 What will a percussionist do in his spare time … perhaps teach. Excess time well spent. Now what if he can teach in just three months. A record challenger. That’s exactly what upcoming percussionist in the city, Muralikrishnan pulled off on Sunday evening. His troupe of 30-odd students performed at the Vani Mahal, T Nagar, to a packed audience after elaborate lessons in drumming for three months during summer!!!
Spilling out of an innate desire to teach, Muralikrishnan's school came into being in Nandanam and almost immediately received enquiries from all over the city mostly from parents who wished for a summer option for their wards. In April, a sizeable number was gathered and on 6th April 2003, Jus Drums was born. The structure of syllabus was simple and framed in a manner to encourage and not dissuade students. What followed were rigorous tutoring sessions, which finally bore fruit on Sunday.
The audience glowed and listened with rapt attention as proceedings began with 5-year-old Pranav Srinivasan, the youngest participant, who reached great heights, hammering away at a drum, set to his size at the behest of his tutor. A Jugalbandi followed with the kanjira, mridangam, piano and of course drums. There were renditions of Hotel California, Breathless, Vaseegara, Love Story, and solo performances on various compositions including traditional koothu. But the soul of the event that left the audience breathless were two surprise performances.
The curtains were drawn and when it lifted the sight was incredulous. Packed from the left to the right expanse of the stage were young drummers with strange paraphernalia in hand. There were water cans, biscuit tins, Pepsi cans, asbestos sheets, cartons et al to underline the fact that anything that generated sound and rhythm was musical. The sequel was even more enthralling. Captivating the audience was an approx 10-minute rendition of pulsating and rhythmic koothu beats.
The grand evening was made even more special with the presence of ace percussionist from the film industry, Purushothaman, who is involved in music maestro Ilayaraja’s haunting numbers, and playback singer Malgudi Shuba who encouraged and awarded the students with certificates.
Late in the evening, and it was time to depart, parents and distinguished guests were in praise of the tutor for his signal achievement but the greatest compliment as they say comes from your students. “He is God, he has taught me everything I wanted to know” quipped a progeny.
Interview
 Three months ago percussionist Muralikrishanan made a few tongues wag when he sought to instruct drumming lessons to students in three months flat. Parents enrolled their wards for the summerclasses 'Jus Drums' rather cautiously. Three months down the line and the same children performed on Sunday at the Vani Mahal , T Nagar to the surprise of dissuaders and the delight of parents. In the midst of the celebration, Chennaionline caught up with the tutor, Muralikrishnan, for a tete- a –
tete:
Your proposal seems high spirited. How did you stumble on it?
I always wanted to teach but somehow never got down to it as there were several hurdles. Time was a crucial deterrent. Finally this year, I decided to allocate time and give it a try. My inspiration was the generation of today, which is extremely fast and talented. Summers are when children are free so I decided to begin then. I started with the intention of beginning a centre at my place in Nandanam but received maximum enquiries from Anna Nagar. This raised another obstacle. I needed a place in Anna Nagar. A friend of mine willingly offered me a room in Crazy Planet, an Entertainment & Communications Centre which he owns. So when so many things fell in place easily, I decided to go ahead with my plan. 'Jus Drums' was then born.
Did you always want to be a percussionist?
Absolutely, I always wanted to be one. I started from my school days. I was in the band there. Now I have been playing for a decade and am an active part of a band called 'Just Fusion'.
Tell us something about your background.
I began playing the mrindangam first. That was my introduction to rhythm and sound. Slowly I graduated to the drums. It's been ten years now.
Do you think a drummer is set apart from other musicians in any way ?
A drummer can improvise; his rhythm can be easily regulated and is flexible. Moreover, he is extremely spontaneous.
 Is it necessary to have a general knowledge of rhythm to learn to drum?
Rhythm is pivotal. But it can be picked up. Don’t people who have ordinary voices train and modulate it to sound mellifluous? Similarly rhythm and a sense of timing will come with practice.
Have you dabbled with any other instrument so far?
No. I have been extremely dedicated to percussion and play only percussion instruments.
What advise would you give young and aspiring drummers ?
Take time and chose your guru. Then listen to him and trust him completely. Practice hard. Practice is like investing in a nationalised bank. It keeps storing and gaining interest and then you can draw from it whenever you wish to. Use it to grow and develop yourself.
Where do you see yourself from here?
I do not have set-goals as they keep evolving. But I wish to work hard and develop my music. I also believe that you can’t have goals in music. If you do, then you claim to know music in its entirety, which no one can. It's like walking on a razor’s edge. For the moment, I am contented and wish to pursue my music.
Vanessa Joseph
|
Percussion for kids
