Classical music courses popular in DU

From today's HT....

ONE COURSE in Delhi University that is gaining popularity is the Classical Music Programme. Contrary to the belief that Gen-X opts for more professional courses, D.M. Taneja, the section officer in-charge cites a 30 per cent rise this year.

It is not only those from musical gharanas who apply Many are enticed by the burgeoning media attention to the talent hunts for budding singers, such as Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, to get a basic training. Better job prospects add temptation; several former students have become playback smgers or music programmers for radio channels and television serials. There is even a gradual increase in the demand for instrumental option due to these job opportunities.

A month ago, renowned playback singer Jaspinder Narula completed her M.Phil in Classical Music. Geetika Lal, pursuing a PhD in Sitar, enjoys performing live rather than on television. Her wish is to go abroad and charm her audiences, a feat more viable today.

To date, around 150 applications have come in for the next academic year and foreign students make a fair proportion of these. Najma Parveen Ahmed, a professor in the department, comments, "There is an increase in foreign applicants, particularly Chinese and Korean. About 15 PhD degree holders from the annual 20-25 intakes are foreigners."

Adds Sunita Dhar, the former dean, "One of my foreigner students even learnt how to construct his instrument while doing his PhD. There is genuine interest."

New courses are thus being offered, like the one-year course for foreigners, and the evening course, which allows students to study classical music part-time. Constantly being restructured, the Classical Music Program is still striking the right notes.