Role of Music in Indian Freedom Struggle

During India‘s freedom struggle music helped in creating an awareness among the people about the importance of independence. In a colonial situation like the British Raj, when a great part of the administration was Indians, patriotic songs were often a medium for secret action. Such songs played a significant role in shaping the mentality of people who came of age at the time of independence. Anyone with an ear for music and a fondness for poetry would have imbibed notions of his or her identity as a citizen of a free country in terms of patriotic songs heard while growing up. During that time some patriotic songs (about 200) were sung in Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malyalum Most patriotic songs were written and composed by Rabindranath Tagore, Rajanikanta Sen, Dwijendra Lal Roy, Atulprasad Sen and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Political songs were only a small fraction of their creative output. The genre of patriotic songs identified the land of one's birth with divinity, and the words and tunes appropriately corresponded to a piece of intensely devotional music. Music is only a reflection of people's moods; it is no substitute for action. The Bengalis are often considered a sentimental people. When one listens to the songs of Tagore, Atul Prasad or Rajanikanta there is lot of love for motherland. The musical legacy of the Swadeshi period has a strong Hindu communal element in it, especially when mass mobilization was part of the nationalist struggle after the 1920s.

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NOTE-ATION Happy Independence Day

A U G U S T - S E P T E M B E R

AUG - SEP 2015

Student Speak Kaashvi Udwani Violin student @ RCA Music to me has been that one 'person' I can blindly trust. Music is a collection of thoughts and emotions that I allow to flood my mind when I'm having a bad day. Music is a savior. It's been that one friend I know will never disappoint me. I have just recently picked up the violin. And it has undoubtedly been one of the best decisions of my life. From just listening to music to being a part of it has given an entirely new dimension to how I look at it. I have just started exploring the simplicities and complexities of music and it has been an amazing, enlightening experience so far. It's wonderful how much more you can learn from music. You

rarely find things in life that do not have a negative side to them. Music is undoubtedly one of them. I would genuinely encourage everyone to allow music to be an integral part of their lives, allow it to calm you down and pump you up. Allow it to make you happy and cry with you when need be. Allow it to be your one loyal companion in times of loneliness. Music and of course violin has given me that. I feel I have really grown up as a person. And the future right now at this age seems quite unpredictable but learning more and more music is the one thing I will always look forward to. Many happy music years to you!

Aditi Deshpande Indian Classical Vocal student @ RCA Till today, all the people I've met have a unique connect with music. So do I. It holds answers to everything. I can't stop myself from quoting a phrase from a song by the legends who created music, The Beatles: 'I wake up to the sound of music, whisper words of wisdom, let it be'. If someone asks me what music means to me, I say music is the ether of my life. It has changed me from being shy to confident and helps me radiate positivity. And being here at RCA has made me love music even more. Whether or not I achieve what I want, one thing remains constant: listen to good music and just keep learning!

Rohan Matai Western Vocal & Keyboard student @RCA I have been learning at RCA for the past one and a half years. RCA is a highly professional setup with very well and learned teachers. It's always fun learning here. I started learning music at the age of 13 and after 9 years the hunger to learn has still not been satisfied. I have been learning Western Vocals and Keyboards at RCA under the guidance of Shubham Sir. He is a great source of motivation and he really pushes us to excel. I will always cherish my days at RCA.

AUG - SEP 2015

Mr. Dixit Shah Indian Classical Vocal student @ RCA

Singing has gained me my confidence. Whenever I am out with my family & friends - I have noticed they like listening to me - which really makes me feel happy and proud. My singing basics has improved tremendously

Devdutt S. Chavda Drums student @ RCA I love music & RCA is a good platform for me to play music. RCA has got good atmosphere & ambiance. Playing musicval instrument is my hobby. I play drums as the drum beats helps express feelings like suspense, thrill and happiness. I also like noise but when made in rythem is fun. I get refreshed and enjay the co-ordination of hand & feet movement. I am also looking forward to join my school band. when I play drums I feel happy & relaxed.

