STORY OF SELF-LEARNING NARENDRA KHANDEKAR Harmonica cured my breathing problem! “My Harmonica journey started at age 12 or 13 when my father gave one due to health issues (breathing) I suffered unexpectedly. Someone told him to try it and it worked. Yes, Harmonica playing has many health benefits” A child starts learning right after birth. It grows & improves by observations, instructions & guidance. My Harmonica journey started at age 12 or 13 when my father gave one due to health issues (breathing) I suffered unexpectedly. Someone told him to try it and it worked. Yes, Harmonica playing has many health benefits. My father had a good music sense as he used to learn & play harmonium. I too used to try my hands on harmonium. By the time I finished schooling, I had developed great interest in music & harmonica. I used to visit Rhythm House in Mumbai city to

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING MADHUR YADAV At first, I could not even blow into flute properly, but never gave up. “Today, I play flute in a Live Band, religious programmes, meditation camps, etc.. Now People know me by the name of MADHUR BANSURI.” I am Madhur Yadav, 29 year’s old, living in Ludhiana ( Punjab) and by profession am an Accountant. From childhood I am fond of flute and always wished to play it. But, I regretted the financial problems in our home due to which my parents could not afford to get me a flute and I had to postpone my learning of this instrument. After clearing my B.Com., I joined an Accounts job in 2012.  But my Flute journey started in July 2017, when I bought one flute from a local vendors assuming that I would play it easily. But couldn’t even blow into it properly. That was the

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING PRADIP ADUR I never miss out playing on my childhood passion “I knew how to whistle songs by blowing and drawing my breath. So the same principle I applied on it and the first song that I somewhat got properly on my Harmonica was from the film Jugnu – “Pyaar ke is khel mein…”. I’m Pradip Adur, a Mumbai based retired senior, who worked as a Diesel Mechanic for a reputed company in Railway sector. Despite of hectic work schedule, I never missed out on enjoying my childhood passion of playing harmonica. I must have been around 14 years old when I first got introduced to the instrument being played by a performer in an orchestra during a Ganesh festival’s cultural programme. The musician played “Yaad kiya dil ne kaha ho tum…” in a small instrument which, I later found out, was called as mouthorgan (harmonica).  I

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING CHHAVI GUPTA I found solace in Flute after losing my husband to Covid “Now when I think about my future, bansuri has to be a vital part of it. I can’t imagine myself sleeping without playing it. Whenever I feel stressed be it day or night I pick up and start playing and learning.” Hi, I am chhavi . Since the time I remember my childhood, music always kept me interested. But as you grow up one tends to join the rat race and so did I. I used to play harmonium in the school . My 5th grade class teacher introduced me to bansuri which needed to be played in the assembly. I happily accepted the challenge and learnt from her for that particular month. After that the rat race made me forget, but the love for bansuri remained. Listening to songs I would never connect to the

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING RAMESH SRINIVASAN My handicap did not allow me to run about much. But, Harmonica gave me great pleasure “One of the first songs I tried was “Gadi bula rahi hai…” with lot of errors but soon I understood how to correct myself.  It was then that my father bought me a buttoned harmonica from Geneva. Practicing on it, I also learnt to use my tongue. “ It was when I was 10 years old that I was presented with an ordinary harmonica.  I had no idea of music or harmonica then.And then I saw my uncle playing harmonica.  Hearing my uncle play gave me urge to play and I opened the harmonica to see how the sound comes.  l had never learnt music but sang old Hindi songs just by listening to them many times.One of the first songs I tried was “Gadi bula rahi hai…” with

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING RETIKESH MALI I had nothing to do in my illness so I picked up Harmonica “In the illness I would not feel like doing anything.  Once while watching YouTube on my mobile, I came across this “Ye Dosti..” song.  When I use to hear this Sholay movie song in childhood, I used to think that I should try and play this instrument.” My story of learning harmonica is a bit strange.  It was because of my father that I developed an interest in music.  He used to sing Bhajans (devotional songs) and I probably picked up the basics from there.  Then as a child, I also learnt classical also for a couple of years.  But eventually due to academics I had to give up music.  Years later, when I was preparing for my Medical degree, I fell ill with Dengue.  I kept it a secret for my

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING BORHAN UDDIN BISHWAS, BANGLADESH I play flute even while I’m asleep! “I get little time to practice as I am into a private job. So, when I go to sleep I take my flute along with me and just practice finger movements without blowing and making sound, lest, others get disturbed. One thing that I believe is that only practice can me me perfect and I am on to it…” (Transcribed from his original script in Bangla, as given below)“The next thing that I love after my life is my Flute.  I am still trying to get hold of it by watching various tutorials on the internet.  I do a private job and hence get very little time to practice. So, when I go to sleep I take my flute along with me and just silently practice finger movements without blowing and making sound, lest, others get

