The Wizard
He was studying to be a doctor. But to paraphrase John Lennon, life happened, changing his plans. We speak to music biz & education guru Abe Thomas and discover how music can indeed be a very rewarding career!

By Vaibhav Sharma

“Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind” - Led Zeppelin

It’s 1981 and Abe Thomas has just finished his pre-med class. He's now on his way to the hospital where he works. Passing by a music store, he spies an omnichord amongst the guitars, synthesisers and drums sets. Thinking it’d be a great stress-buster and a fantastic way to unwind after a tiring weekend assisting trauma surgeons at the hospital, Abe picks it up. Little does he know that by doing so he’s changed the course of his life! Finding other medical staff interested in this tiny instrument, he lends it to the director of a local rehab centre - who finds that his patients love the omnichord! Abe then discovers that autistic kids also respond positively to this instrument! “Most people want to play a musical instrument," he says!
Serendipity, indeed! Slowly, as his interest in the possibilities offered by music grew, Abe ended up chucking a promising medical career - and plunged into a world of music! With the Thomas Music Corporation, he’s found out just how rewarding and satisfying the world of music can be.

He now divides his time between Los Angeles and India, and is perhaps on first-name terms with some of the world’s biggest stars. Apart from working closely with musical instrument manufacturers such as the Suzuki Music Corporation, Abe also works with the Musicians Institute’s India chapter. He is also very active with industry and music advocacy body NMAM’s international coalition group for music education. For him, music is not just a career, it’s a passion!

Volume 11?
According to Abe, the “youth of India are rocking!” Pointing out that in recent years parents have become amenable to the idea of music as a career, he explains how times have changed. “There is exponential growth happening and it’s about time.” He speaks about how generational attitudes towards music have changed. Revealing that he’s pleasantly surprised to find parents being supportive of 'alternative' careers such as music, Abe adds, ”There some incredible musical talent in India. What we lack, however, is a formalised approach. The musicians here have been learning from YouTube and other online sources.”

So, will they benefit a lot from making music education more formal and accepted? Yes, says Abe. Pointing to the staggering number of professional musicians making a decent living off their passion, he attributes it to the way the West has adopted music education as a mainstream option. “Fourteen-year-olds get to spend a week or so during their summer breaks at music camps - honing their skills.”

But, says Abe, the change is visible in India now. “Many of the new private schools are adopting western methods and there are plenty of opportunities for musicians.” And the new-found media focus is helping too!

This belief that considering the innate talent in Indian musicians and the incredibly strong musical traditions our country boasts of, it was only a lack of education keeping students from exploiting their potential, has now led to Abe’s tying up with the Musicians Institute. This world-famous school of music, based in Hollywood, US, is renowned for its classes in everything from playing instruments to working in the music industry. According to Abe, he is now helping talented Indian musicians fulfil their dreams. “What we’re doing is helping students excel in music,” he says. “You need to catch musicians at a young age - music’s like a language.”

So, will we soon see Indian stars on the world stage? Well, Abe feels that there is tremendous potential for this, especially with musicians who are taking Indian musical traditions and adapting them to the global market. “There is a growing recognition of Indian bands and audiences. The youth of India are wired to the world.” And the global industry is also taking note. Several major bands have been here, and many more are on their way. “I was speaking to Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain and he said how long it had been since they’d played to such a crowd or received such an ‘incredible’ response.”

Coda
Pointing out to the tremendous growth in college concerts and fests, Abe insists that with the corporate sector now backing such efforts, music as a career is here to stay. However, he admits that parental concerns have to be heeded too. “Do that degree in mechanical engineering you father wants you to do. You must have something to fall back on.”

As for himself, what music is he partial to? “I was given a harmonica when I was 11-12, and later played drums on All India Radio as well. Never really as a professional, but I love music!” Laughing, Abe adds,” I love all kinds of music. From a bunch of guys playing a traditional Raga, to the Blues, I like it all!”

— For more details on Abe and his work, log on to www. IndianMI.com or www.thomasmusic.com