Aakash Parikh Keyboard student @ RCA For me music has been a blessing. There are lot of things in life which makes things happen for me thats music. It gives me life. Music takes away all the worries, tension and creates a state of mind where everyone & everything becomes positive "Helps me to live the moment". Disconnecting from useless & connecting to self is the magnificent creation which is the connection of music.

Student Speak

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Shubhankar Kamat: Piano & Western Vocals Faculty, Vadodara When was the last time you felt a peculiar feeling, when you last heard your favourite song? Was it just now? Did you listen to that favourite groove and head-banged to it? Or did you just fall down on your recliner and

get lost into the blissful and soulful tunes of your favourite composer's violins and cellos? Whatever it was, it hit you. The MUSIC hit you. Its this unbelievable force that is almost as powerful as an explosion. Bob Marley, " The King of Reggae" said this beautiful line; "When Music hits you, you feel no pain!" There is music in almost everything we see. The rustling of the trees, the gargling of running water of a river, wind, even a car revving from 0 to 9000 rpm will sound like the rise and fall of pitch has music in it. It's only how the sound makes you feel inside that matters. Music has the ability to give expressions, ability to recognise moods and feelings of a person or rather give a person the correct ailment. It has healing powers proven better than medication. It can make you laugh, cry, feel rejoiced, refreshed but most of all, music has the ability to take you into your own world, albeit for a few moments. As far as

the Stone Age goes, Music has been an integral part of evolution. Just as it has evolved, so have the instruments. Each and every instrument we hear today has its own ability to touch the listener with its unique sound, going from softness to loudness, from being harsh to being soothing and calming at the same time. Over all, this humungous phenomenon is so vast, it has become an integral part of our lives. Whether you like it or not, Music is unbound, unhinged and it will always touch you with a peculiar feeling, which is undefinable but is always there. So if you want to have that feeling yourself, pick up a guitar, play a keyboard, find out who has Piano and go over there and just press the keys, blow into a flute or just strike the drums with two sticks. The noise which you make will turn out soon into something amazing; something which will hit you. The MUSIC will hit you.

Team RCA

Santosh Pawar:

Guitar Faculty Vadodara Making music disciples is a glorious quest. So, will we see ourselves as the next generation of ‘futures’ investors, making a difference in the lives of our students through sharing the gift of significant and rewarding music-making? ‘Mission impossible’ you say? No! We are privileged to share a great art form with our students and colleagues that has been inspiring followers since the dawn of time. All we have to do is share our love passion for music, supported by our pursuit of excellence, and provide opportunities for music to speak for itself.

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Ketan Rathod Guitar Faculty , Ahmedabad What listening to music does to us? “Without music, life would be a mistake” – Friedrich Nietzsche Music is far more powerful than language. It’s more than just a sweet candy treat to our ears. It crosses all boundaries of race, nationality and culture. Music is an important part of most people’s lives. Based on the archaeological record, music has been with our species for a very long time—as long as anything else. Its ubiquity and its antiquity demonstrate its importance to us: no known culture now or in the past lacks music. Mothers in every known culture sing songs to their infants, making music one of the newborn’s first experiences. No wonder, it is been called “the language of emotions” across cultures. Music, though it appears to be similar to features of language, is more rooted in the primitive brain structures that are involved in motivation, reward and emotion. Music is a tool for arousing emotions and feelings. Every avid listener knows the tremendous effects of music and the power it can have over our thoughts and emotions. Music can transform an ordinary day into something magical, even spiritual. It can provide solace, release strong sensations and more. The brain synchronizes neural oscillators with the pulse of the music, and starts to predict when the next strong beat will occur. The response to ‘groove’ is mainly unconscious; it is processed first through the cerebellum and amygdala rather than the frontal lobes. Music involves subtle violations of timing and, because we know through experience that music is not threatening, these violations are ultimately identified by the frontal lobes as a source of pleasure. The expectation builds anticipation, which, when met, results in the reward reaction. But effects of music spread further still: right up from our genetic code, through our thoughts and bodies and out into how we relate in groups. Some of the many influences of listening to music on our mind and body are as follows: Music,

