Home » Working Women » Women Achievers » Music knows no boundaries - Gita Menon It knows no religion or language. It flows gently, bathing all that it touches with its soothing melody, spreading the message of love............

Gita Menon mirrors that same fluidity. The Goddess of Western Music in Madras, is tall and always dressed in pristine white, with a sprinkling of salt in her hair and a disarming smile. Say 'Music' and watch her eyes light up!

She belies her 68 years, with a rare agility of movement and mind. Gita has tutored many children and adults in music and has successfully sowed the seeds of a love for music in her students. She has kept alive the tradition of the guru - shishya model of learning.

Her initiation into music goes back to the time when her mother would return from work, crank the old gramophone, and music would pervade the house until bedtime! She wistfully recounts memories of her weekends spent playing the piano! Her ambition, since the age of 5 was to be a concert pianist. At 14 she completed Grade 8 in piano, and was an accomplished pianist. After schooling at Ewarts, Gita moved on to Stella Maris College. But her heart lay in music! Encouraged by her teachers, Lucille Robitaille (Sr. David) and Grace Caldwell, who saw in her the hidden talent for teaching, she began tutoring 2 students. Then came lessons in voice training for four years. Music was a passion and an obsession with her.

Gita was a rebel with a cause! She chose to leave academics and pursue music. She spent over 8 hours a day, practicing the piano and teaching music. Gita, a Protestant by faith, married Rajan Menon, a Hindu against all norms. He encouraged her to write her LTCL exam in 1955 which she passed with flying colours, in both Theory and Practicals. He also encouraged her to disseminate her knowledge by tutoring children.

Gita is modest about the awards and honours conferred on her. Her 'real reward' as she calls it , is watching children enjoy music! Her students, though professionals now, have carried this love for music through their lives. Some have pursued it through courses such as Music Therapy, Computer Music, etc.

As always, she continues to innovate with music workshops and concerts,drawing parents into her music group as well. Her students range from 5 to 50! With her fund of experience and knowledge, she moulds her teaching pattern to suit the child's personality. This gives her a zest for life, keeping her young and on her toes. She has gifted a whole generation a love for music. Her students have imbibed her values of hardwork and discipline. A 'guru' in every sense of the word!