Hindustani Classical Vocals and Theory Made Simple and fun for all Age Groups!

Find out more about Chinmaya

• Tell us more about your subject. How did you develop an interest in this field?

  I began my musical journey as a Western vocalist and even learnt the basics of the piano. However, I was always drawn towards Indian music. One day when I was around 11 or 12 years old, I happened to come across a recording of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, one of the most illustrious names in the field of Hindustani Music. What I heard that day was a rendition of Raag Miyan Malhar and it was so powerful that it altered something in me, and I just instinctively knew that this was the music I had to learn.

• What or who is the motivation behind you choosing to teach & why?

  Hindustani Khayal music is an extremely beautiful musical format, which can be very intellectually stimulating and also has the power to bring a lot of joy to both the listener as well as the practitioner. There has always been a hype created in the minds of the masses that Classical music is very difficult to understand and even learn. I however beg to differ. My belief is that any form of music if taught with the right approach while paying thorough attention to basics, can be understood and enjoyed by everyone. Hence, the urge to teach came very naturally.
  Teaching can also be a very satisfying process when one sees progress in their students over a period of time. That satisfaction is priceless.

• How does your work help society?

  This happens on two levels. Firstly, any form of music or art builds culture and makes people more human and sensitive. Secondly, music is both an art and a science, and teaching is the propagation of education, which naturally has a positive impact on society. Knowledge is power ultimately.

• If you had to think of a role model for your work, who do you think of & why?

  I don't have just one role model. Rather I take inspiration from a lot of musicians for a variety of musical dimensions.
  Ustad Amir Khan for his badhat of a Raag and his mind-boggling melodic permutations; Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar for a perfect balance of all the elements of Gayaki while keeping the presentation interesting and well-rounded; Pandit Jagdish Prasad for sweetness and emotive expression;
  Pandit Bhimsen Joshi for just pure expression and raw power, to name a few.

• Tell us about your hobbies outside teaching.

  Besides Music, I love cooking, working out, reading, watching movies and just learning about anything and everything that sparks my curiosity.

• Do you have an anecdote to tell us about your student or professional life?

  Once while listening to a concert that was highly technical, I ended up having a discussion with a friend of mine about the importance of technicality as opposed to expression. What he said that day has really stuck with me ever since. He said, "A true artist is not one who evokes 'Waah Waah' (technical appreciation) from his audiences, but one who is able to evoke 'Aahh' (touch the heart/emotional response) from his listeners.