Shweta Jhaveri / My Memoirs in Music

" My Memoirs in Music " by Shweta Jhaveri

A thing of beauty is a joy forever - in the spirit of this favourite Keatsian line I present a few of my memoirs in music. Whether it is the present, past or future, sweet memories stay forever. Often suggested by my wellwishers and students in general to write something about my training and music-life, I present excerpts from my teens and twenties in India and abroad. My first 25 years in music.

* My Hindustani Classical Vocal Music training

Early years training
The Guru-shishya traditions
My beginnings abroad at the AACM

* Early years training :

Around my age of twelve I performed a Hindustani vocal solo in my hometown, followed by brief solos in a concert series by SurSingaar and Saptak that had hosted music legends like ustad AliAkbar khan and pandit RaviShankar. Students of music like me had their blessings. Formerly singing classical songs I was prized by one of my most favourite film legends Raj Kapoor for singing raga Bhairavi.

Alongside schooling I was midway preparing for exams in Hindustani classical vocal music as suggested by my music teacher Vilas khandekar under whom I had begun formal training since my age of nine. When he was teaching me how to change the taanpura strings-the drone for vocal music, I could hardly reach the other side of the taanpura and it was quite a work for us. Khandekar-ji who called himself a shikshak-an academic teacher ably taught the Hindustani music system required for the exams. He was not a performing vocalist and did not sing the gharana or tradition.

I had then heard Pandit Jasraj perform a concert in my hometown. Upon the request of the organizer-friend of my father I sang one of Pandit Jasraj-ji's bhajans backstage. He blessed me saying we will meet sometime. In a couple of years we were happily surprised to see him at our home with a host on their way to Sanand where he was hosted. My training in raaga Bhairav had then begun singing the memorised passed on traditions in Hindustani vocal music. Alongside I had earned an m.mus.degree under the guidance of Khandekar-ji. Thus my academic training under khandekar-ji and training to perform in the mewati traditions of my guru Pandit Jasraj-ji simultaneously began in India, with their consent in my teenage.

I loved dancing kathak for a few years. For vocal music I loved learning Sanskrit for a few years besides Hindi, was fond of Bengali, French & other languages. Attending a yoga-school helped my music, with formal schooling at the Vidyavihar and the GLS high-school, wholeheartedly supported by my beloved parents.

Next Excerpts :
The Guru-shishya Traditions :
My beginnings abroad at the AACM :

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