Musically yours: Rohan Krishnamurthy speaks his mind

"After the initial process of “getting used to” all things in India, it’s been exciting and enjoyable exploring the many facets of Chennai and meeting many of my friends in the Indian music scene.”

It is said that music knows no boundaries and international percussion performer, Rohan Krishnamurthy, a PhD candidate in musicology at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York, proves it further.

Talking about his experience of being in India as part of his dissertation, Rohan says, “I came to Chennai in August to conduct fieldwork for my PhD dissertation in musicology. My dissertation topic explores the musical, social, and cultural impact of virtual music lessons in Carnatic percussion. After the initial process of “getting used to” all things in India, it’s been exciting and enjoyable exploring the many facets of Chennai and meeting many of my friends in the Indian music scene.”

The musician, who believes that Indian classical music, in general, and Carnatic music, in particular, is one of the most complex and well-developed systems of music in the world, was recently invited to give presentations at the Acoustical Society of America’s international conference in Kansas City and at AR Rahman’s K M Conservatory of Music and University of Madras on cross-cultural composition and musicianship.

Rohan, who is finalising the process of manufacturing a new mridangam design, has plans on starting an Indian percussion studio in the US. Revealing about it, he says, “After completing my PhD, I have plans of establishing an Indian percussion studio at an American university where students can receive advanced degrees in Indian percussion. Focusing both on theory and practice, I want students to receive professional-level training in music performance, history, theory, and cultural studies, and emerge as creative and informed contributors to the fast-changing international music industry.”