“Imitate, assimilate, and innovate.” Clark Terry
There’s a difference between learning how to play an instrument and learning music. There’s also a difference between playing an instrument and making music. While some choose to tread the path of learning and playing songs, others delve into the realm of creating music. {LBBD}’s Suchita Salwan caught up with Rohit Gupta & Jayant Manchanda, musicians and students of Global Music Institute to understand how this tryst with music began, plans ahead, and the art of making music and connecting with others through this.
Suchita | When did you take up music, and why?
Jayant | I started learning guitar in the 12th grade as a hobby, but left my practice to study for my board exams. It was only once they got over I took on the bass at a local school. Since then, it’s been a roller-coaster ride in pursuit of strengthening my skills as a bass player. I became more proactive with my learning, and started jamming with other bands, in fact as many bands as I could! There’s just this amazing energy created when I play live. It’s like every time you get onstage, you’re creating something new- it’s a different experience altogether. This really pushed me to take up as many gigs as possible and play with as many musicians possible, and I realized I wanted to take music seriously.
Rohit | I took up music when I was 15. The only inspiration I had was my music teacher in school. I became a part of the school fusion ensemble and started performing for school events, competitions etc. I also joined a college band while I was in school which used to play for Art of living. Though my teacher in school is a percussionist, she really helped me develop myself as a pianist. I started taking piano lessons at YMCA, New Delhi and I learnt how to read and write music. After completing school, I knew that music is what I want to do.
Suchita | What’s your principle instrument, and what inspired you to pick it up?
Jayant | Honestly, I don’t know why I picked up the bass! And I still can’t really say. In fact, when I started learning the bass I had no idea about what bass was all about. Nonetheless. I love playing it!
Rohit | My principle instrument is Piano. I took up piano because I loved the sound of the instrument. I was also fascinated by rhythms and percussion instruments, but I wanted to learn and explore music through Piano as my principle instrument.
Suchita | Where had you studied music prior to Global Music Institute?
Jayant | While I had an understanding of the basics through classes in high-school, on graduating I approached Delhi based Jazz musician Brennon Denfer for lessons and started learning from him, and simultaneously was playing at gigs with one of my college bands and a local band. The same year, Aditya Balani {founder, GMI} returned from Berklee and I began studying music theory with him. Learning from him really helped with my concepts and got me better acquainted with different aspects of music. Following that, Aditya and Tarun organized a two day workshop which opened a whole new world for me!
Rohit | So my learning started at YMCA, where I was taught for 2 years. Then I joined Arttree Music Academy where I studied for almost a year. It was actually right before the opening of GMI when I started taking lessons from Aditya, and I was taught by him for for 6 months post which I joined GMI.
Suchita | How was your GMI experience and what’s been your greatest learning through it?
Jayant | With music it comes down to finding inspiration every day, and I think that’s one of the biggest takeaways from my experience at GMI. The thing that sets them apart from other schools is the level of knowledge made available to students and their style of teaching. It’s a place for musicians who take their art seriously- you have an opportunity to learn from a diverse international faculty coming from various stylistic and cultural backgrounds, and premiere schools like Berklee. I’ve been able to get a lot of work as a musician, but more than anything the amount of confidence I’ve gained playing my instrument is amazing
Rohit | Studying at GMI helped me develop as a musician, listener and a performer. I’ve been able to explore various forms, styles and genres of music, which has helped define what I want to do and pursue as a musician. I feel that their approach towards teaching music is holistic, professional & goal-oriented, while being really engaging at the same time! The classes included things like Ear Training, Harmony, Ensemble, Composition, Konokol and private lessons. What’s also nice is that they create a community of musicians so that the knowledge and experience of playing music can be shared.
Suchita | What plans for the future? You spoke of studying music again- are you keen on taking it up professionally?
Jayant | Future plans! I’m pursuing music professionally, but I do have plans of going to a music school next year to study more and then come back to Delhi to play. I want to play live music!
Rohit | Yes, I am going to take up music professionally. I am planning to go to a school and do a bachelors in music.
In my conversations with Rohit and Jayant, their passion for music is palpable. This world that they’ve created through their learnings, experiences and performances, it’s a world I don’t entirely understand. Then again, I don’t know what it’s like to make music. One thing’s for certain though- if music is what feelings sound like, they sure feel good.
