Lost in Translation: Reflections on Learning South Indian Music in Context

Abstract

This paper outlines both the processes and personal journey experienced by the writer when learning South Indian music in Chennai, India and Brisbane, Australia. It is a reflective journey about being immersed in another culture. When one is immersed in learning a music culture other than 'one's own' one begins to understand the music teaching and learning process in much more depth (Blacking, 1973). As a result of this experience many changes have occurred to the author's own teaching practice. The paper will explain the background of the research presenting how the writer came to learn in a foreign setting and outline the learning journey experienced thus far. It will also present both the challenges and benefits of learning music in a foreign setting focusing on problems encountered and how these were overcome. The differences and similarities in learning modes and methods between both Indian and 'western' classical music as experienced by the author will be presented. A discussion on the implications of these observations on the contemporary Australian music teaching and learning context will also take place.