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING ANIL SRIVASTAVA A Station Master who picked up from where his father left that flute “I used to pick up that flute anytime anywhere and would start practicing, which did bother my siblings because, I was very poor at playing Bansuri then. But, after about practice of six months, this song came out well on the flute and my siblings appreciated it.  My self-learning seems to have been rewarded of late as I entered the Top-10 in the N&S Instrumental Music Contest 2020” When I was about 10 years old kid, I often used to listen to my father playing “Peetal ki mori gaagri…” song on his Bansuri for my mother. My father was fond of playing Hindi film songs on Bansuri. But I don’t know why, when I was around 16 years, he suddenly gave up playing Bansuri. His instrument was left to gather dust at

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING MANUEL SEBASTIAN My ligament tear proved to be a boon in disguise​ Manuel Sebastian who hails from Kerala, is a Teacher by profession and a self taught acoustic guitar player. The way he plays the guitar will keep you wondering whether he actually did not learn it from a teacher. Recently, he enter the Top-10 in the Notes & Sargam Instrumental Music Contest 2020. Greetings to all music lovers… “Music drives you; it wakes you up, it gets you pumping ; And, at the end of the day, the correct tune will chill you down.”I am Manuel Sebastian, from Kerala, India. By profession I am a Commerce teacher in Little Flower School, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.I used to spend my leisure time in evening walk or badminton. Due to some leg ligament problems I couldn’t continue with the outdoor activities. Around two years back to utilize my leisure

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING DR UDAY CHAND DAS An ENT Specialist who learnt Hawaiian Guitar by himself Dr Uday Chand Das, a Dubai based ENT specialist, is passionate about painting and music. He plays the Hawaiian Guitar with amazing dexterity.  Hard to believe that he learnt this difficult instrument all by himself. He has a huge fan following on social media. Recently, he won the 2nd Runner Up  prize in the Notes & Sargam Instrumental Music Contest 2020. My name is Udaya Chand Das, an ENT Surgeon, currently practicing in Dubai.Since I was a child I had keen eyes and ears for fine arts and music. At the age of 12, it was luckily noticed by my music teacher in school, who took special interest and kept encouraging me.One of my very close friends at school was learning Hawaiian Guitar. I was thoroughly impressed by him and wanted to do the

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING DR SHASHANK SINGH A Medical Doctor who is learning the Bansuri by himself Dr Shashank Singh is fond of music and learning the nuances of Bansuri all by himself.  Absence of a Guru could not deter him from pursuing his passion for learning Bansuri. Besides winning appreciation from his listeners he has also secured a spot in Top-25 in the Notes & Sargam Instrumental Music Contest 2020. Well I don’t know how to start….Actually I’m a passionate musician who is learning music and growing as musician with each passing day. I’m 27 year old and a doctor by profession.I started my musical journey 3 years ago, when I bought 1 flute from local vendors assuming that I can play it easily. But couldn’t even blow it properly. That was the time I knew the things are going to be really hard. But due to irregular and long

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING MILIND BHAGWAT A self-taught Bansuri & Melodica Player Milind has learnt to play Bansuri and Melodica all by himself.  He never got a chance to learn from a Guru. But his melodious rendition of music, has won him many applauds – latest being the Runner Up prize in the Notes & Sargam Instrumental Music Contest 2020. “Greetings to all viewers and subscribers of Facebook Page, YouTube Channel and website of Notes & Sargam.comI am Milind Bhagwat, 56. I am originally from Mumbai, Maharashtra, but residing in Ghana, West Africa, for few years now. Like most of you, I also had liking and passion for music since my childhood, but it was limited to listening only. During early childhood, ‘Binaka Geet Mala’ used to be my favorite radio program, followed by various others, all the way up to ‘Bela Ke Phool’ just before falling asleep. Later on, when

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING Ekla Cholo Re…​ “Soon, I was able to play the Sa Re Ga Ma… fluently. Then I started devoting some serious time on Youtube (which, I confess, could have got me a job instead!) in brushing up my flute practice. And, yes, it paid off. Very soon, I think may be in two months time, I was able to play some very common tunes on flute.” My name is Prashant. A 40+, Delhi-based digital marketing professional with a deep rooted love for music. It was my childhood dream to play this wonderful instrument called Bansuri (Flute). Tried out many times but failed. Tried to find a Guru, could not find someone whom I could afford.Few years ago, in 2012, to be precise, one fine day I saw a Bansuriwala carrying a load of Basuris on a pole and immediately went upto him and bought one Bansuri. Did

STORY OF SELF-LEARNING K M SRIDHAR I never imagined that I would learn it myself “It was in my 2nd UG that a brother of mine had asked me to accompany him for a full 1 hour program. In this I had to learn many pieces in different ragas. Hence, I would say that experience exposed me to music. I learnt what to practice.” The first time I enjoyed flute was in my 12th standard, when I heard Shashank sir (Vidwan Shashank Subramaniam, the Carnatic Flute Prodigy) play live. I never imagined that I would get an opportunity to learn it myself. During the holidays from 12th to 1st UG, my father had got me a flute.In our institute there is a lot encouragement given to music, and hence I started picking up pieces whenever I was asked to accompany singers. It was in my 2nd UG that a brother