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1. Hello Chandrakanta, We are glad to have you with us at NaariSakhi. Let's start with getting to know you. Please tell us about yourself?

Namaste and thank you, NaariSakhi for inviting me to be with you. I am a musician married to a great musician - Dr.David Courtney. We have two wonderful children, Sham Sundar and Veena Krupa, who are in college. I teach Hindustani vocal music, and my husband teaches tabla. We perform together as well, and we live in Houston, TX, USA.

2.You are an educator, performer and writer, Can you tell us how you were inspired into music.

I always loved music. Both of my parents were very good singers and I grew up with 6 brothers and a sister who all sang or played an instrument. Growing in such an environment filled with the music that continues to be my passion today.

Educator: To educate others you have to be educated first. I offer guidance at the same time that I learn from people with different views and interests. I really enjoy this interaction.

Performer: Yes I love to perform. It's a great opportunity to give thanks to God for the gracious gift of singing by sharing music with others.

Writer: My husband and I realized that music instruction books in simple English were needed for students. We find lots of books in Hindi, but many people cannot read Hindi, so our books became very useful.

3.You travel a lot and perform in different parts of the world. Any memorable experience you would like to share with Sakhis.

Yes, I travelled before marriage and after marriage also. When we visited South Africa with Om International Association, they really showered us with "red carpet" treatment. The Mayor of Durban came to talk to me, and the trip was such a memorable occasion for the hospitality and kindness of our hosts.

4. Were there any obstacles faced by you in your work or did lady luck smile on you immediately?

Yes, there have been several obstacles that I have faced, but my love for music has been constant. I will always consider myself lucky for this gift, which has given me strength and happiness. We have encountered hardships, but we have also enjoyed so many successful performances, so it's a good balance.

5. How would you describe your approach to classical music?

My philosophy: Know the fundamentals! Know the raga and tala! Understand lyrics of the song, put your heart and soul into your music. Make it beautiful, and display your expertise not to show your technical mastery, but to express the beauty and emotion in the music as you understand it.

6.How do you balance between your family and professional life?

We have always lived with my in-laws, and they helped us raise our children through our traveling, teaching, and performing. That was a big help.

7.You and your husband David Courtney work together as a team. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working with husband?

Disadvantages working with husband, I can write a book about that! I'm just kidding. We love working together. We have developed mutual understanding and respect. I am hot-tempered and he is cool-natured, and at the end of the day it works perfectly!

8. Does age matters to learn music?

Starting at very young age is advisable, but at any age, you can start learning if you have the interest, devotion, and willingness to practice and to understand the music.

9. What advice you would give to Sakhis who wants to be in media related field?

Keep in touch with reality. Accept change - don't be afraid of change, and always maintain strong relationships with people you meet. Word of mouth is, after all, still one of the most important ways of communicating, and I advise anyone interested in getting into media-related fields to remember this.

10. What advice would you give to the woman who wants to be on the path of success in music?

Find a good teacher, work hard, never stop learning, practice like there is no tomorrow, have faith in yourself, and have fun at the same time.

Namaste

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