She’s a genie who commands a commendable seven instruments
to play to her tune. A feat made even more admirable at the tender age of
thirteen. Speaking to Aashna Kunkolienker about music is like opening a
well-spring of unbridled passion for a subject she has whole heartedly embraced
since the age of two. At four she gave her first public performance on the
keyboard and by five enrolled for professional training at the ‘Taught to Teach
School’.
“At first I learnt
the keyboard, but gradually I was fascinated watching students playing other
instruments. I wanted to emulate them,” Aashna enthuses. The gift of her
talents could not be denied. By the age of six, she was keeping beat on the
drum, giving a public performance within a month. Then came the guitar
(electric, base and acoustic), violin, flute saxophone, piano and vocals.
“She was learning so many instruments simultaneously that I
was concerned it might be too much for her. She often answers 3 exams together,
while taking a break from others,” confesses mother Roopa. But Aashna blossomed
because she enjoyed music for the sheer love of it, rather than playing to
compete or win. “Competitions just serve to show where you stand. But to me it
is just a performance and to entertain the crowd is an ultimate high for me,”
says Aashna, although she has bagged awards at the taluka and state level for
piano and drums. Staying focussed in school helps this student in keeping her
grades up. But beyond music, this friendly, outgoing girl loves travelling,
photography, table tennis and art.
If her love for fast music has been balanced by a love for
the classical, it is thanks to dad Nitin who introduced her to Tchaikovsky and
Yanni. “I love everything from Opera to Katy Perry. But the minute I heard
Yanni I was swept away. Today all the music I play is influenced by him. ‘The
Nightingale’ is my all time favourite,” avers Aashna, who has been compiling
her own pieces using various softwares. “Earlier I played set pieces, now I
jam. Say If I am playing a Clementi and a lyric or tune strikes me, I create my
own beat out of it.” Her best friends she confesses, are her teachers Peter
Fernandes, Anastazia and Eustacia D’Mello and Susan Badyari.
Although music is akin to breathing for Aashna, her sights
are trained on a future in science.
