Indian Music Performance Benefits Science Program

A Northwest Academy family played classical Indian music in the Blue Box Theater as a raising $200 for the school’s science program this month.

Kapila and Sushruta Chandramouli and their parents Sreevidhya Chandramouli and Chandramouli Narayanan played the vina, a traditional, plucked string instrument originating in ancient India, dating back to the 16th century. Sashi Srinivas accompanied them on mridangam, a traditional double-headed drum, which also comes from ancient India, dating back to at least the 12th century.

While the arts program at Northwest Academy is well-funded and supported by performances and expositions, the science program has little recourse to raise money.

“There’s a lot that goes into the art program as well, in the sense that we have a lot of shows and theater productions that fund the art program, but not as much for science,” Sushruta Chandramouli said.

Northwest Academy has a commitment to integrating academics and the arts. The money raised went towards furthering this integration.

“We have a lot of teachers who are trying to bring art into the science program, and I think it’ll support that cause,” Sushruta Chandramouli said.

The vina and South Indian classical music has been passed down in the Chandramouli family for 11 generations, stretching back to the 1700s. Sreevidhya Chandramouli continues the tradition by teaching classes as well as her two sons.

“Whenever I come home my mom is teaching classes, and over the weekends, so you can never escape the sound anywhere in the house,” Sushruta Chandramouli said. “Even while you’re doing homework, you kind of get used to listening.”

Chandramouli Narayanan also helps his wife teach classes on the weekends. The music is a very prevalent part of the household, and the boys have been well immersed even before they started learning to play at the age of five.

“I learn many songs just through listening to my mom teach, even if it’s in the background.” Sushruta Chandramouli said.

Sreevidhya Chandramouli and Chandramouli Narayanan also run a non-profit organization called Dhvani to educate about Indian music and culture. They have a yearly program at the Intel campus for Sreevidhya Chandramouli’s students and anyone else who can play or sing Indian music. The organization focuses on the teaching of Indian classical music, sometimes hosting prominent teachers and experts.