Across the bridge

When it comes to Western classical music education in India, the scene is still in its nascent stage mainly due to the lack of an appropriate music course or syllabus in the education system here. Especially for those attempting to do a bachelor’s degree or a doctorate in the field and kick off a career in music, the options are very few.

The entry of the University of South Africa (UNISA) in India’s musicscape hopes to change all that. Sean Adams, the Deputy Director: Professional (Acting) of Directorate Music in UNISA was in Bengaluru recently to open doors to their advanced system of music education and present opportunities for musical dreams to come true.

Hosted by The Majolly Music Trust, which aims to reach the highest standards of music performance and teaching founded by concert-pianist, singer, teacher, choir director and composer Neecia Majolly, at The Bangalore School of Music, Adams gave an insight into the UNISA music examinations for various instruments, theory of music and jazz theory.

“This is my second trip to India. Although here on official visits, I would love to come back for a proper holiday soon,” says the music education expert.

Commenting on the scene, Adams says: “Western classical music is very much alive in India. It has a lot of scope and that is one of the reasons why we are introducing our examinations in the country. I was approached by a teacher from India who had looked at our syllabus. We run a big music examination system and conduct an international music competition as well that is world renowned.”

Adams elaborates that UNISA has a system quite similar to the British system. “But in addition to Western classical music examinations, we are one of the very few who offer jazz examinations as well, which we introduced in 2012. We are also developing the jazz syllabus for piano, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and jazz voice.”

Said to be one of the leading open distance learning institutions in the world, the University of South Africa has been in the service of conducting examinations since 1918, while the first music examination was held as early as 1894 in South Africa. “UNISA is one of the very few universities in the world offering graded examinations and tertiary studies in music, from the bachelors to the doctoral level, in an online distance education system,” says Adams.

He adds that their standards are very high. “A lot of people point that out to us. We also offer jazz examinations up to grade eight apart from ensemble and jazz ensemble examinations. We are also working on introducing an African music syllabus soon.”

The biggest advantage for someone taking these exams up in India, he says, is the method in which they are conducted. “When the theory exams are conducted in India, we will have an examiner from UNISA itself to come and conduct the practical exams. With the high standards of music education we have and the opportunity to provide tertiary studies in music, this is an amazing break for people hoping to make music a career in India.”