Laurie Scott

Contact

SarodeMusicAndYoga@gmail.com

India is a culturally rich and diverse country with many forms of music, art, dance, and spiritual traditions.

The classical music of North India is very uplifting and healing music that purifies the atmosphere, calms the mind, and fills the soul with nourishment.  It benefits both the performer and the listener, as well as animals, birds, plants, and trees. Those who devote their lives to studying it often regard it as a sadhana, a spiritual path, to bring them closer to the divine.

North Indian classical music is based on ancient ragas, individual scales of notes that are each unique in their character and beauty, and played at different times of the day, night, or seasons. The notes of each raga ascend and descend in a unique way, but then the musician is free to improvise to their heart’s content within the framework of the scale and a chosen rhythm. 

The music is usually improvised, but the musician may also choose to play set compositions.

Laurie's music teacher, Maestro Ali Akbar Khan (also known as "Khansahib"), was a master of North Indian classical music and the beautiful instrument sarode. He learned music from his father, Allauddin Khan, one of India’s most highly regarded musicians. Allauddin Khan was so highly respected, the government of India commemorated a postage stamp in his honor. Later, Ali Akbar Khan was also honored with a postage stamp after he passed by the President of India.

Ali Akbar Khan was a musical genius who brought joy to others through his uplifting music. In addition to giving worldwide concerts, he established the Ali Akbar College of Music in California in 1967, where he lived and taught, and also taught at branch schools in India and Switzerland.

He was very passionate about teaching and taught instrumental and vocal music for over 40 years. He was so devoted to teaching, that he taught up to the very last days of his life, when he struggled to walk.

During his lifetime, his music was nominated for Grammys and he received many honors, including a MacArthur Genius Grant and a National Heritage Fellowship presented to him at the White House in Washington D.C.

The lineage of Ali Akbar Khan, called the "Seniya Beenkar Gharana" for short, extends back generations to Mian (or Miyan) Tansen, a very great musician of India of the 16th century.

Tansen is considered the father of North Indian classical music. At a time when Hindu and Islamic music were intermingling, Tansen established the music that exists today.

Tansen was born a Hindu and had a Hindu Guru (Hari Das) and was also influenced by a Sufi mystic (Muhammad Ghaus). He was a great musician in the court of King Akbar, a famous Muslim king of North India, and was named one of the nine jewels of King Akbar's court. He created exquisite ragas that continue to be played with fondness today. He was considered a musician saint and is said to have had the remarkable ability to create rain and light lamps with his powerful music.

This music has been passed down over the generations from teacher to disciple to the present day.

It is very typical to see great affection, kindness, and respect expressed among the musicians of different religions in India. Music transcends all differences.

The musical instrument that Laurie plays, the sarode (also known as sarod), is a rich-sounding insrument from India. It has 4 main playing strings and 21 additional strings, which resonate with the main playing strings to create its gorgeous sound. Side strings, known as chikari strings, are stroked to complement the main notes and emphasize the rhythm. Since it is a fretless instrument, it takes many years to master.

Ali Akbar Khan taught that the sarode originated in India and is related to the instrument, the veena. Its ancient history is supported by archeological evidence in India at Rapur in the Punjab (2000 BC), the Champa Temples in Madhya Pradesh (1st century), and the Ajanta Ellora caves in Maharashtra (475 AD).

Viewpoints differ widely on the sarode's origins, but Ali Akbar Khan stood firm that it originated in India. However, Laurie respects other points of view because of the fluid, open trade routes that existed between neighboring countries over the centuries where the instrument most likely traveled back and forth.

The sarode evolved over time and major improvements were made by Ali Akbar Khan's father (Allauddin Khan) and uncle, which is the sarode we know today.

(Photo: Laurie's first service performance at an Alzheimer's home. The residents became very peaceful and closed their eyes as if in deep meditation. Some even shed tears because they were so moved by the music.)

Ali Akbar Khan taught a multitude of students, but only a small group of students studied with him for an extended period of time. Among this group was Laurie Scott, who studied with him for almost 25 years between 1984 to 2009.

The daughter of a concert pianist and piano teacher, she grew up surrounded by music. She played piano, guitar, and sang as an individual and also in school choirs.

As a teenager, she practiced yoga and was very drawn to the spiritual teachings of India. As a young adult, she lived in a traditional ashram (a Hindu monastery) for seven years, four of which were spent living in India. During her time in India she did spiritual practices and also heard some of India's greatest singers and musicians perform in the ashram where she resided. While she was in India, she also visited sacred pilgrimage sites that she found to be very uplifting and powerful.

After returning to America, she learned about the Ali Akbar College of Music. This struck a deep chord within her. Without knowing anyone, a job awaiting her, or even having seen the college, she packed her bags and drove to California to enroll. She never had any regrets. She considers studying with Ali Akbar Khan as one of the greatest blessings of her life and the happiest years of her life too.

Quiet by nature, she came out late in life as a musician. In addition to composing her own music, she sings short Sanskrit hymns with a tanpura (a lovely drone instrument) and plays the sarode in environments where people rarely have the opportunity to hear live music. She has performed in Alzheimer's homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, an adult daycare facility, a mental health ward of a general hospital, and the V.A. Medical Center. 

She has received opportunities to perform on her own and also through the highly respected organization, "Bread & Roses Presents" of Corte Madera, California, which sends volunteer musicians into institutions where people feel isolated and alone. Bread & Roses Presents was started by Mimi Farina, a younger sister of the famous singer Joan Baez, to bring joy to those in institutions who are suffering, and is supported by famous actors, artists, writers, and musicians.

Laurie also teaches a spiritual and uplifting form of yoga that helps people experience deep calmness and a wonderful sense of well-being. She is a certified yoga teacher (RYT-500), certified meditation teacher, and certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). 

Laurie's hopes that her music, yoga classes and writing helps uplift others and brings some light into the world.