Journey of Self-Exploration: Seeking Understanding Through Musical and Cultural Experiences in South India

Abstract

The meaning and role of music in peoples’ lives varies from culture to culture and person to person. In this narrative of travel to study music as culture in South India, I attempt to reveal and interpret the “truths” six university students and I, their professor, uncovered about ourselves and our perspectives and understandings of music and culture. During our time in South India, we studied veena (a string instrument particular to southern India), voice, percussion, naduswaram (a double-reed woodwind instrument), and dance with gurus in each area. We also visited temples, an orphanage, markets, and other sightseeing attractions; and viewed the newest “Bollywood” film, The Boss, attended a lecture on film as it relates to culture in India, and had a private meeting with A. R. Rahman, the film’s music director—India’s finest and most highly-reputed international music director. The students and I journalled daily in an attempt to capture our experiences, observations, and impressions. Reflection papers based on our journals became the data for this study. It is my hope that the “truths” we revealed will inform and enhance our teaching.