dsubrahmanyam's blog

My association with music is from childhood. My first guru was my mother who was a All India Radio artist in first at Vijayawada and then in Hyderabad radio stations. From childhood I had an ear for music. When I was in my eight class it self I used to play any song on veena though I had a very little knowledge of raga and tala. But systematic learning of music started only when I was in my post graduation. I joined in Government college of Music and Dance, Ramkothi, Hyderabad. I was a fast lerner. My music lecturer Late Sri Vasa Padmanabha Rao was an exponent in both vocal and veena. He gave me full encouragement in teaching fingering techniques of veena. He used to give special training whenever he used to free time. Even when I was in my first year I used to take classes for 2^nd year students in addition to the my fellow students. My first stage performance was when I was in my second year. I along with 2 other students performed one Thyagaraja Kriti  on occasion of College Anniversary Day. My head of department at that time was Late Sri Pappu Someshwara Rao garu who also appreciated my efforts. I learning continued for three years. It was rather a hectic schedule for me. Morning I used to attend classes in OU till evening and from there I used to directly go to the Music college and attend classes up to 7 pm and by the time I return home it is usually 8 pm in the evening. Then I had to discontinue music as I had been selected in ONGC directly on one condition that I had to produce my PG degree before joining the commission. My selection for commission was done before I completed my final PG exams. I bid farewell to all my friends of Music college and left to Chennai where I was posted. My both teachers strongly advised me not to discontinue my learning as I had a very good hand but alas I could not continue due to my job. My brother who could continue has completed his diploma in Vocal and now is in Navodaya schools as Music teacher.

My father as a musicologist has programmed carnatic classical music on computers (BBC MICRO COMPUTER) wayback in 1989 and presented the same in Madras Music academy on invitation from Dr. M.Balamurali Krishna who came to our house and listened to the songs and very much impressed.

Though I discontinued classical music I am still in regular touch by listening to the greats like MS Subbalaxmi, Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna, Lalgudi G. jayaraman, etc. Not only carnatic but also Hindustani greats like Pannalal Ghosh, Hariprasad Chourasia, Bhimsen Joshi etc etc � Greats really.

Film music also inspires me equally. OK I like old songs very much. Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Assamese etc. Language is not a barrier for music. What all it needs is interest and ear for it. Even now I do sing in some parties and got a name in my offices Mumbai region and Chennai region as a good singer. Thank god for that J