wings and are getting accepted across the world. A career in this focused zone can not be ignored in today's world.

6. Event Management/ Organizer: You need to be creative and an instictive manager, or a supervisor. One can organize music shows. These days jobs are available for teaching Mehendi and Banna Banni songs for marriages/event management etc. After all, what does SpicMacay do? Or, why to go that far, the music conferences organized by Prayag Sangeet Samiti every year too are an example. Wonder, they may be looking to outsource the management of the event to some one who can deliver.

7. Music Therapists: Examples are plenty where music has been successfully utilized for therapeutic purposes. It has been used even for increasing crop , or milk production. One can setup a clinic in a Spa, like that is done by an aroma therapist or a gemologist etc and cure people and do something for a social cause.

8. Music Composer: This is one of the most creative and innovative field in music where, "You Make Music". Yes, you will make people tap and rap to your music. This seems to be very interesting but at the same time it has to be an intelligent work done. A music director, or a composer, must know various kinds of music. Suppose, you are given a task to make a track which has the 'feel' of Arabic music or Boul geet or Lavani. Did you notice, I said 'feel of'..., that means it should present the mood of Arabic music (or Boul or Lavani), but at the same time it should not be totally Arabic music.

9. Music Arranger: His job is different than that of the music composer but is not exactly what people think. He has to 'arrange' music of a song or background scores. One needs to have a great knowledge of various instruments, sounds etc. and should be able to setup a network of all kinds of music professionals whose services can be harnessed as per need of the Music Director.

10. Orchestration: Remember "Maihar Band" of Ustad Allahuddin Khan! Another one of Zubin Mehta? I can suggest some more names like, Beethoven, Mozart, Hyden etc. All of them created music using various instruments and instrumentalists and created history.

11. Website or Software Designer: I am not joking. If you are a software professional, or a website designer, you can create a music website of your own and also a software and people will admire you.

12. Paper Reading: If you have a good understanding of music, you can write a paper and read it to discerning audiences. That means explain your research or project to an audience. If you know how to use power-point of Ms Office in Windows you can make a power-point presentation and can give lecture using it.

13. Music restorer: This means you can restore music recordings by becoming a music historian, like CDs, Cassettes, Videos, Tapes, books and create you own archive or a library.

14. Music vendor: You can sell music by opening a music shop etc..

15. Others: Go on for music in Hotels, Airlines, Railways, and Army Bands which are fancy and equally professional with fixed salaries. You can drive yourself towards a music Choreographer's job if interested in dance but again be sure that you must know dancing styles from Kathak to Salsa or Jive, Music Journalism/E-journalism [where you need to have good writing skills].

There are many schools and institutions which offer training in music like Music Departments in various known Universities, autonomous bodies like Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Prayag Sangeet Samiti and Bhatkhande University etc. Make sure to check the course schedule before enrolling.

Whichever field you choose, if you want to seriously pursue a career in music, you must get professionally trained. Basically there can be nitch marketing concepts and ideas which create job opportunities. A strong professional training will help you to make your space in this highly competitive industry. Make sure to train well for a good number of years to gain confidence and go a long way in your career because music is a performing art where you cannot afford to have a phobia for stage or Manch as we call it. Try to 'think' beyond the routine. After all, a major part of our music is based on the simple theory of Khayal. Thus be bold and come forward because you have opted for the most wonderful and creative subject which can never be measured. Believe me!
By: Sanyukta S. Kashalkar
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sanyukta_S._Kashalkar

My first article

SCINTILLATING PERFORMANCE BY KALAPINI KOMKALI


By: Sanyukta S. Kashalkar


In a general scenario of fast evaporating scent of traditions inalienably associated with religious functions, it was a welcome experience to see Maharashtra Lok Seva Mandal Allahabad, keeping up with the tradition of inviting Kalapini Komkali daughter of the legendary Pt. Kumar Gandharva to perform during the 11 day long Sarwajanik Ganeshotsav festival recently.

Maharashtra Lok Seva Mandal, which was founded in 1957, celebrated its Golden Jubilee this year. The celebrations, besides religious ceremonies were studded with a variety of cultural and entertaining programmes which were a balanced mix of cultural traditions deeply rooted in Maharashtra as well as programmes that would attract the Hindi speaking crowd.

