Finding a new sound

The Academy of Music,in Koregaon Park,is in the midst of its third music festival titled 'Music Quest'.

The Academy of Music,in Koregaon Park,is in the midst of its third music festival titled ‘Music Quest’. A panel of educators invited by the academy,comprising Scott McBridge Smith,Peter Mack and Gail Lew from the US; Murray Nichol and Mary Tickner from Canada; as well as contemporary artiste Christopher Norton from New Zealand,are in the city. I noticed that the system of teaching and evaluating music is very examination-based. I wanted to expose my students to worldwide music trends,go a step beyond examinations, said Roxana Anklesaria,convener and co-founder,MusiQuest. Lew is a professor of applied music in San Fransisco,as well as the editor of the California Music Teachers’ Magazine ,where she focuses on publishing articles on teaching successful practical techniques to students of music. “I believe that the best way to practice a piece is to break it down into smaller chunks and place them together like a puzzle. Different elements of a piece,like harmony,phrase,motive and form,must be treated and looked at differently,” said Lew,a judge at the festival’s piano competition for the age group of twelve and above. McBridge Smith has been teaching students to overcome stage fright and gain self confidence. He will also be offering international summer scholarship programmes to students who give outstanding performances during the festival. “I work with children,they need to be made to feel good about themselves. This is a festival,where they will come,learn,play and compete with a friendly attitude,” said Nichol at the start of the festival. The Honors Recital will be held today at the Ista Hotel,Nagar Road.

Ringing In Good Cheer

Television celebrities came-a-calling when city girl Vahbiz Dorabjee aka Panchi of teleserial Pyaar Ki Yeh Ek Kahani exchanged rings with her beau Vivian Dsena who plays the lead role Abhay in the same serial. The duo,who met and fell in love on the sets of the serial,took their relationship to the next level at an engagement ceremony in Pune last week. The celebrations were like a mini-wedding! The groom was welcomed with band,bajaa and baraat at The Corinthian Boutique Hotel for the sangeet on November 15. Their friends and co-actors put up a filmy skit on their relationship and danced to a medley of songs. The couple-in-love joined them,ringing in hoots and cheers from the guests. The celebrations spilled over to the next day when the engagement ceremony was held at Vivanta By Taj Blue Diamond. Among those present were television actors Kishwar Merchant,Suyash Kumar,Siddhant Karnick,Kashmira Irani,Naved Aslam,Tanvi Thakkar,and Pune’s who’s-who including Amit and Shweta Bhosle,Ajinkya and Aparna Firodia,Ashish Choudhary,Nikhil and Richa Agarwal.

Behind the scenes

Even when Aamir Khan produces a film that he is not acting in,the actor,more than the cast and crew of the production,is at the centre of all limelight. A norm in Bollywood,the Indian film industry could probably take a few lessons in playing it down from Angelina Jolie. She is known more for her luscious pout and perfect figure than for her acting skills. Yet,Jolie–one of the highest paid stars of Hollywood–is not using her face to promote her directorial debut,In the Land of Blood and Honey. The film,a love story with the Bosnian War as the backdrop,releases on December 23. The film’s poster,in fact,has a map with a splashes of red that outline the faces of a man and a woman,kissing. We wonder how many Bollywood stars will be able to step back and let the film’s script and cast enjoy the spotlight.

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