Written by: Pratik Dangol - 27009, Grade IX
Posted on: 21 March, 2024
Flute has never been my interest in life. It was grade 6 when my music teacher introduced us to the flute. After that, he explained the basics and instructed us to buy a flute in the key of D. That year, we successfully learned the basics of the flute and played short pieces at Deerwalk Sifal Night.
Afterward, I set aside the flute for a year, as I had no interest in it at the time. In grade 8, I resumed my flute journey. With the guidance of my new music teacher, I learned some new Newari music, though I was not particularly good at it. The year concluded with a flute performance of "Phool ko Aakhama" at Deerwalk Sifal Night. The following year, in BS 2080, I had the opportunity to learn the traditional flute at Dathu Tw Bajan Khala. There, my training began at the end of Asar. On the first day, I was introduced to many people whom I had never met before, and I played some songs that I already knew. Subsequently, I continued practicing the flute every day for around three months, during which time we mastered around 15 songs suitable for the Yenla festival.
The flute training was primarily focused on Yenla, a month in the Nepal Sambat calendar during which we visited different nearby temples every day while playing the dhime baja, flute, etc. Shortly before Yenla, we held a puja during which we performed the nasa dya, playing the flute outside for the first time. During Yenla, we played the flute on weekends since many of us couldn't participate every day. Moreover, we performed during other festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and the welcoming of the president, which was very exciting. Furthermore, my journey with the flute is ongoing. In recent days, I have been practicing for an orchestral program, learning more songs. Additionally, I am proficient in many famous Newari songs and some Nepali songs too. The flute has not only enhanced my skills but has also provided me with an opportunity to connect with my Newari culture.
This journey with the flute will not decrease, as it has sparked a deep interest in me that inspires me to continue learning more about the flute in the coming years and establish a reputation in this field. Thus, my journey with the flute, from basic to traditional, has been transformative. Throughout this period, I have learned many valuable lessons and forged meaningful connections with those around me. As I mentioned earlier, this journey will persist, and in the future, it will evolve into a professional pursuit. This will serve as a means of fostering creativity among others.
