Cleveland Aradhana 2008 Discussions

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 28 Mar 2008, 20:55

Here we go again. We need some thing to criticize about and we keep looking for it. Let the discussion be civil and constructive so the organizers and participants do not get discouraged but at the same time take corrective actions in areas that need improvement.

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 28 Mar 2008, 21:05

Arasi,

They already offer certificates for all the children who participate

carnaticpriya · Post by **carnaticpriya** » 28 Mar 2008, 21:16

The certificate they get now, just say so and so participated. Nothing is mentioned about the strengths of the child.

MKM · Post by **MKM** » 28 Mar 2008, 21:21

Certificates and prizes don't mean much in the long run.

While I agree that encouragement and positive re-inforcement are necessary for developement, I feel if a kid wins first place in particular category, the parents should explain to the kid that since she/he has already shown to be good in that particuklar area why not try something else and give a chance to others? If there is no category to go to, why not just hang around listen to others and enjoy? There is a LOT of learning there. One doesn't have to be center stage ALL the time...If we do that I think it will take away unnecessary pressure from the children to win and then each will have a chance to reach their individual potential.
I sometimes feel that the parents are more disappointed about their kids not winning than the kids themselves.

reethigowla · Post by **reethigowla** » 29 Mar 2008, 00:02

Hi, Does anybody know when they will update the results webpage? Can any one of you post them here?

Kalpana Mohan · Post by **Kalpana Mohan** » 29 Mar 2008, 00:33

Hello everyone,

I'm Kalpana Mohan, a freelance writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. My work is at http://www.kalpanamohan.org. I'm on assignment for an article for an Indian-American publication here in California and I desperately need to speak to one Mr. V K Viswanathan. I believe he posts here, I've seen his posts. But for whatever reason, there's no way for me to email him directly. Could someone please post his email here and/or any other contact info and such? I really appreciate it. My article is on the evolution of Carnatic music in the United States, so whatever resources you can put me to will be wonderful.

Thanks very much!

Kalpana

appu · Post by **appu** » 29 Mar 2008, 00:52

Kalpana,

You can email VKV directly at vkv43034@msn.com

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Mar 2008, 01:51

mri_fan,
Tut,tut! And I was given to understand that they were not given certificates at all!

carnaticpriya · Post by **carnaticpriya** » 29 Mar 2008, 02:49

As MKM has rightly mentioned, prizes and certificates are not everything. I am talking about recognition here. I was moved when i saw a dad hugging his child when the child mentioned that she was probably good enough for singing only in golu! That child would probably would never be motivated to participate in a competition again.

shanks · Post by **shanks** » 30 Mar 2008, 08:58

Here is my take on the competition. I can already hear the drumbeat â€œit is so tough to organize the competitionâ€

mri_fan · Post by **mri_fan** » 30 Mar 2008, 09:15

Shanks,

Very thoughful post. Since they've started charging money for the competition, I've wondered whether that gives students the right to the full alotted time (5 mins). Although judges may not think a student is prize-winning worthy, I don't think it's fair to cut them off after 2-3 minutes if the parents are making a financial commitment. What are your thoughts about this?

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 30 Mar 2008, 10:01

Dear shanks , mri_fan & others interested,
As a member of the committee I thank you & others for your constructive suggestions. Believe me this is a forum where different persons express their views & I truly BELIEVE every one is sincere in what they write & in expressing their views.

There are enormous number of things that have to be done to make this whole thing work at all- I am not claiming it is either done perfectly or does not need improvement- & the number of volunteers falls fall short of the number needed to do the job to the satisfaction of every one. I am least interested in any drum beating about the difficulties etc either. Please believe my only interest is in improving situations for the better if possible.This is the time to review & make adjustments, improvements etc & I appreciaie your feed back.
May I request you to please copy & paste your posting here in an email to me at vkv43034@yahoo.com along with other suggestions, ideas to improve the mechanics & dynamics of the festival not only in this area but other areas that need improvements.. I make the same request to anyone who has ideas, suggestions etc. vkv

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 30 Mar 2008, 22:02

shanks

That was an excellent write up by you. You have truly put across the views of parents and participants with a lot of constructive suggestions. I am sure that the Cleveland committee and VKV will surely take the feedback positively. (as he already has)

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 30 Mar 2008, 23:28

Shanks is right on spot. This part of festival definitely needs immediate and serious attention from the organizers. If you have more than a kid, participating in multiple categories, you can imagine the plight of the parents and kids. The distance between one of the rooms for sub-j and the main wajten auditorium may be around 1/2KM.
The feedback is a must from those eminent judges. These days there are too many teachers (still no enough atleast in bayarea, california). Some Teachers have >100s students. The monthly fees are high ranging from 80-150 for 45mins class. If a giid teacher is far and you have multiple kids, the parents, with all the desire to impart these cultural tools, undergo a lot of stress. Each class is 3hr time around. 45-mins drive, 1hr wait and 45mins back.

