The silence of all growing things-
Reflections on my Artist-in-Residence at
Dhvani India Performing Arts Society of Central Ohio.

by RANJANI SIVAKUMAR

In the tapestry of a musician’s life, there are moments that stand out as transformative – periods of growth, introspection, and artistic evolution.

My two-month artist-in-residence programme in the United States through Dhvani, was one such pivotal experience – a journey that not only honed my musical abilities but also deepened my understanding of the universal language of music.

A Songbird in Ohio

Husssh !

I remember this quote from Pico Iyer’s book –

“In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow.

In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention.

And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.”

As I stepped into Shankar’s home, my eyes caught the two beautiful Ramjhi tamburas that stood like two guards by the piano.

One set to C the male shruti and another for female pitch G, crafted meticulously and picked with care.

Jetlagged, I woke up at an ungodly hour to sit and tune them up in his library room full of interesting books and Akhila’s toys.I had to restring the female tambura with the strings that i had gotten and slowly as they aligned with shruti – dawn broke.

I saw for the first time, red cardinals shoot across his beautiful garden full of wildflowers as if they were competing with the rays of morning light.I sang the ragam Bairavi for hours, with absolutely no goal in mind.I sang the varnam Viriboni, wondering about a passage that came in it, moving in and out of alapana and then back to the varnam.

With no aim in mind , it felt so though I was walking through the woods admiring the beauty of it, stopping to stare at a flower here – a note there !
The setting presented to me an unexpected collaborator in my journey: silence.

Away from the familiar cacophony of daily life, I found myself enveloped in a quietude that was intimidating and liberating, all at once.I understood the luxury that was time and the opulence in silence.

This silence became a canvas upon which I could project my musical thoughts, allowing them to resonate and evolve without interruption. It was in these moments of stillness that I truly began to understand the quote which we often hear : “Music is the silence between the notes.”

A Songbird in Ohio

The value that silence brings

Silence cultivates a heightened state of awareness, allowing the mind to clear extraneous thoughts and distractions. In this quiet state, one becomes more attuned to subtle details and variations that might otherwise go unnoticed. This sharpened perception enables a deeper appreciation of nuance in music, art, conversation, and life itself, fostering a more profound and rich experience.

A songbird at large, trills with glee,
Outshines cicadas, charms each bee.
Her stage? A branch in full bloom,
The garden is abuzz – standing-room only, i assume!
The tambura’s drone, a sacred hum,
Peels away the world’s loud sum.
Inward bound, on sound waves riding,
I find my true self hiding.

A Songbird in Ohio

Meet & Greet

The “meet and greet” organized allowed me the joy of being with my students and their families whom I had interacted with over the period of three years through Zoom lessons, virtually.I had begun teaching for Dhvani music school during the pandemic and never met my students in person until here. We had a good evening of music and food.

A few weeks after my student hosted a party where we bonded even more over music and food. I have a fond memory of a nonagenarian aunty reciting a bhajan made popular by Jagjit Singh ji every word intact without the need for lyrics from the phone or a book. The fascinating way in which memory works when it comes to the recall of an old song always has me stunned.

A Songbird in Ohio

A bird’s eye view

At the outset, the structure of the residency program was thoughtfully designed to encompass three broad categories ,each offering unique opportunities for growth and engagement.

The first of these involved interaction with the local desi and non desi community.

As part of this, I had the privilege of interacting with students enrolled in the masters’ program for music education at the Capital University.This was not merely about imparting knowledge; it was a cultural exchange, a bridge between Eastern and Western musical traditions. The lecture I prepared traced the evolution of pedagogy , notation , oral tradition and innovation in teaching methods that are central to Carnatic music.

“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

As I shared the intricacies of Indian classical music with these aspiring educators, I witnessed the power of music to transcend cultural boundaries.I opened with a Tanam in Amritavarshini while playing the tambura and the presentation I had prepared helped me add visual cues to the historical aspects that I traced.

A Songbird in Ohio

The students’ curiosity and openness to new musical paradigms reminded me of the importance of a cultural dialogue in our increasingly interconnected world. Their questions challenged me to articulate concepts I had long taken for granted, deepening my own understanding in the process.

The second instance of such an engagement brought me face-to-face with the music teachers in the Dublin school district. Our group discussions were a melting pot of ideas, methodologies, and philosophies.We explored the challenges of music education in the 21st century, debating how to keep traditional forms relevant while embracing new technologies and changing student demographics.

These conversations with fellow educators were invaluable, offering fresh perspectives on pedagogy and reminding me of the noble responsibility we share in nurturing the next generation of musicians and rasikas/listeners.It was heartening to see how, despite our diverse backgrounds, we all shared a common goal: to ignite a passion for music in young minds.We discussed topics like the role of memory , how to mix fun , community singing , the role of repetition, comparing painters skills to musicians in creating art , developing skills , flow of art ect.

