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 Hindustãni vocal music training and music-life, I present excerpts from my teens and twenties in India and abroad. My first 25 years in music.

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

* Early years :

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 Ali Akbar khan and Ravi Shankar. Students of music like me had their blessings.
Formerly my stage performance began singing classical prayers-bhajans of Lata Mangeshkar. Around my age of nine I was prized by one of my most favourite film legends Raj Kapoor for a prayer and a Bhairavi composed by Ravi Shankar.

Alongside schooling I loved to perform khayals such as kahe sakhi in raga Yaman, bhajans such as Prabhuji or Niranjani of pandit Jasraj and began formal training in Hindustani classical vocal music since my age of nine from Vilas Khandekar. 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. Khandekar-ji who called himself a shikshak-an academic teacher ably taught the Hindustani music system required for my masters-exams. He was not a performing vocalist of a tradition or gharana.

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 and 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. Thus my training in the Mewati traditions of my guru Pandit Jasraj-ji began in India in my teenage.

I loved dancing kathak for a few years, learned Hindi & Sanskrit for vocal music and was fond of Bengali, French & other languages, attended a yoga-school with formal schooling, wholeheartedly supported by my beloved parents.

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

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