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THE
BSM AND ALL ABOUT IT
Inspired by the Calcutta
and Delhi schools of music, to whom we record our deep admiration
and respect, the Bangalore school of music, one of the three
formal schools of music in India is a registered public charitable
trust committed to creating and understanding an appreciation of
the universal language of music that transcends all barriers, reaching
out to people of diverse socio-economic, linguistic and cultural
backgrounds.
Established in 1987, the school conducts classes, workshops,
seminars and concerts that nurture local artistes, in addition to
giving Bangalore an exposure to high quality musical talent from
across the world. Transcending the learning of music, the students
of the school imbibe sensitivity, discipline, harmony, teamwork,
and more important, reaching out to all strata of society by utilizing
their talent to give joy not only to themselves, but to others.
Since it's inception, the school has worked
tirelessly to uphold its aims and ideals. Teachers and students
have come together frequently to perform for charitable causes.
The school's music therapy has been extended to the healing of young
minds recovering from drug abuse, depression and other unfortunate
experiences. A dedicated group of 18 teachers train over 300 young
students each year, with special arrangements for low-income group
students. Scholarships are presently being given to 4 children from
economically weaker sections. Hopefully more scholarships can be
given, as we grow. We have a number of students on the waiting list.
Due to constraints of space and teachers we are unable to accommodate
the demand for music education.
The fee structure was revised in 1999 from RS. 250/- to Rs 350/-
and new enrollments to pay Rs 400/- per month. Depending on the
number of hours a teacher is able to devote per week for teaching
determines the number of students based on one hour per week. This
is the norm for classes in western music all over the world, (varying
from 30 Mts. to 60 Mts. per session). The music school however devotes
extra learning time to each student per week in music appreciation
sessions, monthly concerts, training ensembles, workshops etc. Today
several young teachers are teaching in reputed institutions on the
international scene, while others are making a career as jazz and
opera singers, guitarists and members of faculty.
There are faculties for piano, violin, classical
guitar, woodwind, brass and voice and plans for adding a full percussion
section including Indian percussion instruments is on hold, till
larger premises are found. We believe this will aid music appreciation,
feeling for rhythm and general understanding of music for students
of western classical music.
The syllabi of the Trinity College of Music and ABRSM London are
followed with a large number of students taking these examinations
with success. We take pride in having instituted the local piano
examination for grades 1 to 4 since 1993, a bold step toward indigenization.
A board of well known piano teachers spent three years in researching
the syllabus, which is now reviewed every year, a labour of love
and commitment which has resulted in a good number of students taking
these exams. Examiners to date have included the principals- heads
of the Delhi and Calcutta schools of music, Kodaikanal International
schools, Kala Academy Goa and an overseas scholar - teacher. We
are confident that these examinations at junior levels have been
extremely beneficial for students and holding them on an all India
basis cannot be ruled out in future.
A theory workbook is being prepared as a base
for starting a theory examination in the near future, again initially
at junior levels. This initiative needs funds for research in music,
music books, and commissioning Indian composers to compose new pieces,
especially jazz and 20th century pieces.
A Creativity course based on the Kodaly and Orff methods slightly
modified to our Indian situation was initiated last year for children
aged 5 to 7, due to public demand. On completion in August, the
children will present a "musical" composed by the children themselves.
Ongoing music appreciation sessions are held
on weekends for students as Monthly Student Concerts in collaboration
with all music teachers of the city since the very first year. These
have benefited hundreds of young artists. We utilize the opportunity
provided by visiting international artists and arrange workshops,
master-classes and lecture-demonstrations for students and teachers,
as opportunity for higher training is not available in India. These
are free and open for public benefit.
Performance is high on our agenda and Ensemble playing is encouraged.
Both teachers and students perform frequently. Through numerous
events and programs, we have helped Bangalore secure a place in
the world music concert circuit earlier reserved only for Mumbai,
Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi and Goa. The demand for training on the
electronic keyboard is very high. One in five students are keen
to learn this instrument.
How seriously they would pursue the training
and mastery over these instruments remains questionable.
AIMS
AND ACTIVITIES
Organizing monthly student
concerts and music appreciation courses.
Developing a Students' strings, wind and guitar
performing ensemble. Organizing 16-18 concerts, annually, of reputed
Overseas and Indian artists.
Young musician concerts held regularly to encourage young talent.
The choir of 40 members meet and rehearse
twice a week and also performs regularly. Apart from regular concerts,
they have raised funds for street and disabled children, cancer
care, Homes for the aged, hospitals and recently for the war widows
of Karnataka.
The 'Friends of Music' circle numbers to over 80 members who are
individual concert series sponsors.
The concert memberships totals to over 300
regular members.
A newsletter with information on Classical Music Concerts and Music
news, is published monthly, for the benefit of music lovers and
students.
