Recently we saw the development of large affordable housing
by the Swarnabhoomi group of companies in Chennai. They had a huge parcel of
land outside Chennai on which they launched an ambitious plan to build a1000
houses or more. To make it even more attractive for future residents the group
decided to develop around these houses an educational centre. The first
institution that got going was the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM).
Compared to the usual practice of establishing schools and colleges to cater
for the never-ending demand for engineers and doctors this was a bold
departure.
A couple of years ago there were hardly any institutions for
young musicians to sharpen heir skills but now SAM would be the institution
which can groom and even discover new talent. Shyam Rao a drummer and
professional musician in Chennai was picked by the group to head the venture. The
chance to work with world-renowned musicians is what prompted Shyam to join as
a faculty member. Shyam feels that it is very important to be initiated into
music correctly. The present system is for musicians to claim a grade by passing
the Trinity college examinations. This we hear is not entirely the best way so SAM
is focused more on the students and not so much on certification. Right from
the start they had no fear that it may be difficult to attract students as Shyam
was convinced that they merely had to set up a good school of music and the
students would come automatically.
The quality of musicians who have passed out from the
Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music is good. AR Rahman has actually used them in his
work which says a lot. Musicians attending a course also get the opportunity to
interact with musicians whom they would otherwise never have met. As one person said "I got to break a lot of guitar strings with big time musicians." What he meant was that he had the chance to interact with them
on a social level too. SAM comes out like the kind of place where one would love to
go and just hang out.
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