Classical music is child’s play

Musiki is a three-day music workshop on Tansen at the NCPA

music due to lack of initiatives from parents and schools. We have designed small thematic workshops where children can have fun while they learn simple classical songs.”
Participants at the workshop MusiKi is on June 21 - June 22 at West Room 1, NCPA, Nariman Point from 4.30 to 6.30 pm and on June 23 at Little Theatre, from 11.00 to 12.30 pm; 12.30 to 1 pm (Participants’ performance) The subject for this year’s workshop is Tansen, one of the Navratnas (nine gems) in Emperor Akbar’s court. “Tansen’s story is engaging and that is why we chose him as our subject. Our earlier themes have been Mirabai, the festival of Holi and even the monsoon,” says Dr Rao. Renowned classical singer Mala Ramadorai will manage the workshop this year, her third year conducting it. “Mala is in the consultative committee at the NCPA and she initiated the idea of MusiKi. Her interesting way of conducting

While everyone prepares for World Music Day on June 21, the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) is collaborating with the Inner Courtyard for a three-day classical music workshop for kids called MusiKi — Music for Kids. It is open for kids aged between 8 and 12. While no prior training is required to enrol, the participants will need to attend all the sessions.
“People need to be sensitised to the arts right from childhood,” says Dr Suvarnalata Rao, head of programming, Indian music, NCPA. “Today, children are largely inclined towards Western music and are distanced from Indian classical the workshop has given us a good response for the past two years. This time around we are expecting about 20 to 30 children in attendance,” says Dr Rao.
Aditya Somani, founder, Inner Courtyard says, “This session on, we will start the ‘training trainers’ programme for the teachers. Ramadorai has been my teacher and she can handle people superbly.”