How it all began

     Music is and has always been a part of me . It is something that I cannot live without. All my life I have been singing. I do not think that I could have  spent even a day without music,my life revolves around music.When I was young my mother sent me for piano lessons and that broadened my interest in music.

The piano and I 

     In school I was really lucky to study with a batch of girls who loved music too. As I studied in a catholic institution, our day began with an assembly.During this assembly we would have a prayer service and we would conclude the prayer service by singing a hymn.The singing of the hymn was always accompanied by a pianist.Only girls from the 9th and 10th grade were allowed to play.When I reached the 9th grade I started playing the piano for the morning assemblies , this taught me so much. Initially when I began to play I was so nervous I would practice so much for that one hymn, my fingers would tremble while I played. The feeling that I used to have after performing is a feeling that I will never forget, it was a feeling of  complete satisfaction and achievement.I started to gain confidence and with this confidence I began to explore the various ways by which I could play a song.  My classmates were very supportive, they would sing with me while I used to practice .

My classmates and I surrounding the piano

      In the 10th grade a friend of mine( who could also play the piano ) and I along with a few other friends who could sing  formed a group and we used to sing whenever we were free. We discovered that we could sing one song in various voices (parts ) and make it sound whole.During our free time we would sing a song in various parts , every time we sang we would discover something new. We found  that a term could be used to describe the kind of music that we were singing and that was "acapella"
     Towards the middle of our academic year we were invited to take part in an acapella competition in Baldwin girl's School. We were all so excited .We practiced ' lean on me ' and we figured out the parts ourselves as we had no one to teach us. It was our first competition, we said a prayer before we went on stage and then we performed .All that I can remember of that performance is that we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We took part with the intention of having fun. Not only did we have a great time, we also secured the second place.This is one  performance that  I will never forget.Later that year we took part in another school fest called 'Expressions' which was hosted by Frank Antony Public School. Here we secured the third place .
       It was not about winning but about taking part and at the same time enjoying what we were doing.Singing with my friends in school was a pleasure that I will never forget .