Institutionalised set up of Music Education in Carnatic Music

Abstract

Music plays an important role in the lives of human beings. Music has been intensely associated with the daily activities of the people in Sri Lanka. We had the Guru Kula system of music in early centuries. The formal institutionalized set up of education in carnatic music in its present form took shape in the 20th century with the change in life styles and cultural patterns of the people with academies and universities playing a major role. This paper traces the background of the development of the institutionalized music education of carnatic music in the university system; identifies the various aspects of these systems, trends, merits and challenges. The study also deals with the role of computer in the institutionalized set up and music therapy. The three stages in the process of research methodology in music are discussed; the period of mastery of knowledge, the period of the mastery of techniques and finally a period of discovery or research, taking into account the practical side as music is a performance-oriented subject. Finally the paper discusses some findings and their implications - with special attention to their contribution to the social and cultural development of the country. Sri Lankan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Vol.1(1) July 2009 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Music plays an important role in the lives of human beings. Music has been intensely associated with the daily activities of the people in Sri Lanka. We had the Guru Kula system of music in early centuries. The formal institutionalized set up of education in carnatic music in its present form took shape in the 20 th century with the change in life styles and cultural patterns of the people with academies and universities playing a major role. This paper traces the background of the development of the institutionalized music education of carnatic music in the university system; identifies the various aspects of these systems, trends, merits and challenges. The study also deals with the role of computer in the institutionalized set up and music therapy. The three stages in the process of research methodology in music are discussed; the period of mastery of knowledge, the period of the mastery of techniques and finally a period of discovery or research, taking into account the practical side as music is a performance-oriented subject. Finally the paper discusses some findings and their implications - with special attention to their contribution to the social and cultural development of the country.