Music (hons) course a big hit

NEW DELHI: With singing talent shows flooding the television screen these days, music (hons) has become a very popular course at DU.
Boasting alumni like singer Jaspinder Narula and ghazal maestro Satish Babbar, the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts at DU's North Campus is attracting students from all parts of the country.
Contrary to popular notion, the course is not just about learning to sing or play instruments.According to the faculty members, students can try their hand at technical aspects of music also, for instance, sound engineering, sound mixing and sound blending.
The faculty, located at the Mall Road, offers an honours programme in music. Of the 40 seats available, students can choose from vocal, instrumental and Carnatic music. They can get enrolled at any of the five colleges — Daulat Ram, Miranda House, Indraprastha, Ramjas and Hindu.
For admission, students have to fill a separate form available at the music faculty. Last date of sale of the forms is June 26. Only those who have studied music in Class XII or have been trained for at least three years by a guru are eligible to apply.
An entrance test will be held on June 29 and 30, 2006. Said Geeta Paintal, principal, Faculty of Music and Fine Arts: "This is a basic course that trains students in theoretical as well as practical knowledge.
Although, most of the students prefer to work as teachers after graduation, ample opportunities are available in technical fields as well. Those going for higher studies can make a career in professional singing as well as composing."
Music is also offered as a subject in the BA programme in colleges like Vivekanand, Mata Sundari, Janki Devi Memorial, Kalindi, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Laxmi Bai College.