Making a music record with a difference

VADODARA, May 10: It was a soiree with a difference. Nine-year-old Shrushtee Thakkar played the harmonium continuously for 10 hours beginnin...

VADODARA, May 10: It was a soiree with a difference. Nine-year-old Shrushtee Thakkar played the harmonium continuously for 10 hours beginning 9 am. Though young in age, her mature performance enthralled the audience, which had gathered at the ISCON temple at a function of devotional songs organised by the Lions Club on Sunday.

Unlike others there were no awards or applause to congratulate her on her achievement. What carried her through was her confidence and the dream to make it big. 8220;My daughter is just nine and has made a name for herself. She aspires to set a world record,8221; says her father Harshad Thakker proudly.She chose to play harmonium as it was similar to the piano and the synthesiser. 8220;I started playing a synthesiser when I was five years old,8221; said Shrustee, adding but later was told to play these instruments only after learning the harmonium.8221;

A student of the Convent of Jesus and Mary School she had nobody to offer guidance and suggest which instrument should she begin with. Her family members, too, were not well-versed in the field of music.

8220;We realised her talent only when she started playing the harmonium at nine in the night and would continue till early morning,8221; her father told Express Newsline.

He further said that she would continue playing the instrument though her fingers would swell. Thus grew her passion and she decided that she would play continuously for 10 hours.

8220;Her next attempt would be to play the instrument for 13 hours continuously at a programme to be held at Durbar Hall next month,8221; he said. He stated that seeing her confidence he was assured that she was capable of creating a record.

Thakker added that though her interest was primarily to play the piano, she was determined to play for hours.

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Shrustee has also participated in a number of programmes organised by a number of organisations including the Lions club, winning prizes in competitions.

She also sings during Navratri at a number of places in the city. She has even been approached by musical groups to perform at concerts.

8220;However, at present we have turned down offers to enable her concentrate on achieving the 13-hour target,8221; her father said, adding though she had achieved a lot at a very young age she still had miles to go.