I met VARUN 14 years ago when I was working in Pune in India.
A common friend introduced us because she knew that Varuns’ work and skills will be a beautiful chance for my work in slums with women…
I remember our first meeting in Batista café (!!)where he ended telling me « Come and drum. You will see. You will see if you like it, for you and for your work. »
I have to say, I was not ready at all for that one! I was so bad at my music school younger, I let down my transverse flute years before and I had no sens of rythm! Even less if I have to use a drum for that!
But I trusted him and I went to this ashram one sunday night to experience drum with others unknown people! I dared. I tryed. And I LOVED it!
Thanks to VARUN, I started to draw again, dance and paint. I connected again with my inner self and my creativity and I have to say « thank you so much for that ».
So here we go to discover Varun and his world!
This is the interview of a beautiful, positive, always-and- so- much -energy-person!
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I AM…
My name is Varun Venkit, I live in Pune, India.
Can you introduce yourself in few words (family & professionnal background and whatever you feel like sharing with us)?
In a nutshell, I am a drummer and I make people drum! (That’s the elevator pitch)
I am the Founder / Director of Taal Inc., an organisation that positively influences Health and Wellbeing through Rhythm, Music and the Arts. I am a professional drummer and percussionist.
I am a published psychologist and have completed my Masters in Clinical Psychology. Apart from this I am a masters NLP practitioner. I have spent more than 10 years of my life studying the Djembe (a traditional West African percussion instrument) with the Grandmaster Mamady Keita and now represent his International Academy (Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy) in India.
More info: https://www.taalinc.net/varun-venkit/
Can you tell us how long have you been practising drums ?
I have been playing the drums since as long as I can remember.
My father taught me my first ever rhythm on the drum kit – ‘The Bossanova’. I remember always loving anything that makes a sound…
Since the day I started, which was around when I was in the 6th or 7th grade, there was really no turning back. Whether it is playing drums or percussion in bands or engaging with groups of people using the drum circle medium, I knew one thing for sure – that there had to be drums in my life!
What do you love about drum and
drumming ?
The first thing that comes to mine is the bliss of playing a hand drum or a kit in nature. Rhythm helps me instantly connect. Connect with myself and also with people around me. When I am drumming for someone or with someone, I see people differently. It’s almost like I can see inside myself and others and understand a LOT more than if I were to talk to them in person. So in addition to a performance or entertainment tool, I discovered early on, that there is SO much more to drumming that meets the eye. Every sense modality is stimulated, visual, auditory, kinesthetic and more. The drums help me disconnect from the noise of everyday life. It’s my fuel.
What does mean music to you?
Continuing from my previous answer, music is like my fuel, my nourishment. It is what keeps me going. As life progressed music became my profession and what I build an organisation around. So I am lucky enough to have the chance to make my passion, my profession.
How will you define music?
To me, music or rhythm is a universal language. It is expression. It is art and most importantly, it is medicine.
What place does music take in India according to you?
I think that this is a human / global thing. Music is synonymous to life in India and anywhere (and everywhere) I feel. We may have temporarily lost our connection with music and rhythm sometimes but, it is and always has been a part of our core.
ABOUT MY WORK AND MY PASSION…
How did you have the Idea of starting a project about a drumming community?
What happens when you find something beautiful? Human tendency is to share it with others. So quite simply, the experiences that I had when I played some of my first concerts with my then Guru, reaffirmed my belief that Music (& Art) is medicine and this must be experienced by ALL. So I started teaching drums and percussion. People started coming and learning how to drum. I found that not everyone will share my intense passion for rhythm and so I needed to find a way to make it more accessible for the lay man. This way anyone could ‘dip their feet’ into the world of ‘therapeutic drumming‘ and take advantage of the inherent benefits thereof.
Gradually, I started collecting drums, drumming with more and more people. My training in psychology helped me tailor the content well for people from various backgrounds keeping an inclusive approach with the axiom, ‘everyone CAN drum!’ This was the birth of Taal Inc. in 2005, started training my students at that time and the first ever public performance we had was in 2006. That was the FIRST time Taal Inc. was seen on a poster.
The event was called ‘Percussionitis’ (like the only medical condition worth spreading). This joke has a whole NEW meaning in today’s background of the global pandemic but nonetheless… My intent has always been ‘to spread awareness of the inherent therapeutic benefits of drumming, rhythm and the arts far and wide.’ This wold be measured well with my goal of ‘a drum in every house’. Like, we have a washing machine, a TV, a mobile phone etc… Having a drum in every house would reaffirm our commitment to health anbd well being by trusting our own internal healing potential. This potential would be activated through drumming, singing, dancing, painting and so on…
Can you tell us more about your work with Taal.inc?
Taal Inc. is a company that I set up in 2006 and the aim is to work with various audiences using rhythm. Depending on the group that we work with, the objective of what we communicate to the group would change. This is to say that, people… ALL people are my target audience. We could address goals that were musical in nature and also non musical ones where the activity would be a medium to deliver a behavioural objective.
