Gurus of classical music, dance go digital

HUBBALLI: Teachers of Hindustani music and classical Indian dance have taken the digital route to continue teaching amid lockdown. Their foray into teaching the art forms via video calling is their first-ever such attempt, with some even admitting that they have never been tech-savvy to this extent.
Some prominent personalities like Pt Balachandra Nakod, Sahana Bhat and others in Hubballi and Kiran Subramanyam in Bengaluru, who have made their name in the field of classical music, are conducting online classes regularly.
Pt Balachandra Nakod, a noted vocalist decorated with the Rajyotsava Award, said this is a tough phase for everyone. “So we planned to take digital classes. Students sitting in the US, Canada, Mysuru, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other places are attending the online classes. I whatsapp all my 50 students a video message of the raga, and ask them to revert with their rendering. I correct their mistakes via WhatsApp. Even my son Raghavendra Nakod is taking tabla classes online,” he said, adding that aspiring musicians need to rehearse regularly. “So we have decided to keep training our students, and technology has come handy.”
Kiran Subramanyam, Karnataka Kalashri awardee and renowned classical dancer in Bengaluru, said it’s high time to learn more about classical dance and music. More than 300 students stay connected regularly through Skype and Zoom apps from 6am to 8.30am. Seven teachers in the team take classes regularly. “This apart, an hourlong live programmes are beamed via Facebook and Instagram daily,” he said.
Vidhusi Sahana Bhat of Natyanjali Nrutya Kala Kendra, who is conducting online classes through WebEx app, said she is currently preparing juniors for examinations to be held by KSEEB in the coming days. They are teaching the theory portions to students from Germany, the USA, Dharwad, Hubballi, Bengaluru and other places.