Bangalore :
It’s hard to imagine an Indian classical music recital without percussion instruments. And yet, it’s not often that you see those who play them taking centre stage. So with an intention to change this, Pandit Rajgopal Kallurkar began Kallur Mahalaxmi Tabla Vidyalaya.
With Bangalore as its home, Karnataka’s first tabla- only school recently celebrated its 29th anniversary, and featured Ustad Fazal Quereshi (Ustad Allah Rakha’s son and Zakir Hussain’s brother), in a solo concert. “I want all the great musicians and artistes to visit the school,” says Kallurkar.
Starting in 1985, the school follows the guru-shishya parampara model. “I never treat my students as friends,” he says. “And I don’t encourage them to treat me as a friend either. I do inspire a little bit of fear,” he relents.
While the exponent is particular that the school doesn’t become a money-making enterprise, and teaches only students who are dedicated to the art, it doesn’t look down upon people who don’t want to embrace the art as a career.
“I talk to all my students from the beginning about the challenges of choosing this as a career. And if they choose to retain it as a hobby, I’m fine with that too so long as they respect and admire the art,” he shares. “And of course, there are those who don’t have the calibre to learn too well, but we have to make the effort,” he adds.
According to him, a good artiste is a result of a good teacher, dedication and luck.
His definition of luck also includes a home environment conducive to learning the art, and he tries his best to ensure that he solves his students’ problemst. “When students are close to Class 10, parents believe that tabla is a waste of time. But I usually talk to them, and, even if they don’t send the children to class, I convince them to allow the children to practise. After all, no one can study 24 hours a day, and playing the tabla will only act as a stress-buster,” says the tablist who teaches students ranging from five to 60 years.
The school offers no short-cuts. “Everyone wants fame and money immediately — haste has become a way with this generation,” he rues.
Located in Banashankari, the school conducts evening classes from Monday to Friday and morning and weekend classes.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Express News Service / May 28th, 2014