The city’s IT corridor is filled with music as more techies are taking to playing riffs, thanks to a new music school on JNTU road. Barely a month old, Rockstudios has packed weekends, with most students comprising software pros.
“Majority of the IT professionals want to learn the acoustic guitar, which is suitable for playing pop and classic rock. We recently had the fusion band from Cognizant jamming here before their gig,” says Srinivasa Raju, owner of Rockstudios.
The bay windows opening onto Deccan rock formations amid concrete jungle offers a relaxing ambience for the learners. Music instruments and tall chairs in the brightly lit hall beckon students to play. The electric guitars here are just right for heavy metal riffs, funk and even rhythm, says Mr. Raju.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I always wanted to learn music and having a studio in the vicinity has come as a boom. Music classes help one in unwinding after a hectic schedule at work. I would like to compose some music scores myself,” says Sweta, an employee of Mahindra Satyam who is learning to play the piano at the studio.
The studio’s USP is that it offers classes in acoustic, western and electric guitars, veena, violin, drums and Carnatic vocals, where music buffs can learn pop, jazz, blues and more. Mr. Raju plans to add Hindustani classical music next, bringing the Indian classical section of the studio under a new wing aptly named Gurukulam. “Majority youth want to learn western music but Indian music is an essential component of our culture. For the curriculum design, I took the help of D.V.K. Vasudevan, music instructor at University of Hyderabad, who is known for the fusion group Devan Drone. We teach music from the notes so that students can read notations and play,” he says.
Apart from software professionals, schoolchildren preparing for Trinity College of Music and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and music teachers from various schools too come over to learn music theory foundation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Having composed innumerable jingles and background score for films such as ‘Zabardast’ and Telugu serials such as ‘Love’, ‘Yuva’ and ‘Savirahe’, Mr. Raju decided to bring his experience over to the studio.
On the anvil are workshops by musicians and music directors for students. A ‘tech studio’ is what Mr. Raju has in mind.
“There is an enormous scarcity of musicians in the film and television industry. Students interested in the field can learn to compose jingles and background scores and get some hands-on experience in recording,” he says.