The decline of Instrumental fields in music Education in Sri Lankan Universities

Abstract

Background: This survey is based on Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic studies. In university department of music subject like, Vocal music, Violin, Mruthangam and Veena are taught and special degree in the fine Arts is given in special (course) subjects and Bachelor of fine Arts degree is given to them. In these fields many students follow courses to these music fields about 70 to 80 students are admitted. Among them, most of the students choose vocal music instead of Violin, Miruthangam, Veena fields. When we consider the music field, the musical instruments also play a major role. Music is praised to be equal to God (PanchapakesaIyer, 1953) while considering Carnatic music, it not only includes Vocal music, it includes instrumental music as well. Any music which sanctifies it with swarams and varnams and give a pleasant feeling to the ear, is a sacred music (Ramanuja Iyangar, 1986)In today’s musical world instruments not only remain as helping instruments like veena and violin have become so popular as to conduct main music recitals Music is beyond language (Sundaraam1993). Its soul depends on composing music. Aim: Aim of this study is creating awareness among the students to take this subject as their main field and increasing number of students to select this field as well as Artist. Methodology: The first year music students who learn music at Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic students were selected for this research. The questionnaire was given to them and the answers got from them. Besides this discussions were conducted among them regarding the selection of subjects. Results: For this survey while having discussions with the students and giving questions to them and getting answers from them many students have showed their liking to select Instrumental music fields but while considering job opportunities they select vocal music even though it is against their course of study they expect to get jobs in vocal music fields. Conclusion: The Instrumental such as Violin, Miruthangam, veena subjects must be included in the school. That will be increase the Instrumental artists same as music artists.