By Our Special Correspondent
SHILLONG: This year’s English text book Mosaic – a multi skill course in English, Reader 8 for ICSE, Class VIII course, includes a chapter on the Shillong Chamber Choir (SCC).
The chapter titled, ‘Not Just Music’ has an opening paragraph which says, “What do you do when you are deeply hurt or upset? Read a book? Talk to someone? Have you ever turned to music to soothe your worn out nerves? Can music be the medium for change? Discuss.
Like other text books today this too is an interactive one requiring a lot of ground work and from the teacher and an exploratory journey for the learners. The introduction to the chapter says, “Success can mean different things to different people. It can mean fame, wealth or simply following your heart and achieving your desires. Not everyone can turn their hobby or passion for the arts into a profession, but there are a few who have successfully combined the two.”
The chapter narrates how Neil Nongkynrih a concert pianist and the conductor of Shillong Chamber Choir changed not only his own life but touched the lives of many others. The high point of his career has been winning India’s Got Talent in 2010. The chapter is actually a story in the first person narrated by Neil Nongkynrih.
Published by Madhubun Educational Books, a division of Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd, Noida, the book is based on sound
English Language Teaching (ELT) principles. It also has chapters with exclusive interviews of achievers like Saina Nehwal, Baichung Bhutia and Abhinav Bindra. The book is probably meant to encourage young learners to overcome all challenges and aspire to greatness.
Asked what he feels about the Choir being part of a chapter in a school text book, Neil Nongkynrih says he feels humbled that the SCC should be given that recognition. However, he says that the story of the SCC is one of triumph over huge mental blocks and obstacles as it is not easy to live in a commune unless the members are disciplined and mentally and spiritually mentored to co-exist in harmony.
“With the kind of rigorous practice we do and at all odd hours it is important to have this sort of residential arrangement. They have learnt to build a spirit of camaraderie. The choir members do home schooling. They are now enrolled in the local colleges and doing quite well. So it’s not just learning music and travelling different places in India and abroad, but all round education which includes house- keeping, cooking, baking and a host of other vocationally oriented training,” Neil explained.
“The big challenge is not singing. Singing is the easy part. The challenge is to keep the Choir members centered on the spiritual values because when they sing they don’t just sing but encourage, inspire and heal,” Neil added.