The musicians and teachers from Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, Chennai had audience spellbound at BFlat with an evening of jazz, funk and fusion.
Talking about the programme, lead guitarist Brian Metreyon, said, “We had a great sound, and the crowd was really into it.” The musicians agreed that the highlight was when the power went out and the audience sang along to the Beck song they were playing.
“It was really nice to play for an educated audience. In my country, there isn’t much knowledge about jazz music. But here, people cheered when we played songs they knew, and paid attention to our performance,” said Carolina Calavache, a Colombian by birth.
They all appreciated the balance of tradition and novelty that exists in Bangalore. They believe this is also reflected in the music. Enjoying the cooler weather and the multi-cultural cuisine, the musicians discussed their style of music, their experience as teachers, and their students.
On teaching vocalist Natalie John said, “I wanted to try something different. It is a fulfilling job. I feel like I’m making a difference.Rather than tests and exams, students need apprenticeships. This bridges the gap between musicians and trainees and makes for a richer learning experience.”
Karina Colis, the drummer, adds, “We just pass on our knowledge so that students can create their own perception of it. It takes time, but when you see them compose something, it is beautiful.”
About the challenges they face, Brian says: “The students need to realign their attitudes. They have to pay equal attention to their passion for music, and the academics. Ear training, sight-reading, guitar labs and improvisation are all taught in a school environment. We have to push them to remember that and focus on the academic side.” The musicians agreed that teaching has opened them up to newer styles of music.Karina, who is taking Carnatic music classes at SAM, said, “I’ve learnt to respect the different forms of music that I see. I used to dismiss the heavy metal that my students loved, but now I’m much more open-minded.”
Carolina’s advice for aspiring musicians is “Patience is vital. You cannot get discouraged easily. Just work hard, be sincere about why you want to be a musician. Natalie adds You need to be dedicated as it is a 24/7 commitment. As long as you love what you do, as long as you are passionate, you can make it.”
