IME: Music For Every Emotion, Every Occasion
Exploring the world of Indian Music at India’s first interactive music museum
Features
Visitors can use the IME recording studio to record their own songs
Nishi Trivedi
By Nishi Trivedi, Sneha Ramesh, Busi Prafula Grace
Bangalore: Have you ever had the chance to create your own music? Ever wanted your own recording studio or even, play any instrument of your choice? Indian Music Experience (IME) is India’s first interactive music museum where you can pamper the musician in you. From swaying to the sound of classical music to tapping your feet to indie rock, the music here travels through time.
“It is a unique experience and I have not heard of any other such place in India,” said Asha Joshi, a native of Pune, who had come on a visit to the museum. IME stands out not only in structure but also the way diverse music is presented. The museum consists of a sound garden, learning centre, and a state-of-the-art interactive exhibit area focusing on various genres of Indian music -- some of which are not known to many. “I was surprised to know that there were ‘Songs of Work’,” said Neha, another visitor at IME. Spread across nine galleries, there are different sections housing songs that depict the stories of different cultures.
To keep the audience engaged, the museum has computer-based interactive installations that allow the visitor to experience the process of music making. Every gallery is based on a theme that gives the visitor an opportunity to explore various expressions of music. The instrument gallery, with more than 100 instruments, attracts the visitors by providing them an opportunity to hear the sounds of each instrument using the interactive installations. The beautiful thing about IME is that it captures the essence of any occasion -- from celebratory songs and wedding ditties, to the chants that laborers hum while working in the fields, to songs of mourning or sorrow. There is music for every occasion and emotion. They have dedicated a section especially for music showcasing the freedom struggle and patriotism. Also as an added attraction, personal belongings of Indian music icons such as Bismillah Khan (Shehnai), M.S Subbulakshmi (Tambura), Daler Mehndi (Performance Costume), have been displayed.
The sound garden right outside the museum helps visitors understand the various principles of sound. This garden consists of ten specially designed ‘playable’ musical sculptures. “It was a fun experience to know that even water and rocks can create such soothing sounds,” said Shruti, a young Bangalorean who loved going around the museum. For all the learning enthusiasts, the museum also holds a learning centre where you can get trained under experienced musicians.
This 50,000 sq ft musical abode attracts people across generations. This museum has become a go-to place for not only music lovers but also anyone who wishes to gain knowledge in this sphere. Indian Music Experience stands as a classic example of music being a universal language.
IME is located in JP Nagar 7th phase, Bangalore
www.indianmusicexperience.org