Perhaps my most joyous moment in this category came on my third instance of being able to engage with a group of 130 children in the local school, introducing them to the wonders of Indian classical music.

I chose to present my fave poet Arun Kolatkar’s poem – “Yellow Butterfly” through passages in the ragam Mohanam.The wide-eyed/earned wonder with which they listened to the patterns ,their uninhibited attempts to mimic the vocal passages, and their genuine curiosity is a memory i will keep returning to to stay motivated.The sonic experience of 130 kids singing the notes of Mohanam in unison as one voice all thinking of a flapping yellow butterfly is a memory to cherish – my precious.

In these moments, watching the young faces light up with the joy of realizing that music is a vast and varied landscape waiting to be explored, I was reminded of my own childhood journey into the world of music. It reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of early musical education and the importance of exposing children to diverse musical traditions.

The second dimension was my regular lessons with the students. The palpable connection we could build in the real world as opposed to our usual set up on Zoom ( virtual world) meant that our practice went deeper. We worked on many aspects like posture , breath and enunciation. Physical proximity allowed us the space to explore sound production – how to round a vowel, how to manage breath while singing a song and also how to forget all of what we know and discuss and give into singing with abandon.

A Songbird in Ohio

The third category of the program took me across the country, to the bustling tech hub of SFO and Seattle ,to the sun-soaked shores of San Diego, and back to the heartland charm of Columbus.

Each concert was a unique experience, an opportunity to share the beauty of carnatic classical music with diverse audiences. The attentiveness of the listeners, their willingness to embark on a musical journey was deeply moving.At each of these places I teamed up with the talented Vidvans in the area whom I enjoyed interacting with on stage. The camaraderie we shared on stage had people wonder if we were friends from childhood but nay that was the power of the music itself that we all enjoyed creating whilst being vulnerable with each other on stage with a focus on enjoying the ride.

These performances were not just about showcasing my art; they were about creating a space for cultural understanding and appreciation. In the applause that followed each concert, I sensed a growing bridge of empathy and curiosity—a testament to the power of music to unite hearts across cultural divides.

Interspersed throughout the program and the travel that it demanded were my one-on-one sessions with students eager to deepen their musical sadhana.We delved into the nuances of ragams, explored the subtleties of talam , we spent quality time with the manual tambura and discussed the calming aspects of having a musical practice in one’s lifestyle. Having students of different age groups meant that I had to fine tune my lesson to suit their ask.Each one had had a different longing to be with music , one was there for the peace it offered , another was keen to build their competence ,children were curious and some even bored. To stoke an interest in the bored ones and revive rusty learning of another asked of me to dig deeper and find the perfect frequency to meet them and address their needs.

A particular highlight was sharing my knowledge about the tambura, of the gentle drone that forms the backbone of Indian classical music. I liked it to the canopy under which the music unfolds itself.

Explaining its construction, ways of tuning and the crucial role it holds in maintaining shruti (pitch) awareness led to fascinating discussions about the philosophy of sound and its place in a spirituality.(mumbo jumbo aside)

As I reflect on these two months, I am struck by how this well-rounded program provided me with a safe space to ponder, wonder, and create. The variety of engagements—from academic lectures to school visits, from public concerts to private tuitions—created a rich tapestry of experiences that challenged and nourished me as an artist and educator.

Introspection allows musicians to deeply examine their artistic motivations and creative processes.By reflecting on our strengths and weaknesses, we can identify areas for improvement and set meaningful goals.This exercise of self-awareness fosters authenticity in the work we present, enabling us to develop a unique voice and style. Ultimately, introspection fuels personal and artistic growth, pushing musicians to continually evolve and challenge our own limitations.

“The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
– Henry Van Dyke

This quote resonates deeply with my experience. The program reminded me that every voice, every musical tradition, has its place in the grand symphony of human culture. It encouraged me to sing my song, to share my musical heritage, and to listen with an open heart to the songs of others.

As I returned home, I carried with me not just new musical ideas and teaching strategies, but a renewed sense of purpose. The silence that initially seemed intimidating had become a wellspring of creativity. The diverse engagements have broadened my perspective on music’s role in education and cultural exchange.

And the connections forged with fellow musicians, educators, and music lovers has reinforced my belief in music’s power to build bridges across cultures.

A Songbird in Ohio

This artist-in-residence experience was more than just a professional development opportunity; it was a journey of self-discovery, a reminder of why I chose the path of music. In the quietude of those two months, amidst the lectures, discussions, and performances, I rediscovered the joy of creation, the thrill of sharing knowledge, and the profound satisfaction of connecting with others through the universal language of music.

As I continue on my musical journey, I carry with me the lessons, inspirations, and connections from this transformative experience—a testament to the enduring power of music to educate, unite, and elevate the human spirit.