The second day of Taalathma, the fusion concert, saw students proudly claim the stage with their drum beats and rhythm. Karnataka Sangha auditorium, which was still reverberating from the rhythm of the previous evening, was once again packed within minutes, this time with percussionists and family and friends. The students, who took the stage, wasted no time in getting the audience head-banging with their acquired mastery of beats and rhythms for an event aptly titled Jus Drums.
Each set had a uniqueness to it, and the audience’s enthusiasm didn’t waver. Trained by Murali Krishnan, the students forged ahead to make music from just about anything, with children as young as six performing with confidence. According to Nikhil Parkhani, a Class IX student and a participant at the concert, drumming is his first love. “Jus Drums has helped me pursue my passion and gain a foothold in just a few months. I am graduating in Level 1 tonight.”
Ammitesh Shreyas, a Class XI student of Chettinad Vidyashram, who has been training since he was in kindergarten, insists that the secret lies in the way training is imparted. “Murali sir makes us understand the beats before he teaches us how to play them. So, every beat is felt before it’s played,” he smiles.
His mother Padmaja Balaji adds, “I brought him here when I noticed his affinity for rhythm as a child. Today, he’s completed five grades in Trinity with a distinction in his fifth grade.” One of the highlights of the evening was an innovative vocal percussion piece, where the students used their mouths accompanied by the mridangam, to make music. According to Murali, if the students could remember these beats, there was no reason why they couldn’t remember any number of lessons. Interestingly, the music was a good mix of classical and Western, with a wide spectrum of tracks being played — right from Ilaiyaraaja to Boney M.
Another interesting set was when an all-women group took the stage with the djembe, an African percussion instrument. Some of them are parents of the students at the academy.
The school saw 30 of its 39 students graduating this year. Eminent musician Nithyashree Mahadevan, who presided over the event, was impressed by the talent exhibited by the performers.
