Atlanta Dunia

"As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a singer. It even = showed up in=20 my drawings as a child, where my favorite theme would be me singing to = an=20 audience," remembers Krishnakali. Singing definitely did not remain a = childhood=20 fantasy for this prodigious powerhouse of talent, who, after blazing a = trail in=20 India, is now settled in Atlanta, pursuing what she loves best - music.=20 Krishnakali, born to a armyman father and a physician mother, first = learnt the=20 joy of music when, as a child she heard her mother recite shlokas and = bhajans.=20 Despite having to move from city to city, Krishnakali managed to break = all=20 records in Hindustani classical vocal music at the Jivaji Rao University = in=20 Gwalior, from where she graduated. So formidable was her talent even at = that=20 young age, that she was selected to be part of the University Curriculum = Development Committee, a position never before given a student. =
Today, she=20 conducts vocal, keyboard and tabla classes in Atlanta, teaching music = evenings=20 and weekends. "Even though it's a hectic schedule, music recharges and = relaxes=20 me," she says. So, even as ghazals remain a private passion with her,=20 Krishnakali derives her strength in being able to teach singing to even = those=20 who don=92t have a musical ear . "With students who have reached a = plateau, I help=20 break their barriers to take them to the next level. I teach a = progressive=20 system of applied music theory and technique.
The concepts covered = are=20 easily and intuitively applied to any style of music be it ghazals, = bhajans or=20 film songs." Although Krishnakali makes it sound simple, there are other = issues.=20 "Unlike India, where students were mostly children,in the US there are = more=20 adults. Training those adults with no musical background to where they = become=20 well versed in the art has been a challenge. But I have seen that those = who=20 start music late in life compensate with their dedication and = perseverance," she=20 points out.
She selects students on the basis of their keenness to = learn and=20 an abiding interest in music. Says she, "My music school has grown well, = but I=20 would like to open other centers in town once I am able to fit in more = in my=20 available sliver of time." Does she find it tough to coach students who = have not=20 been born into an Indian milieu? "As for teaching students who were born = and=20 brought up here without much = knowledge of=20 classical music or Hindi, I start them from their point of interest and = then=20 slowly expose them to the classical relevance of it. Soon they are able = to grasp=20 and enjoy the richness of the classical heritage and its application," = she says=20 simply.
Krishnakali, who was tutored in the ghazal gayaki by Vinod = Kumarji,=20 the music director of Gwalior radio station back in India, also sees a = growing=20 acceptance of Indian music along with the popularity of Yoga and Eastern = philosophy. "Indian spiritual chants and classical fusion are now well=20 appreciated in the American crowd. Bhangras are now being played in = night=20 clubs," she notes. As for herself, Krishnakali touches base with her=20 counterparts in the field of music in India, by refreshing her skills by = doing=20 musical sittings and performances with other talented muscicians. "In = America my=20 students with their varied interests keep me abreast of the latest = goings on in=20 the field of music," she says happily. While Krishnakali has done = several=20 performances a month when she was in Michigan before moving to Atlanta a = year=20 and a half ago, she would like to see more research to be conducted on = music=20 therapy. "It=92s a wellknown fact that plants grow better with music and = that=20 music increases the mathematical abilities in children. Certain raagas = are known=20 to be therapeutic for certain diseases. I would like research to probe = if there=20 is a correlation between the seven charkas ,the seven notes of the = saptak and=20 the seven colors of the rainbow," she muses.
For this winner of = several=20 prestigious awards (first prize in the All India Classical competition, = TISS=20 Bombay 1987,the coveted Jivaji Rao Scindia silver shield for her = performance in=20 the All India ghazal competition, Gwalior in 1985) her mother remains = her=20 inspiration in life and the arts. "Though herself a successful = physician, she=20 never pushed me towards medicine, instead inspired and encouraged me = whenever I=20 faltered in my pursuit of music. Dad was transferred from place to place = every=20 three years and Mom would have to seek out good teachers in every city. = Being=20 herself a good singer and artist she nurtured our interests and talent = in oil=20 painting , ceramics, Batik, badminton, and kathak besides music." =
But for=20 Krishnakali, it is music that has ultimately been the spice of life. = Play=20 on.
Krishnakali can be reached at = 678-417-8738 home=20 and 404-697-7404 cell. email:krishnakali@yahoo.com

StudentSpeak
Prerana=20 Vyas
Principal/Consultant
I was actually looking for a = music=20 teacher to learn Hindustani vocal music. I looked around, and was about = to=20 enroll in the Jasraj School of Music when an uncle I have known for = sometime=20 mentioned about Krishnaji. Her house was close by, (though later when = she moved,=20 I followed her) and he praised her passion for music, and so wanted to = try out=20 for couple of sessions to see if it worked. My goal was to learn = Hindustani=20 classical vocal music.