Some of the objectives that we work on usually are:
– Stress Reduction & Relaxation
– Group Cohesiveness / Team Building
– Motivation & Confidence
– Connecting to the Self / Self-Awareness
– Dealing with Mental Health Issues (Anxiety, Depression and more)
– Corporate Training / Soft Skills Behavioural Training
– Therapy for Special Needs Groups
So it means, we work with all kinds of groups, for example:
– Open Community Groups: (Anyone from a particular community, family friendly events)
– Corporate Groups
– Educational Institutions (Schools, Colleges, Universities, Kindergartens, Pre Schools, Activity Centres etc)
– Special Groups (Special Needs Groups, Hospitals, At-Risk Groups, Support Groups, Women’s Groups etc)
The work we do for Special Needs Groups is very close to my heart. This is because here is where we do work that lasts over a period of time. This is when the group we are working with is small and we see them over and over again. That’s when the group truly has a deep understanding of the activity and can take away something meaningful from the activity.
To facilitate this work in a sustainable manner, I setup the Taal Arts & Health Foundation which is committed to spreading awareness of the therapeutic benefits of the arts with groups that would otherwise not have the means to participate in such programs. This is where we raise donations from organisations that have ‘mental health awareness‘ as a part of their CSR objectives and we deliver projects across the range of groups.
How does it feel to drum with hundreds of people ?!!
It is truly an exhilarating experience. Having said this, whether it is 20 people or 200 or 2000 the core of this work is truly ‘working on the self’. As a facilitator it is easy to fall in love with one’s reflection and sometimes lose track of the intent of why we do this work. If we are constantly learning and focussing on our intent, we will almost always, be on the right track.
ME AND TRAVELLING…
Did you ever travel abroad? For work or leisure?
Oh yes, I LOVE travel.
I’ve had the good fortune of travelling across the globe for work (and also leisure). The djembe has taken me to all parts of the world.
I first met Mamady Keita in Singapore in 2010. Most of my travel before that was for vacations and family trips. My Euro trip of 2010 is one of my most memorable vacations and sabbaticals.
After 2010, I followed my Guru and met him in a new country every year till date (first as his student and later as a teacher who would help him teach his workshops).
These workshops, concerts, conferences and drum circles have been in:
– The USA (San Diego, Boston, New Jersey, Washington DC)
– Bali, Indonesia
– Senegal, West-Africa
– Monterrey + Tulum, Mexico
– Beijing, China
– Tokyo, Japan
– Folkstone, UK
– Sarawak + Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
– Brussels, Belgium
– Bangkok, Thailand
What countries did you like the most? why?
Oh, this is a tough question. I absolutely learning about a new culture through its food and rhythm culture. Every place I have been to has genuinely sparked a new change within me and taught me something new.
Which country who you like to visit? And why?
Once again, very tough to say, BUT since my brother is based in Brussels, Belgium, I end up visiting him a LOT. This is great because Brussels is SO centrally located, it is easy to travel to ANYWHERE from there:)
YOU MENTIONNED TRAVEL&FOOD JUST EALIER…SO LETS TALK ABOUT THAT POINT!
FOOD CORNER…
Your favourite Indian meal?
I am a TOTAL foodie and hence it is tough to answer this. BUT at the moment, my answer would be Butter Chicken + Tandoori Roti
Your favorite french meal?
Thanks to a certain hippie friend of mine, I ave a LOT of experience in this area. and yes, my favourite French meal is a home made French Onion Soup + Coq au Vin
Indian meal you Cook the best?
Haha I guess this question should be for my wife 😉 BUT according to me, I think I make really good Bhurji (Indan scrambled eggs) and Kichdi (Comfort food thats a mix of lentils and rice)
Any french meal you know to Cook?
Hmmmm, let me think… I think I make a decent Croque Monsieur . (Before you ask for proof, I will have enough time to practice 😉
MY SPIRIT…
Who is your mentor/inspiration in life?
My father – He is a man full of wisdom, grace and kindness. This is something I always knew but I am learning to imbibe only in his absence.
My Guru, Mamady Keita – Although we live in different continents and I have not spent as much time as I would have liked to with him, I believe that we are connected beyond all that. So shall it always be.
Can you tell us one if your favorite say/ « mantra » which guides/support you in life?
‘Anicca’ – a word in Pali
‘Anitya’ – same word in Sanskrit
– this means ‘Impermanence‘ – the centre concept around which the Vipassana concept is built. This is something you and me have had endless discussions on!
Your Favorite hindi or maharathi or tamil word and why?
Nice one… Currently, the word is ‘Jaane Do’ (Hindi) which leans ‘Let It Be’
Your Favorite french word and why?
‘Petit Cochon’ – Because it is so funny why thats what everyone is chasing after in the game ‘Petanque’ 😉
Your Favorit song and why?
This keeps changing depending on my mood and the songs I come across but for now…
Shalom Alecheim – by Avishai Cohen – There is a vibe in this song that just always hits the right spot EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
If you had to tell something to someone who would like to start drums but doesnt dare to, it will be « …..
No Rhythm. No Life.
Know Rhythm. Know Life.
— Rhythm is in us and surrounds us. Start slowly with whatever you have around you. Find a teacher and a Guru and then just keep going.
TO FIND VARUN….
And if we want to come to you and plan a wonderful drum circle, how should we do?
Visit www.taalinc.net or shoot me an email on varun.venkit@gmail.com
💙On Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/taalinc.net/?locale=fr_FR
💓On Instagram :https://instagram.com/taalinc?igshid=8dredj00plxf
Thanks a lot for taking time and answering my questions dear Varun!
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