The cleveland commiittee also has to be aware of the comments regarding fairness of competetions. We have seen 2 or three postings in this forum of committee changing the judges results by committee. I also heard verbal complaints. You can simply put out these by sealing the covers of results from judges within 30mins of end of competetion. We don't have to go to the distance of doubting about tampering of these covers. This is very important. I think some of the parents are more than willing to help out in competetion organization. The committee can definitely avail these resources.

The committee also seems tobe not having any commitment and gurantees about the availability of rooms/halls from CSU. Except the wajten auditorium, none of the other rooms are suitable for professional concerts. The weather in spring beginning is no kind and helpful. I would even request to explore any other time. may be in summer.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 31 Mar 2008, 00:11

Dear concerned & helpful Rasikas,
I again appeal to you to at least cc your remarks, observations & suggestions to: vkv43034@yahoo.com as I have opened a folder just for this subject & i will look at every one of the suggestions & try my best to implement those that are practical & desireable within the limitations of a purely vilunteer organisation with not enough volunteers. Of course I do not need to plug the need for help in other crucial areas also. I find while discussions&exchanges of views, ideas & suggestions are highly desireable & necessary in forums such as these I am likely to miss some of them due to my own allocation of time etc. I look forward to hearing from you. Please treat the festival as yours & do your best to improve it. vkv

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 31 Mar 2008, 00:18

Of course I am sure you are all aware that the full committee which has to agree to implement any new ideas, suggestions etc. I know EVERYONE of them for a VERY LONG TIME to assert that their interests & efforts are no different than yours. vkv

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 31 Mar 2008, 02:57

I just had a friendly chat with a friend who just returned from Cleveland. He mentioned that he attended many competitions in particular and was indeed stunned by the excellent diaplay of talents. it is heart-wrming to hear that some of our youngsters are truly interested in Cm and performing quite well. Further there is no commercial interest in them at all and their parents are motivated truly by the love the Art which bodes well for the future of CM at NA. It is immaterial whether or not they win a prize in the competition but it will mean a lot for those kids to know that they are appreciated. There should be a mechanism for conveying Rasika concrete appreciation to them other than by the generic applause they receive during the competition. Do keep some cards and pens in the halls so that the audience can convey their comments on the spot. Again provide a copy of the emails of the participants to the audience so that they can write personal appreciation and technical critiques wherever applicable. I know how much the emotional boost means, coming from an unknown member of the audience to a youngster ! Also do post here at the Forum directly your comments about the youngsters and if possible a Youtube clip. After liistening we will also join in congratulating the participants. Let us work it out!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 31 Mar 2008, 04:04

Good ideas, CML!
As for the quality of their singing, I have heard more than one vidvAn exclaim about the ability and hard work of the young Cleveland competitors. I could not make it to the competitions when I was there a couple of years ago, but heard one of the girls singing. I was greatly impressed and the mother told me that most of them were very good and that was why they liked coming to the festival. the standard is very high, she said.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 31 Mar 2008, 06:31

That is a fantastic idea CML. Something simple and straightforward to do with some organizational help ( publishing the email id and making sure the audience has it and may be even provide a little space to take notes. ). The organizers can also encourage the audience to convey their feedback to the participants by email. If they want to go one step further, they can make available a laptop or two with internet connection. The audience can provide that feedback right away when the performance is still fresh in their minds.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 31 Mar 2008, 09:03

Wireless routers (public domain) are almost everywhere; even one can be rented from the CSU and made available during the Aradahana. Almost all who bring their laptop can provide an instant feedback (especially most of the kids are hightech wizs too

In fact the audience appreciation can be directly included as one component of the evaluation in the competition!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 31 Mar 2008, 09:49

That last sentence will turn the competition into Cleveland Aradhana Idol

CML, yes, wireless internet connectivity should not be a problem in an university campus. Not all carry their laptop to the aradhana. For the benefit of those who do not, they can have a few public use laptops. A simple feedback website can be setup where you can surf by level ( sub-junior, junior etc. ), by instrument ( voice, violin, veena etc. ) and find the contestant easily to send a feedback email. I know one can make it much more elaborate but then that requires much more planning and execution. They can start with such a simple and straightforward setup.

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 31 Mar 2008, 12:34

hi. ashwinand rohin,no news from you after our meeting at mumbai. lot of things good andsorrowful have taken placein our family. let us think about pleasant happenings. how was your performance at cleveland.was your guru poojyasri Tk Govindarao present? will you be able to post some portions without violation of rules .uncle balu gobilalitha

appu · Post by **appu** » 31 Mar 2008, 15:50

gobilalitha,

Ashwin and Rohin, Are they not student of Shri Janakiraman?

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 01 Apr 2008, 06:01

Yes.you are right. I got confused because a cousin of them Vikram of pittsburgh is a disciple of Sri TKG, old age blunts memory. gobilalitha

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 03 Apr 2008, 04:10

Interview with senior mrudangam arist Mannargudi Eswaran at http://www.chennaionline.com/Personality/art015.asp

The interview has some of his views about the Cleveland Aradhana.