Introducing Altamash Ansari - our new Music Teacher

A short introduction on who you are, your experience, where you are joining us from.

I am Altamash Ansari from Allahabad. I am a Pianist and a Western music educator. My music education started when I was three years old.  My father taught me the rudiments of piano playing. In India, I studied music formally at the KM Music Conservatory, Chennai, and I was privileged to receive the Best Performance Award from music maestro A.R Rahman. I then went to England to earn my degree in music with a specialism in Piano Performance from Middlesex University, London. I started my teaching career upon my return to India by joining my Alma mater. I have been fortunate to work at some of India’s most celebrated schools - Kodaikanal International School, The Doon School, Woodstock School and Pathways School Gurgaon. I also worked at the International Maarif Schools Erbil – Iraq.  I have now received the opportunity to serve at the Academy, and I am very excited as I embark on this new journey.

What made you want to join the Academy?

I choose a music career because I wanted to become a Music educator. In India, people are not very familiar with the tradition of Western classical music, and not many schools offer music education. The Academy is one of the very few places where music is given equal importance to any other subject. The Music Programme here at the Academy is vibrant and enriching, which allows students to nurture their talent. If you look at history, you will find that many composers were inspired by the beauty of nature to write their music.  Music is an inspirational subject, and the Academy’s campus is very inspiring. These factors are important when mentoring students and can help to transform them into creative individuals.

Your vision for what you are teaching at the Academy.

In today’s technologically advanced world, it is difficult for musicians to maintain excellence just by playing their instruments. They also need to get acquainted with music technology. They need to learn about music production, recording techniques, working on sequencers, and other technical aspects of music to keep themselves up to date. My vision at the Academy is to provide a holistic music education so that every student can write, perform, and produce music with confidence!

What you are hoping to achieve with your students this academic year?

This academic year I hope to instill an appreciation of the tradition of Western classical music in my students. Learning classical music will enhance their knowledge and understanding of the subject and also develop important techniques by developing their skills. By learning classical music, they will be able to apply their creativity to the interpretation of music scores, and finally, showcase their learning. I hope my students will become well-rounded musicians, not only able to they play their instruments with precision but also well-versed with technology and its application to music!