Learning Music (The Right Way) - By Rahul Ranade (5-10-2009)

Hello everybody!

Many people ask my advise on where their children should take lessons in singing, or playing, and what kind of music they should take up.

The answer to that question is very simple.

Anyone who is interested in learning music, should take training in classical music-either Indian, or Western.

Classical music is the foundation of any type of music-its like learning ABC, the basic language. When you learn the basics of any language, you can write anything from horror stories to a thesis in Physics! But that is the way things have to be learnt in a scientific and systematic way.

I get very frustrated when some parents tell me they have enrolled their son/daughter for the ‘Casio’ class! I get furious on these so-called teachers of ‘Casio’. They are those people who just cash on the ignorance of the parents and teach their pupils some hindi film songs which will take those poor guys nowhere. There are preset sounds with rhythms and accompanying chords on the ‘Casio’ (this is like Xerox)! These sounds can be triggered by pressing one key and the sound is quite good. But there is no skill or talent involved in playing a rhythm or a chord on this keyboard. To be able to learn to play the keyboards, you first need to know the basics-the ABC, and that can only be achieved when you learn the Piano. It needs lot of patience and hard work.

Many people have a great voice, but it has to be nurtured through practice-and another important thing-listening to lots of music. One has to be a good ‘Kaansen’ to be a ‘Taansen’! And the music one listens to can be all times of music-right from classical to pop, rock and jazz.

In short, there are no short cuts in music-if one wants to learn it seriously of course. The toy keyboards are for those who want some fun in life and want to play casually.

So long for now,

Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra,

Rahul Ranade