Jackson: A subject at AR Rahman's Music Conservatory

ENTERTAINMENT ICON Michael Jackson will be a subject at Oscar winner musician A R Rahman’s (Slumdog Millionaire) KM Music Conservatory, according to reports.

Rahman himself will reportedly give the inaugural lecture on Jackson. Rahman loved Jackson’s music and has said about Jackson in the past: “One of the greatest musicians of our time… pushed the milestone of pop music to unbelievable levels… I am yet to find an artist with that energy, perfection and vision…”

During their meeting in Los Angeles, United States of America earlier this year, when Jackson showed Rahman a five second example of his dance move, Rahman stated: “It was like a lightning strike.” Jackson even reportedly asked Rahman during this meeting to compose a unity anthem. Jackson collaborated with Rahman on Ekam Satyam track in 1999. Rahman is reportedly developing an album in memory of Jackson, which will include musicians from all over the world.

Founded by Rahman (who is also its principal), KM Music Conservatory in Kodambakkam area of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state of India envisions expanding the horizon of musicians in India by offering education in both Indian and Western music besides music technology and its mission is to provide students with a strong artistic, intellectual and technical foundation. T Selvakumar is the managing director of this international school of music and music technology whose tagline is ‘Become the Future of Music’.

Conservatory offers preparatory programme (two to five years), foundation program (one to two years) and degree programme (three years) under affiliation of Middlesex University in United Kingdom and has proposed to offer diploma programme (one year) for international students) and masters programme (two years) with concentrations in music performance-composition-technology-education. Many faculty members have degrees from USA and UK. Sound editor Joe E Rand (Titanic) has lectured here besides, demonstration by Vienna Chamber Orchestra.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed has applauded Rahman for creating a bridge between the music of East and West and for strengthening the worldwide market and stature of Indian music. Zed, who is the chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, in a statement in Nevada (USA), urged Rahman to help nourish the next generation with the richness of Indian music, elements of whose theory were first found in ancient Hindu scripture Sama-Veda. Rajan Zed further said that Michael Jackson’s personal life might had been controversial, but he did provide ‘joy’ to a large populace of the world through his music. One of the ancient Hindu scriptures ‘Taittiriya Upanish’ talking about ‘joy’ says: From joy are born all creatures, by joy they grow and to joy they return.

Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called ‘Mozart of Madras’ by Time Magazine. Rahman sees music ‘as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it’ and for ‘creating harmony in troubled times’.