Talking to Express Newsline, Arvind Parikh of Mumbai, who is conducting the workshop, said it was an attempt to help students get an exposure to old music.

Observing that many students knew very little besides classroom teaching, Parikh said the workshop would include a slide-show on how musical instruments originated and help students get familiar with old music. Stating that similar workshops were conducted in various parts of the state annually, he pointed out that only if students practised whatever they learnt during the workshop, would its purpose be served.

Drawing parallels between earlier day and present day teaching, Parikh, an internationally acclaimed Sitar artiste, said while earlier teachers held interactions with students, present-day teachers did not teach anything beyond the syllabus.

He said this was the primary reason why students never got a chance to listen to old music or learn a different variation of music.

He said the purpose of the workshop was not to teach students anything new nor tell that they what was being taught was incorrect, but only broaden their horizons.

Stating that most of the students these days lacked sincerity, he said the participants were being told where they lacked, after which it was the teachers' responsibility to see whether there was any improvement.