MSU strikes a new note with music courses for all age groups

Vadodara: Whether young students, working professionals, homemakers or senior citizens, music enthusiasts across age groups will soon have an opportunity to formally learn music as the Vocal Music Department of the Faculty of Performing Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) launched certificate courses in Sugam (light) music and Hindustani classical vocal music.

Admissions for the courses will begin from June 1. While the Sugam Music Certificate Course will be 2.5 months long, the Classical Music Certificate Course will run for a year. Students aged 10 years and above will be eligible to enrol in the programmes, which have been designed with affordable fees.

According to Dr Rajesh Kelkar, head of the Vocal Music Department, the Sugam music course will offer training in voice culture, pronunciation, rhythm and pitch recognition, poetry recitation techniques, sargam songs, taranas, Hindi film songs, ghazals, devotional songs and folk music. The course will be conducted in an interactive environment with the support of karaoke music and will also provide students opportunities to sing using microphones.

Participants will additionally get a chance to interact with noted singers and attend their performances from time to time, helping them gain practical exposure to the field of music.

The one-year Classical Music Certificate Course will introduce students to various ragas of Indian music, voice training techniques, Naad Yoga, raga-based compositions and their connection with popular light music forms. Training in rhythm, sargam, tarana and thumri will also form part of the curriculum.

The courses have been specially designed for school and college students, professionals, working individuals and homemakers. Conducted three days a week during evening hours, the classes aim to provide participants with an avenue for recreation, creativity and mental well-being through music.

Dr Kelkar said the initiative would help citizens connect with music, appreciate India’s rich cultural heritage and become active participants in preserving and promoting it.