Western classical music and a tribute to a musical teacher and disciple duo!

This is a part of the 'Forrest Gump theme ' . Beautiful isnt it . Hats off to Alan Silvestri!

Memories come flooding along when I think of how my association with western classical music began.

This was during the start of my career. Our office would end at 5.30 and we would take the 6 pm bus . Now I had a good 2-3 hours before I could retire - so I was thinking of joining some music classes .

This particular day, I had missed my bus and had decided to take an auto back home. Since it would cost me a few hundred , I decided to share the auto with some people who were going the same way.

Now there were two guys who joined me. I do not remember anything about the third guy. But I distinctly remember the second guy. This guy was thin, curly haired, dark, wore spectacles and was easily ignorable. The journey was a good 1.5 hrs long, so we got talking. And he told me he was going to the music class . Wow ! What a coincidence ! I told him I wanted to join too and thats how I got to know about Alex School of performing arts in Thane. ( Dont know if it is still there :) ) .

That was the beginning of my association with Rajesh - over a period of one year - I discovered more and more about the person who took me on the wonderful path of music. This guy was from a family of musicians and all he dreamt about was to become a musician. Just then, Rajesh, was working as a software engg. - a total misfit to where he wanted to be.

Rajesh was not one to be stopped though! He had found his way about s/w too . Rajesh had mapped each of the keys on the keyboards to the tunes of 'sa' 're' 'ga' 'ma'.. :) and he would entertain his friends , colleagues by playing various well known tunes . So much so, that whenever there was a client visit, he would be asked to play the 'Titanic tune' to them on the keyboard . :)

There is this story that Rajesh had told me once about how he had met Alex sir. He had been in a music store , checking out the pianos, so that he could buy one. So to check out , he was playing one of his favorite tunes on one of the pianos there. And he tells me , there was this elderly gentleman who was watching him for quite some time. He comes to Rajesh and asks him 'That was good. Where do learn music'. And Rajesh tells him ' Thats the sad part. I havent found a teacher yet ' .

And I have goose pimples when I write this . The old man tells him - ' I will teach you. Come to my class from tomorrow ' . For Rajesh, the search was over !

That was the beginning of a beautiful association between a great teacher and a great student .

I would look forward to go to the classes after my day at work - As I would approach the class, there would be the beautiful music of Mozart or Beethoven that would be floating in the air , enlivening the whole street around the music class - And I knew that either Rajesh or Sir is on the piano that moment. I would look forward to hear to the enriching discussions both of them would have on music, musicians, and life .

I would be touched and privileged to witness how Music bonded them in a relation deeper than that of a father and a son.


I was looking for one of the pieces that Rajesh would play - Couldnt find it , since my knowledge in western classical music is limited :(. But while I was at it I found another beautiful piece of music by Mozart.




Do you have a favorite western classical tune too ? What are your memories associated with these favorite tunes. Do share with us .