Popular young vocalist N. Vijay Siva has worked extensively for propagating Carnatic Music through workshops, lecture-demonstrations and television programmes. Vijay Siva will be regularly writing articles on the this subject for us. "Not Too Old For Music"

Very often we find people saying "never got to listening to classical music. Went to school, college and then to work and just didn't find time but my parents and grand parents raved about it. Atleast let my children not repent like me."

Obviously they have considered themselves too old for music or knowing well that none can be too old for music, they are scouting for an excuse to avoid listening to it. If the reason be the former they can be inspired towards music but if it is the latter, well, God will certainly show them the way.

Purandaradasa, the 15th century composer from Karnataka, hailed as the father of Carnatic Music took up music during his thirties after relinquishing his successfully running diamond business. Arunagirinathar was in the prime of his youth when he started composing the Thiruppugazh, Pandit Ravi Shankar was quite old when he had the first feel of Sitar and several began to gather knowledge to become rasikas, critics and musicologists only after they retired from service. None of them, including their admirers ever thought they were too old for music.

Rajaji said, "Just as our eyes identify objects and recognize them later, our ears too can". Once our eyes have seen table and told so, the same eyes would identify a table anywhere anytime. Similarly when we listen to music and when we are told about it, say - this is in Sankarabharanam raga, this is in Thodi raga, this composition belongs to Tyagaraja or Purandaradasa, our mind will recollect all these details when our ears listen to that music again. This simple exercise works as long as the auditory senses work. May be classical music requires a little bit of initiation to appreciate, such techniques are available in bounty today but the sheer melody can be enjoyed by anyone without initiation. Initiation does help in easier and deeper appreciation.

Rajaji himself acquired his skills as a rasika only when he was as old if not older than a grandpa and went on to write the famous "Kurai Onrum Illai' sung by M.S.Subbulakshmi. OK, agreed, none can be too old for music but can anyone be too young for music appreciation? Never. Even a baby in the mother's womb cannot be too young for music. Just as the mother listens, so does the baby. As the legend goes, have we not heard about Prahladha learning the greatness of Narayana (the protector of the Universe) when still in his mother's womb and didn't Abimanyu when in the same stage absorb the secrets of piercing into the chakravyuha (a military strategy)? All these clearly highlight two vital lessons-

a) There can be no age barrier for becoming a rasika

b) It solely depends on the music atmosphere created around oneself.

In the coming weeks we shall learn more and more about Carnatic Music appreciation from none other than Vijay Siva.