Why is learning Indian music in the UK proving to be so difficult?
I have often contemplated how best to serve individuals who have a desire and enthusiasm to learn more about Indian classical music as they love to listen to it but simply find it too daunting or just don’t understand it at all. It seems to me logical that if one could learn more about an art form that he or she enjoyed listening to so much, it would undoubtedly enhance one’s appreciation for that art.
Learning music in a country other than the origins of that music is a most challenging and difficult task. The traditional difficulties of language, atmosphere, cost and quality teaching are all applicable to varying degrees. Indian music is made even harder by the fact that it was and remains to a large extent a traditional art form based on oral learning techniques or the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple relationship). Also the varying playing-styles of each individual instrument based on a particular style or gharana mean that often there may be inexplicable anomalies in the way that that music is taught from teacher to teacher.
But traditional learning styles and varying teaching methods only go some way to explaining why it is so hard to gain an appreciation of Indian music abroad. The main problem is of course that Indian music is not written down in musical form in any structured manner. In the UK students are brought up in an environment where a piece could be read and played as it is on a sheet of paper whereas Indian music relies on the memory of the student and his or her ability to improvise around a given theme. Further, these improvisations require an in-depth understanding of the classical art and require time to develop. In the UK, that time simply does not exist. Moreover, if it takes a long time to learn the techniques then it stands to reason that costs of learning are increased.
Another important reason why learning here in the UK is so difficult is the lack of organised platforms to play classical music for students. Whilst work is being done to change this, there still exist relatively few avenues for learners to gain valuable experience in front of audiences, a vital component of learning an art.
I have tried over the years to develop techniques in my teaching style to overcome these shortcomings as I recognise some of the issues facing students who wish to learn this wonderful and fulfilling art. I have designed courses with the UK student in mind that are structured, logical, fun and cost effective. Giving students an opportunity to play in small programs is something that they have found rewarding where previously it may have been daunting. Finally, I have found that as I have been brought up here I can empathise with the students here and this helps me to understand the difficulties they face in all music respects. I believe that my teaching style goes at least some way to cancelling the problems of learning Indian music in the UK.
Sulekh Ruparell, the musician, teacher and director of Eastern Music Company
About Sulekh
Listen to Sulekh
Tabla Lessons
Harmonium / Vocal Lessons