- Boosts our memory - Improves our spatial reasoning skills - Enhances intelligence, learning and IQ - Makes us less anxious - Reduces stress and aids in relaxation - Repairs brain damage - Reduces seizures - Evokes colours in the mind - Gives us chills - Heals; gives relief in pain, both physical and emotional - Boosts immunity - Boosts creativity - Helps in healing chronic headaches and migraines - Improves concentration and attention - Improves physical performance - Improves productivity

The list would probably be endless. How powerfully these effects are felt or experienced depends on our personalities. People who are high on one of the five personality dimensions called ‘openness to experience’, are more likely to feel and absorb the effects while listening to music. However, you are encouraged to research, explore and see for yourself what listening music can do to you. You are also encouraged to disregard everything I have said and go on experiencing the magnificent trips, music will take you to. In the next issue, we will be talk about what learning a musical instrument does to us!

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Vivek Oswal : Music and brain development: Musical training increases brain volume and strengthens communication between brain areas. Playing an instrument changes how the brain interprets and integrates a wide range of sensory information, especially for those who start before age 7. These insights suggest potential new roles for musical training including fostering plasticity in the brain; have strong implications for using musical training as a tool in education; and for treating a range of learning disabilities. Playing a musical instrument can cause fundamental changes in a young person's brain, shaping both how it functions and how it is physically structured, researchers say. "Listening to and making music is not only an

auditory experience, but it is a multisensory and motor experience. Making music over a long period of time can change brain function and brain structure," says Gottfried Schlaug, MD, PhD—an expert on music, neuroimaging and brain plasticity from Harvard Medical School. Three Brain Benefits of Musical Training: Musicians have an enhanced ability to integrate sensory information from hearing, touch, and sight. The age at which musical training begins affects brain anatomy as an adult; beginning training before the age of seven has the greatest impact. Brain circuits involved in musical improvisation are shaped by systematic training, leading to less reliance on working memory and more extensive connectivity within the brain. I have adapted this from:https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201311/musical-training-optimizes-brain-function

Malhar Nayar Piano and Keyboard Faculty , Ahmedabad I think Music to be the best medium for expressions and connections. Music has the ability to define every mood and situation. Everyone just needs to feel it and get the right vibe. Music tends to produce positive vibes that every person needs. It’s a journey to Self-Satisfaction, Peace and Relaxation. Develop it as a hobby or profession, its always helpful. Music has helped me stand different amongst the crowd and be a positive person. Our positivity will always help others around us.

AUG - SEP 2015

Blitzkrieg A five piece thrash metal band comprising of Architects and engineers, also prone to short filmmaking. With Akshay Prakash on lead guitars, Hetan shah on rhythm guitars, Chinmay Deshpande on the drums, our bass man Shrujal Patel and Aaron Mathews on lead vocals, we believe in the power music has to unite people and to give a voice To the common man to be heard and well, the heavier it gets, the better. Starting off as Collage buddies and short film makers, the band reaches new levels of amazing and moves forward in its journey through rock n roll and metal to create their own individualistic identity.

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Band Of The Month

The NOTE-ATION Team: Devanshi, Sagar, Toshal

1 Light year Guitars – Max Decosta Bass – Priyank Soya Drums – Siddharth Shastri The trio band “1 Light year” started off in 2013. This band is based in Ahmedabad. Because of its unique sound & progressive rhythms, the band gained its popularity in the music scene. “1 Light year”is inspired by many Djent/ Progressive bands like skyharbor, tesseract, dead letter circus and many more. The band is working on its first album that is to be released by 2016. “1 Light year” did several shows in Ahmedabad including Rock studio. The sound of the band is more likely to get you there in space tripping with their Heavy but melodic riffs, groovy bass lines and progressive beats and breakdowns in their music. Thus “1 Light Year” is mostly known for their stage energy and amazingly power packed performance.

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