From the first day itself, I have been = impressed=20 with Krishnaji's persistence and passion for music. I have been her = student for=20 over a year and half now, and every time, she continues to inspire me. = Lot of=20 her students are adults, and it takes a lot of persistence to teach = adults,=20 since you are dealing with voice that has not been trained for years. = She is=20 such a perfectionist that she insists on getting the notes right first, = and she=20 continuously innovates on how she can help us learn and practice better. = Krishnaji understands the busy lifestyle here, and constantly comes up = with new=20 ideas on how we can get the most out of our practice in the limited = times. For=20 example, for "murkis" , she suggests that we can practice those while = cooking,=20 driving, etc. Very rarely have I seen teachers think so out of the box, = and so=20 willing to help their students.

One incident that really moved me = a lot=20 happened in one of my solo lessons. Krishnaji had really been working = very hard=20 on me to get some complicated modulations correctly, and one day, I got = it right=20 , and she was so moved that she was in tears. My voice or my music is = nothing=20 compared to hers, and I am still a beginner student, but her regard for = music=20 truly inspired me that day. Apparently, the fact that I was trying, = moved her.=20 If she sees the dedication and commitment in a student, she gets = inspired to=20 teach more. She never discourages new ideas, and constantly innovates. = She=20 always encourages feedback on her lessons.

Most music teachers = are always=20 placed on a pedestal, and it is hard to relate to them, but Krishnaji = shows you=20 the path of getting there, and tries in smaller steps to get you there. = One of=20 the quotes that applies here is, "Guru Govind saamne khade, kaake laagu = paay,=20 balihari gurudev ki, jinhe Govind diyo batay". (Guru and Govinda [Lord = Krishna]=20 are standing before me, and I am confused on who should I offer my = obeisances to=20 first. My thanks goes to my guru because of whom I have seen Govinda=20 today.")

The gurus are considered more important since they = introduce you=20 to a world of knowledge - without them, you would still be an ignorant = person=20 living your mundane life. I feel that I have been truly blessed - like = she says,=20 when you start learning music, you realize that you have just stepped = into a=20 deep ocean. I am glad that I have found the right teacher and guide in = Krishnaji=20 for this long and pleasant journey.

Venkat Reddy Mondeddu
Software = consultant
We=20 have a six year old daughter, and since middle of last year, my wife and = I were=20 searching to find a musician who could teach Indian vocal music to our = daughter.=20 We had approached an Indian music school in July of last year and met = the music=20 teacher. He briefly explained various programs he was offering and told = us that=20 he would send us detailed information including class schedules via = mail. We=20 never received any information from him since then. After a few months, = we saw=20 an advertisement in Khabar magazine from Ms Krishnakali and we met her. = My wife=20 and I were really impressed by listening to her credentials and the way = she took=20 time to explain to us with immense patience. We thought we were lucky to = have an=20 expert musician move from Detroit to Atlanta. Since November of last = year my=20 daughter started attending Hindustani classical vocal and Keyboard = classes. Our=20 daughter is really enjoying learning music from Krishnakali and she = really=20 picked up a lot so far. I highly recommend Ms Krishnakali to all those = (both=20 adults and children) that are interested in learning Indian music (both = vocal=20 and instrumental). Please feel free to contact me if you like to talk to = me=20 about our experiences sending our daughter to her for learning classical = music.

Mrs. Geeta Patel
Owner Hilton Hotel ,=20 Alpharetta
I take solo lessons from Krishnaji. In the time I = have=20 taken classes I have come very close to her and noted some very unique = qualities=20 in her. She has a very special ability in music , not only in vocal but = also=20 instrumental music , an ability which she developed by specific training = under=20 the direction of accomplished performers and at the same time excelling = in=20 academic studies. Krishnakaliji has talent which has been sparked by=20 imagination, enthusiasm and perseverance. I have observed that she is=20 thouroughly familiar with the subject areas in which she offers = instructions.=20 She is absolutely at peace when teaching such a complicated and = demanding=20 subject.

Ms. Sari Ramzan
Pre-med = student
During my=20 search for music enlightenment, I was lead to Krishnakaliji. Ever since = my first=20 encounter I have come to learn more about Indian classical music than I = could=20 ever imagine. Being an American , Krishnakaliji has taught me basics of = Indian=20 music and Tabla, and most importantly how to breathe with music. I have = become a=20 devoted pupil because of her love for music and her peaceful = mentality