26 Nov In Focus: Global Music Education
Over the past decade, a greater number of students have been dedicating themselves to in-depth study of music at a higher educational level seeking to develop a nuanced understanding of their craft, with the mentorship of creative professionals excelling in their fields. Now, more than ever, young budding musicians are traversing local to global, gaining invaluable experience and exposure through their musical adventures.
We spoke to GMI alumni: Tanya Sharma, Eshaan Sood, Abhin Iype, Kabir Mohan, Ajitha Martin, and Harsh Shandilya, tracing their musical journeys from GMI and beyond.
First Steps into the World of Music Education
At the starting line, Eshaan, Abhin, Kabir, Ajitha, Harsh, and Tanya, were at different points in their musical journey and stemmed from varying musical backgrounds. Whilst some had their roots in the sounds of Hindustani and Carnatic music, others dabbled in Western Classical music, choirs and school bands prior to a new beginning at GMI. They came to GMI to build their musical foundation in theory, ear training, and performance, and to inculcate the essential virtues required of a musician: discipline, and dedication.
Reflecting on the choice to study at GMI, Eshaan said, “I was looking for a school with a robust curriculum and teachers who could help me navigate that curriculum musically instead of academically. GMI was the only school that offered a robust curriculum with classes that would train all parts of a musician and teachers from all around the world who knew what they were doing.” The intimate learning environment facilitated the blossoming of close relationships amongst faculty and peers. GMI became a safe haven to explore and push the boundaries of creative expression for the budding musicians. “At GMI I realised the emotive power of music and sound. I learned how to translate what I hear onto my bass. I fell in love with all kinds of jazz music and how to appreciate such music,” said Kabir.
Ajitha Martin at Global Music Institute, September 2019
Whilst some students were engrossed in the study of music for an extended time period, others, like Ajitha and Tanya, were either returning to music education after a hiatus, or carving out time for their passion amidst full time work. Immersing herself in the study of voice, and music theory, Ajitha honed into the art of performance from her teachers at GMI. “I gained a lot of knowledge about musicality, techniques, and how to approach technique, and a lot about music business. I got a lot of exposure to the performance world and found amazing mentors and friends.” Working full time in Toronto, Canada, Tanya enrolled herself in the Short Certificate Program taught by Jay Pei, tuning into classes on Sunday morning. “Virtual learning at GMI slammed open the door for me. There is a lot of information on YouTube, but having an expert assess your needs and take you through the fundamentals has sped up my learning so much,” she said.
Solidifying their musical roots at GMI for a musical adventure of a lifetime, the upcoming musicians laid the markers for their path to the future by gaging into their areas of interest ranging from music production and sound design, to further exploration of the vast realm of the jazz idiom.
Local to Global
Beginning their musical journeys at GMI, the alum I spoke to are now scattered across the world from Switzerland, to Australia. Having decided to expand their musical horizons beyond India, narrowing down the music school best suited for their growth and development as a musician was the next step. Elaborating on the factors informing his decision to continue his exploration of jazz performance abroad, Abhin said, “at some point I became curious about what music education is like outside India and I wanted to be a part of a bigger jazz community so that prompted me to study abroad. It was a mix of good recommendations from peers, location, and a reasonable tuition fee. In the end it came down to whether the college accepted me.”
Similarly, Harsh Shandhilya, now studying at Jazzcampus in Basel, Switzerland, wanted to deepen his study of jazz and discovered his destination of choice from his music theory teacher at GMI, Andrea Franzel. “I was awestruck by the curriculum and the faculty at Jazzcampus and felt like that was my next goal. I wanted to be in an environment where other students wanted to play and explore jazz. Therefore, I felt that there was no better option than coming to Basel and studying at Jazzcampus.”
Others, like Kabir, decided to broaden their horizons by exploring a different facet of musicality. Currently studying Sound Design and Production for Film and Games at George Brown College, in Toronto, Canada, Kabir said, “I am really interested in film or game music and Toronto is a hub for the North American entertainment Industry. Canada especially has a lot of sound stages for post production work from LA, not to mention the abundance of leading game development studios.”
Advice for Aspirants
Our alum had some words of wisdom for students beginning their journey at music school, or currently in the middle of it and planning their next steps. Whilst the demands of music school may be rigorous, Harsh said, “practicing your instrument and preparing well for your exams is an obvious thing but so is giving time to your mental and physical health. Make sure you take care of yourself. Try incorporating an activity in your schedule which is solely for the maintenance of your mind.” Beginning your learning journey into an ever expansive world of knowledge, learning, and music can be intimidating and overwhelming. For those at the nascent stage of their learning, Tanya said, “my advice in general is that it is never too late to start and you will be surprised at how many options you have to work on your craft if you start looking.”
To those searching for the right music school for them, Abhin said, “look for a place with a thriving music scene and play with as many people as you can because you will be surrounded by people passionate about music so you can learn a lot from everyone.” Finally, for those wanting to travel abroad for music school, Eshaan emphasised the importance of having clarity on your motivations for doing so, and learning to fall in love with the process of learning. “Going abroad is a lot of money and you will have to do certain things you do not want to do when you pursue a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree. If you learn to love the work, or atleast start the process of learning to love the work, do so. Because it is the only thing that can get you through music school. Also, music is awesome but never forget to take a break and chill with all the people around.”
By Senjuti Maitra
With inputs from GMI alumni currently pursuing music education abroad:
– Abhin Iype: piano, Conservatorium Maastricht (ZUYD University), Amsterdam
– Tanya Sharma: voice, Point Blank Music School, London
– Eshaan Sood: guitar, Eastman College of Music (University of Rochester), New York
– Ajitha Martin: voice, Australian Institute of Music, Sydney
– Harsh Shandilya: guitar, Jazzcampus (University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Northwestern University), Basel
– Kabir Mohan: bass, George Brown College, Toronto
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