Instrumental Music classes in India

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Music is said to have been part of human lives for 50,000 years now. Scientists now believe that teaching young children instrumental music might improve brain and cognitive development.

Instrumental music in western culture

In western music, instruments have been a focus point since the days of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. However, Christian churches maintained that it is a sin to perform instrumental music in churches without using lyrics.

Western music transitioned from solo singing to group singing to singing with instruments between the 5th and 9th centuries. Instrumental music came to importance sometime in the 16th century. It was during the 18th century that piano gathered equal respect as the vocal music.

Today orchestras are performed using a group of musicians playing one kind of instrument (example, creating a polyphonic symphony using group of violins) or using similar kinds of instruments (example, using string instruments like cello, violin and piano).

Instrumental music in India

Instrumental music or vaadhya sangeet is one of the three components of music (vocal, instrumental and dance). An instrument in Indian music can be:

• a drone for setting the pitch, example: tanpura/tambura, or
• a stringed/wind instrument for melody, example: sitar, veena, flute, guitar or
• a percussion instrument for rhythm, example tabla, pakhawaj, mridangam.

Melodic instruments are taught on the same basis as vocal. The training in theory is same for both. Instrumental music can replicate the vocal lyrics, depending upon the extent to which the instrument can be manipulated. Instruments like sitar, veena, violin and flute have great dynamics and can be manipulated to replicate even the smallest of aakars exclusive for vocal music.

Rhythmic instruments give dimension to the music. They also define the tempo of a song. The skill required here are entirely different from the one required for vocal or melody-based instruments and requires a keen sense of timing.

Learning instrumental music in India

There are plenty of institutes offering Indian instrumental music courses, while there are a few private schools offering western instrumental classes for guitar, keyboard, saxophone and piano.

• Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan - BA, MA, M.Phil in Music - Violin, Sitar, Tabla, Pungi, Sarod, Harmonium, Pakhawaj and Hindustani Vocal.
• Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh - BFA (bachelor of fine arts), 4 years course - vocal, sitar, sarod, violin (Hindustani and carnatic), tabla, pakhawaj.
• Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, School of Performing Arts, Pune - BA/MA Music in santoor, shehnai, flute, harmonium, sitar, sarod, violin, tabla and pakhawaj.

Career in instrumental music

One can have their own troupe or orchestra performing for stage shows and private parties. Starting instrumental music classes can benefit interested students. Entering into film music line is also a great option. Music shows are on the rise and need for instrument players are in high demand.