My Science School

I'm a good singer and can play instruments like the piano and guitar. I want to make a career in music, but my parents say that I should first take up a secure career (such as medicine) and then continue with music. But I'm afraid I won't be left with enough time, as the studies and career will leave me exhausted. Please suggest some colleges/institutes in which I could pursue music as a career.

Have you had some training in playing an instrument or singing? Training under an experienced guru from childhood helps to sharpen your skills; later you can develop the instinct through talent, experience and practice.

You may go for a B.A. in Music after 10+2. During the course, students receive a thorough grounding in the core areas of practical skills, music history and analysis. They may further specialize in performance, composition, electro-acoustic music or other areas as they progress through the course.

Some of the institutes are: Bhatkhande Music Institute Deemed University, Lucknow; National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama (Sangeet Natak Academy), New Delhi; Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata; Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, Tansen Sangeet Mahavidyalaya at various places.

The life of a professional musician can appear glamorous. But when it comes to making it a profession, the jobs are highly competitive and difficult to find. It often takes the right contacts and a lot of luck to find work. You may experience a great deal of rejection and there may be periods of time when you don't work, at least as a performer.

I'm telling you this not to scare you; rather that is the reality. Breaking into this industry also requires dedication, talent and sometimes good luck. That may be the reason your parents are suggesting that you first secure yourself with a good education and career.

Picture Credit : Google

Music

Music is a performance art created by the sounds of singer, and instruments, and covers an incredible range of styles. It can he enjoyed live or through various media forms from television and radio to the Internet. Music has always been written and performed, but it was not until the 20th century, when new technology to record and share music developed, that musicians could become global stars.

1. DISCO: In the 1970s, pop music with a dance beat known as disco (from discotheque, a French word for nightclub) filled dance floors across the globe. Disco music topped the charts and created major stars, but faded from popularity in the 1980s.
2. CLASSICAL: Classical music is a general name for the various types of music written to be performed in a concert hall. It may be composed for the instruments of an orchestra (either a full symphony or a small group of players), or written for a choir or opera company. The music of composers like Bach and Beethoven is still popular, centuries after it was written.
3. MUSIC AND VISUALS: From the late 1970s, bands made short music videos to accompany and promote their songs. The arrival of music video networks and the Internet has created a huge boom in this area. The virtual band Gorillaz, who previously only existed as cartoon animations in music videos, turned the form on its head in 2005 when they performed live as a normal band.
4. DANCE: The popularity of electronic instruments like synthesizers, and the ability to use computers to make music, led to a new generation of music written to fill the dance floors. DJs became stars, using turntables to mix live music.
5. JAZZ: Jazz was born in early 20th century America, when elements of European music were blended with the rhythmic music brought by African slaves to the south.
6. ROCK: In the 1940s and 50s, rock-and-roll music sprang up in the United States. It was played on electric guitars, bass guitars, and drums, and featured exciting vocals, catchy tunes, and a strong beat. This evolved into rock music, a group of many diverse styles that remains popular worldwide.
7. POP: This type of rock music is aimed mostly at a young audience. Pop songs can be fairly simple in their structure, with lots of repetition in the lyrics, so it’s easy to sing along. Today’s major pop stars reach an international audience with their hit songs.
8. R&B: Rhythm and blues, or R&B, music started in the United States in the 1940s, originally performed by and for a mainly African-American audience. Today’s version of the style is closely related to disco and dance music, but is smoother and features softer vocals.
9. REGGAE: This style of music originated in Jamaica in the 1960s. It has a characteristic rhythm style and a slow and steady tempo (speed). The bass guitar keeps the rhythm and is the most prominent instrument. Reggae is associated with the Rastafarian religion.
10. COUNTRY: Mixing the traditional music of the southern states of America with rock-and-roll and other musical styles, country music is one of the largest-selling music genres today, with major stars, huge record sales, and enormously successful tours.

Picture Credit : Google