Earlier in October this year, students of Note Grid School of Music, Mokokchung who had passed their grade exams from Trinity College London and Rockschool UK were felicitated in a programme at Urban Hub, Mokokchung.

According to Senti Imchen, the administrator of Note Grid School of Music, there are more enthusiasts for music than sports in Mokokchung district. This, she believes, is because of the consistency seen in the district’s music scene, with many music-based events being organised in the community – be it at church or the various functions at schools – that develop interest among people and provide a platform to showcase one’s skills and talents.

It was the need for a platform to develop the talents of those interested in music that led the proprietor of Note Grid School of Music to establish the institute.

Longden Longkumer first began his music career in Mokokchung as a guitarist for the rock band Vanadium during the late ‘90s. He then enrolled for a course in classical guitar at the Bangalore School of Music in 2001. During his time in Bangalore, he gave private music classes and also performed as a solo artist at various events in the city. Returning to Nagaland in 2005, he went on to play with the band Suffering Soul and two years later, with Abiogenesis.

Longkumer’s experiences as a performing artist and a music teacher made him understand the difficulties faced by musicians in pursuing music education and in building a career in music.

He thus established the Note Grid School of Music and Media Studio on 11 February 2010 in Dimapur.

The following year, he set up the Mokokchung branch of Note Grid with a vision to make international music training and certification accessible to music enthusiasts in town.

Note Grid School of Music offers courses in multiple disciplines ranging from classical guitar and piano to choir conducting and drums. The school has been recognised by two international music examinations boards – the Rockschool UK and Trinity College London – and serves as the exam centre for both.

Along with the classes led by qualified faculty, the students are also offered master classes by experienced visiting faculty from time-to-time. Music examiners from Trinity College London and Rockschool UK conduct the annual external examinations.

Note Grid School also features a music recording studio and students are given access to free recording based on selection.

Imchen, the administrator, told Nagaland Tribune that the school in Mokokchung currently has five teachers and 25 students pursuing music education.

This year, 26 students from the music school appeared for grade exams and passed in the two international music board examinations.

Nagaland Tribune spoke to three of the students who passed the exams to learn more about their interests in learning music.

Jongshiwapang Longkumer, 18 years old and a self-taught guitarist since 2014, is a grade 3 student of the electric guitar at Note Grid School of Music. He is also pursuing his academic studies in the 11th standard at Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung.

Jongshiwapang Longkumer.

He said he draws his inspiration from his parents and famous bands like Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God and Iron Maiden. He expressed his happiness that his parents were supporting him to pursue music education. He said he had initially started playing the acoustic guitar and then went on to play the electric guitar. He also loves to sing while playing the guitar.

Longkumer also performs in a band named FrontFem, which means ‘front five’. The word ‘fem’ comes from the Swedish word of five. Longkumer said the name FrontFem came into being when they considered that the band consists of five members who perform together as one.

16-year-old Yangersungla Longkumer studies in the 10th standard at Jubilee Memorial School, Mokokchung. She is a grade 2 acoustic guitar student at Note Grid School of Music. She started playing the guitar at the age of 10, borrowing the guitar from her cousin and friends. She also loves to play the piano.

Yangersungla Longkumer.

Yangersungla belongs in a band at her school where she is the guitarist and the vocalist. She has also performed in church various times. She said performing in the church was her first experience in front of an audience.

The youngest student and a great performer, 10-year-old Rongpangnok Ozukum is a grade 3 drum student at Note Grid. He studies in the 4th standard at Soul House Academy.

Ozukum said he draws his inspiration from his parents who have supported him in developing an interest in studying music. He first started playing the drums at the age of five.

He said he would like to start a band soon with his siblings: his 6-year-old brother on the guitar, his 3-year-old sister on the vocals and himself on the drums.

The young drummer usually practises for half an hour every day. He said many of his friends have developed an interest in the instrument after seeing his skills and talents and he feels privileged to guide them at such a young age.

Ozukum said he is looking forward to learning more in the coming days. He has previously performed three concerts in Mokokchung and one in Dimapur and expressed how blessed and proud he feels.

For young aspiring musicians, a strong support system is needed and for many of the students, the support shown by their parents seem to have played an important role in their pursuit of learning music.

This was highlighted during the felicitation programme in October when Bendangakum Kichu spoke on behalf of all the teachers of Note Grid and acknowledged the immense support from the parents for their children’s music education, stating: “It’s rare to find such support from the parents pursuing music education.”