Have worked to encourage and support Music teachers and Musicians
who face hardships and discrimination at other work places. The
past generation has witnessed an acute shortage of teachers, as
young people qualified musically, were discouraged by their families
to make a career in music, and forced into other fields. Today,
a slight change in attitudes is being noticed. Several youngsters,
trained at The Bangalore School of Music, are teaching music.
We are proud of having developed and maintained
a resident Chamber Orchestra, drawn from the faculty, senior students
and some professional musicians from the film industry, for years
now. The orchestra, trained by India's only resident conductor and
head of Academics, Mr. V. Narayanswamy, has given innumerable Classical
performances, and has accompanied artistes from overseas, both in
our regular concert series as well as in the East West encounters.
This Chamber Orchestra formed the backbone of a larger 50 member
orchestra, where musicians from Chennai and Culcutta also played,
including major works like Beethoven's Choral Fantasy. It was joined
by the Bangalore School of Music Choir group, trained by Mr. Victor
Abraham.
Have worked towards self-reliance by instituting the local Piano
Examinations.
Helped local artisans develop and improve
the quality of stringed instruments - Classical Guitar and Violin.
Our teachers have helped two local families to engage in this trade
for over three generations.
Focussed on music in relation to Total Human Development, the Environment,
Philately, and Ikebana, through lectures and concerts.
Ongoing dialogues East and West - a Raga and
Counterpoint presentation.
GENERAL
INFORMATION OF THE BSM
The music school function
with one secretary, a part time accountant, the director and one
computer.
The Bangalore School of Music and its programs have ben frequently
covered by the All India Radio, Doordarshan, MTV, Star TV, Zee TV,
Good Morning India talks, CNBC and Citi cable, apart from local
and national newspapers and publications.
The Bangalore School of Music does not receive
any regular subsidies from any source. The fees does not cover the
total cost of running the Institution, while the concert series
just about meets break-even point owing to the support and contributions
of the Friends of Music. Small grants ranging from 10,000 to 20,000
have been received every 2 to 3 years on application to the Sangeet
Natak Academy.
A board of trustees and a panel of well known
Educationalists, Corporate Executives, Writers and Music lovers,
guide the work of the Institution, and help organize public concerts
and the East West Festivals. The faculty meets every month to discuss
academic matters and student programs. Students are accessed on
progress, every six months.
Inculcating the habit of attending concerts
is encouraged by the The Bangalore School of Music Following the
initiatives of the Kala Academy holding the first National Seminar
on Western Classical music at Goa, 12 years age, The Bangalore School
of Music hosted another small scale follow up seminar at Bangalore
in 1992, to formalize the federation of Western Music Societies
and Schools in India. The signing of the memorandum took place.
However, due to some legal problems, the development came to a standstill.
We also function as a resource center for
information on overseas queries on Indian (mainly Carnatic) music
and dances, musicians or for locating teachers in India, using our
contacts built via the East West Encounters.
An application for a civic amenities site
to the BDA, foresees some hope of an allotment in the near future.
As a recognition of our services to Western
Classical Music, the Founder-Director of the school, Ms.
Aruna Sunderlal was given the honor of releasing the
Postage Stamp on Mozart by the dept. of Post and Telegraphs.
THE
COMMITTEE AND FACULTY OF THE BSM
ADVISORY - MANAGEMENT Commitee>
Dr. Raja Ramanna - Chairperson
Mr. Alan P Nazareth - Sr. Advisor
Ms. Anita Kuruvilla - Hon. Secretary
Ms. Jeanne Saldhana - Hon. Treasurer
Mr. Cecil Noronha
Mr. Vikram Guijar
Ms. Gladys Mohanraj
Ms. Louise Pinto
Mr. Ajit Saldhana
Ms.Yashodhara Shroff
Ms. Smitha P Kumar
Ms. Yasmin Matthan
Ms. Sahana Das
Ms. Aruna Sundarlal
Ms. Annabel Laroque
Mr. V Abraham - Ex Officio
Mr. V Narayan - Ex Officio
FACULTY>
Head of Academics>
V Narayanswamy
Musicianship/Appreciation>
Preetam Koilpillai
Piano>
Molly
Zachariah, Pramila Grubb, Preetam Koilpillai
Classical Guitar>
Saumitra Mukherji (Head
of Faculty), Kenneth Issac,
Felix Anto, Vijay James
Recorder/Flute>
Paulette
Demello
Voice Production>
Aruna Sundarlal, Victor
Abraham
Viola/Violin>
Jerome Davis, Surojit Mitra, Stephen P J,
Peter Appaji, Ananth Kamath
Wind Section>
V Narayanswamy
Children's Choir>
Sheila Mascarenhas
General Accompaniment>
Preetam Koilpillai
General Music/Guitar and Workshops>
Saumitra
Mukherji
Concert Arrangement>
Victor
Abraham
Auditors>
Philipose and Company Chartered Accountants
School board of Western Music Examinations>
Gladys Mohanraj - Director
Chamber Orchestra>
V Narayanswamy
- Conductor
Choral Ensemble & Festival Choir>
Victor
Abraham - Conductor
Monthly Student Concerts>
Convenors - Paulette
DeMello, Kenneth Issac
Music Appreciation Course>
V Narayanswamy
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Ms.
