Professional approach to music education: Pasquel Sound of Music (Vindaneeya Thakshalawa)

by Ranga Chandrarathne

Passing the railway station in the busy township of Nugegoda, one could notice a newly-constructed well-painted building. The eye-catching building houses Pasquel Sound of Music (Vindaneeya Thakshalawa), an institute of music dedicated to producing professional musicians. The Pasquel Sound of Music is pioneered by vocalist Keerthi Pasquel to fulfil the long-felt need in Sri Lanka for an Institute of Music that bridge the gulf between examinations-based music education and practical approach to music with sound theoretical knowledge.

Although there are a plethora of institutions dedicated to teaching music, it is indeed rare that they impart pedagogic knowledge with practical approach to music.

The primary aim of those institutions is to prepare students for various local and foreign examinations overlooking or totally neglecting techniques in practice which are useful for students to become professional musicians.

The Pasquel Sound of Music though newly-established boasts of about a 250 student population. The panel of lecturers are made up of both renowned professionals and academics in the field of music and includes Harsha Makalanda (Piano), Keerthi Pasquel (Basic theory in guitar), Earnest Zoysa (oriental base guitar), Samantha Jayaweera (Western style in guitar, blues, pop and jazzed styles), Tilak Dias (Base guitar), Pradeep Bogahawatte (Key board), Mahinda Silva (Drum), Premanath Kodituwakku (Tabla and percussion) The school also provides opportunity for students to overcome their inherent stage-shyness and to train their voices on a public stage in order to impart an overall training aimed at producing accomplished musicians with fine taste.