Indigenous music should be preserved

KOZHIKODE: Kenneth Bell, a freelance flute artist, who gained his Bachelor of Music Degree from Edinburgh University and now pursues a varied career as a solo, orchestral and studio session player, conductor, teacher and examiner, is for the first time in India for conducting exams for the Trinity Guildhall. He talks about his experience as a teacher, examiner and traveller in the realm of music. As a teacher, Kenneth Bell has given master classes at Trinity College of Music, London College of Music and Gothenburg Conservatoire. He has also conducted exams for the Trinity Guild Hall, London, in almost all the continents. He thinks the quality of students here in Kerala is very good and they have rich potential. Though, he points out that there is a different trend in the way of learning classical music among the students here. “The students here are mostly exposed to individual performances in instruments. The concept of orchestra is not finding its roots in India or anywhere else in the world,” says Kenneth. The veteran musician, who has written on flute and flute music for several music journals, believes that classical music is still enjoyed by a great majority though experimental music is coming out on the stands almost every other day.“The fluctuating economy of the world is influencing the music industry. The orchestras and ballet houses of the world are now finding it hard to mobilise funds. This has caused to bring down the sheen of classical western music in the world but there is still a huge audience loyal to the section of music,” he said.Lately, the Indian Bhangra, Bhajan and Ghazals have got into the syllabus of the Trinity College of Music, London. Asked about this, Kenneth says, “the folk music or the regional influences do shape changes in the classical music. The influence of Bollywood music which is at large in India has found its way to the Western classical music.”A staunch supporter of preserving the traditional music, Kenneth says: “Indigenous music of all the places should be preserved as it will be gone forever if there is not an attempt to preserve it.” The Scottish musician is also an ardent fan of the Indian classical music and listens to flute recitals of ragas for relaxation.