The Ganeshotsav today is celebrated all over the world and in most places where traditions are respected. The festival cannot but have Classical Music programmes performed by artists of repute as well as those who are knocking at the door and deserve to be provided a stage to demonstrate their skills and accomplishments. Keeping up with the spirit, the Maharashtra Lok Seva Mandal organized Kalapini Komkali’s programme on 19th September 2007. The stage overlooking a hall has been witness to performances by luminaries such as Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Kumar Gandharva, Pt. Vasant Rao Deshpande and Vidushi Hirabai Barodekar besides some young artists of the likes of Devaki Pandit and Kaivalya Kumar to name a few. A genius and a well trained classical singer of the younger generation Kalapini Komkali is widely recognized as one of the finest vocalist of North Indian Classical Music representing the Gwalior Gharana. Kalapini is the daughter and disciple of the legendary maestro Pt. Kumar Gandharva and her equally illustrious mother, Padmashree Vasundhara Komkali.

Kalapini took up the stage and settled down vibrantly. The continuous sound of finely tuned Tanpuraas helped the audience being captivated towards her. Before starting her performance she addressed the listeners and established an instant rapport with them and started the journey of musical evening with Raga Yaman Kalyan.

She commenced with the aalap and her deep sounding voice moved the air and resonated along. The vilambit khayal in Ektaal (12 beats) with the bols,” Devo daan mohe…” a composition by Pt. Kumar Gandharva, its beautiful rendering in Raga Yaman Kalyan mesmerized everyone. Following the perfect precisions of melodic scales (with the swaras, dominant Gandhara and constant Nishaad), features and the combination of alpatva shuddha Madhyama and a prominent touch of teevra (sharp) Madhyama in both ascending and descending movements showed her flair and understanding. She started picking up fast without spending much time that is very much like her father’s style. Kalapini steadily went up to the higher pitch creating innovations over each swara of the Raga. The time when she rendered at the peak of her scale could easily be like her father’s in rendition. She portrayed the aalap portion with the blend of meend, kann and khatka.

In about twenty minutes she shifted to an ‘Abhang’ (Marathi devotional songs) of Sant Tukaram in the Madhyalaya in the same Raga, in place of taking any Bandish in drut-laya she rendered it enjoying herself as one could see from the soulful, bold and rich voice. Producing designs and variations with the bols of the Abhang within the raga, the quick sapaat taans, long and short and coming to the ‘Sama’ (first beat of the taala) in different ways, which the audience were put to surprise at every Sama which was proved as the music lovers stroked their hands together on the sound of the first beat. Thus, the innovations wove a musical spell that merged well with the ambience.

Raga Des came next in the cavalcade, a seasonal raga and she sang a traditional bandish,” Kanha re bansiya bajaee” and the very intricate Taraana “Yala ya yalaa” which displayed her talent in all the three saptaks and the bhava part in her recital. The presentation of the ragas originating from her throat rejoiced and rejuvenated the listeners who could not stop their hands holding together.

Another attraction of the evening were the Nirguni Bhajans of Malwa(Madhya Pradesh) composed by Pt. Kumar Gandharva, (which she has inherited and added to the rich and unique repertoire), brought together the Classical grandeur with Malwa folk tunes with high spirits. The famous and well known Nirguni Bhajan “Hirana Samajh…” by Kabir put the audience spell-bound and made them feel like a wayfarer to the soil of Malwa. The most remarkable thing to listen to is the literature of bandishes with gentle folk intonations, the soft whisper of the land of Malwa which Kalapini Komkali represents.

The Bhajan moved the crowd to a state of momentary renunciation and the pathos of the Bhajans left an indelible impression on them reminiscent of the electrifying effect Pt. Kumar Gandharva who would create with his Nirgun and Kabir renditions. Kalapini Komkali stood high in the esteem of the discerning audience comprising of connoisseurs such as Pt. Ramasrey Jha, Pt. Shantaram Kashalkar, Shri. S.N. Varma, Justice A. N. Varma, Rajiv Dave, Mala Tankha and many others. The musical content with the grammatical sincerity evidenced the perfection that Kalapini Komkali has achieved in both Khayal as well as semi-classical forms of art. Kalapini Komkali has always desired to find new creative inputs within her music and style of rendition so that something exotic, profound and artful comes out of her. She has carved a niche for herself through her mellifluous voice and wide range of scale with perfection. Those unfortunate ones who could not be a part of the audience can take a look into the song, “Kangana Re…” of the film Paheli by Amol Palekar where she has lent her voice. She has also composed and play-backed in the film Devi Ahilya where one can feel the essence of the Malwa folklore. Well, those present there pined for a still longer performance by Kalapini who had taken the evening in her fold with such a touch of class that it was only natural for the listeners to wait for more!