Nilgiris Artistes Sing In Praise Of Western Music

He is an experienced multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, band leader of ‘The Minks’, and orchestral double-bass player who has collaborated with notable groups and for renowned artistes. He has performed with quite a few music troupes in India. He is also the conductor of the Nilgiri string ensemble, Nilgiri choral society and Orchestra 181.
With over 45 years dedicated to teaching and music education, he has taught music at various institutions such as Good Shepherd International School, Riverside Public School, and St. Joseph’s Convent, while also founding ‘Enos and Sons Music School’.

He said the charm and beauty of Western music lies in its harmony, melody, and structured compositions that have evolved over centuries and are still evolving. In Western music, it’s about harmony, melody and having a plan. They use written scores like a musical map, showing exactly how everything should sound and fit together. Now, in Western music, there’s a whole mix of instruments like the piano, trumpet, violin, saxophone and what not. All these elite and eternal sounds come together in orchestras to create a beautiful and varied sound, he added.

Eric Gary Renato, another ISoM licentiate in music education, an ace talent in guitar, based here, said early music education starts with intuitive, unstructured methods (imitation and repetition), which will lead to students plateauing and then progress further. On curriculum and theory, he said developing a structured, multi-stage curriculum incorporating vital music theory (scales, intervals, chord theory and modes) to help students understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘how’ was essential. In Western music, the focus is on making things sound good and expressing emotions.

On pedagogical approach in music teaching, he said the emphasis should be on student-centered learning, adapting to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles, alongside utilising live demonstrations, modern technology, online tools. On challenges and future goals in Western music teaching he said the Western music teachers should address issues like maintaining student motivation and balancing technique with musicality, with future plans to expand world music knowledge, develop group lessons, create online courses, and integrate more ear-training and composition. The ISoM graduation may reflect our own professional growth. But, it is to inspire and guide more young musicians and to contribute meaningfully to music education with new responsibility and a new beginning, Renato added.