What moved the greatest headmaster of the most popular magic school to tears and made him announce that it was greater than any magic they did there? The answer is music, and the headmaster in the question was Albus Dumbledore. The universal language of music binds together souls as young as a baby being lulled to sleep, to as old as a great-grandpa in music therapy.
The idea of a day to celebrate music was conceived in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique. Musicians and music lovers went out to the streets and met at public places to celebrate all that is related to music on 21 June. Later embraced across the globe, and the day has now come to be recognised as one that is commemorated to promote diversity in music and foster a sense of fraternity through melody.
Like everyone, music has been the heart and soul of students, providing them with solace as well as purpose. In an ever-engaging world, students have sung and played in celebration and in revolution, and many have ended up turning music into their profession.
Practising music for most started at a very young age. For Vikramjit Banerjee of Krosswindz, popularly known as Tuki in the Kolkata music circuit, it was from the age of four, when he stayed in Chennai. After returning to Kolkata and getting enrolled in St Thomas School (Boys), he was encouraged by his vice principal to form a band with his schoolmates. A room was allocated to them to set up their instrument and practise.
Such encouragement in pursuing extra-curricular activities was always popular across the city, which is what probably led to Kolkata being named the cultural capital of India. Music bands formed in school have soared to great heights, but few others have found the fame of Lokkhichhara. Debaditya Choudhury joined the Bengali band when he took admission to St Xavier’s School in the eleventh grade.
A renowned businessman apart from being a keyboard player, Debaditya stresses on the importance of time management for budding musicians in schools. As someone who went on professional tours with his band while he was in the twelfth grade, he says, “It is all on you. Music does not hamper studies, rather it helps to increase concentration.”
“It has been scientifically proven that music helps to activate parts of the brain which help students in academics,” stated Vikramjit.
Not only does music function as an aid to academics, but it also serves as an escape, as budding artist Amir Rizvi explained. Amir recorded his first song when he was in the eleventh grade. What began as a passion project for him has now turned into a full-fledged career.
The story of another young musician, the drummer Arjun Chakraborty follows the same lines. Both of them spoke of the great support that they received from their family, friends, as well as teachers when they were on the threshold of opting for a career in music.
The outlook of the parents and teachers is quite unorthodox when it comes to Indian society, and certainly points to a positive shift in the mindset of the current older generation, as agreed upon by both Debaditya and Vikramjit.
Musician and educator Aneeshaa Seth got into music when she was in her twelfth grade, and as she says, it is never too late to pursue what you love, especially music.
“You have to worship music. It comes from within and has to be balanced with everything else in life, most importantly with studies,” was Debaditya’s message to the youngsters looking to take up music as a profession. His thoughts were echoed by Vikramjit, who also pointed out that it is by broadening our horizons and enriching our tastes, that we would we be able to soar in a lyrical sky.
This World Music Day, Edugraph encourages all students who are passionate about music, to take a page off the books of these performers and follow their dreams. We would also like to thank Skinny Mo’s Jazz Club both for their input and for providing young musicians with a platform to showcase their talent.