Aruna Sunderlal
Founder/Director
The Bangalore School of Music |
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Mrs. Aruna Sunderlal, the well
known Western Classical Singer has trained with famous
German Singer Margarita Schack and Prof.Herbert
von Brauer of the State Academy of Music, Berlin,and
in London, with Esther Hulbert of the Guildhall
School of Music.
• She made her professional debut in 1970 with
the renowned Bombay Philharmonic Orchestra and
the Paranjoti Choir under the German conductor
H.J.Koellreutter, as Soloist in Beethoven's 9th
Symphony, and since then has given innumerable Lieder-Aria
recitals in India and overseas.
• To popularise music, Mrs Sunderlal has given
talks & song recitals over A.I.R. Bombay, Calcutta,
Bangalore, Chennai (Old Madras) & Delhi and for various
Cultural Organisations.
• In 1986, she organized a historic week-long conference
of Church Music in North India . In 1987, she founded
the Bangalore School of Music, the city's first
and the third formal School of Music in the country.
• In 1990, she inititated a global Cultural and
Academic Festival.
In 1991 she was given the honour of releasing the
MOZART STAMP by the Chief Post Master-General, Karnataka.
• She is a Member of the International Society
for Music Education.
• Founder Member of Federation of Western Music
Societies in India.
• Founder Member of Federation of Western Music
Schools in India.
• An Associate Member of the National Institute
of Advanced Studies, India.
• Member of Association of British Council Scholars
of South India.
• Founder Member of Indus-International,
Mumbai, a cross-cultural exchange between women of all
countries.
• Mrs Sunderlal has also been actively involved
in Voluntary Social Welfare Work for the past thirty
years with the Y.W.C.A.'s Homes for the Aged, EFICOR,
Samaritans' International and the Diocese of Calcutta,
as Director - Chairperson of Stewardship.
• Her interests and hobbies include gardening,horticulture,
the environment, youth welfare and collecting antiques.
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REALEASING
THE MOZART STAMP |
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QUOTES
AND REVIEWS
Embassy of the Arab Republic
of Egypt
"I wish to report to your meeting on Friday,
12th April, 1996, regarding the participation of the Egyptian Group
'TOBOOL' in the East West Music and Dance Encounter which you have
so ably directed in Bangalore .I am very appreciative for the efforts
put in this festival for the success and the highlighting of the
participation of the Egyptian Group, a first time event in the relation
of the two countries to which the Bangalore School of Music who
was the host."
Gillane Allam (Ambassador of The Arab Republic
of Egypt.)
From the Embassy of Switzerland
in India
"I was pleased to note that Swiss avantgardist
jazz with a high degree of on-stage improvisation was courageously
blended with a traditional Karnatik Ensemble .A bridge was built
in terms of rhythmic drive where both groups aroused spontaneous
response from the audience .I rate the scepticism of both audience
and press towards the free style performance of the Swiss jazz trio
as a healthy expression of reflection on the unfamiliar world of
sounds beyond classical perception of 'good ' melodious jazz."
M.Somer First Secretary(Development) (Embassy
of Switzerland in India.)
From Ulf Radelius Connection
" On behalf of myself and my fellow musicians
Henrik Frisk and Mats Holtne I would like to thank you for a wonderful
experience of The Encounter '96'. It was interesting to paticipate
along with musicians of different kinds from all over the World
- a truly global event .Once again I would like to say THANK YOU
to every one that helped us during our stay in Bangalore.I really
hope this connection can develop in the future and hope to see you
all again sometime."
Ulf Radelius Connection (Sweden)
From Times of India, Bangalore
(17 April 1992)
"It is with time that the music of a country
evolves, in keeping with the cultural and social transformations.
In the Oriental System, for instance, the rhythmic aspects have
given rise to development of subtle percussive arts and slowly,led
to a renaissance in the art form. All of which makes it necessary
for dialogue between the East and the West to identify the cause
for change and at the same time, evolve the future course for music
and workout possibilities for a harmonious mix between the arts
of two peoples. It was precisely this need for harmony that saw
the concept of the popular East West Encounters take birth in the
mind of Mrs.Sunderlal."
Gayatri Murti (Times of India, Bangalore.)
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