Green Park Frontman | Madboy Mink Bassist | Learn Guitar, Bass, and Music Production from a Versatile Pro 

Learn more about Arpan

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  I started playing the piano at the age of 8 and cleared the first grade of the Trinity Examinations as well, but it was not something I was very passionate about. When I turned 11, my friend introduced me to Iron Maiden and I was hooked onto heavy metal from a very young age. That led me to explore other rock and metal bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Metallica, Pink Floyd, etc. which prompted me to immediately buy a guitar and start taking guitar lessons. I even went to watch Iron Maiden live as a tiny 12-year-old in a sea of twenty-somethings with my incredibly supportive family to Bangalore when they came there in 2009. I knew then that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and that nothing else could possibly compare. 13 years later, and I'm happy to say that I've made the 11-year-old version of myself quite proud.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  The Beatles have always been around in my life because they are my parents' favourite band and I was exposed to them during my childhood. However, it wasn't until I turned 15 that I myself recognized the genius of the Beatles. Before that, they were just an old pop band to me but as I explored their later works such as Sgt. Peppers, Revolver, and Abbey Road, I realised that this may be the best music ever written and I carry those feelings with me to this day.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  I believe heavily in the importance of developing your ear to such a great degree that you are able to figure out songs, chords, and melodies in your head without even touching an instrument. It is a skill which requires years and years of patient listening and association tricks. I started working on my ear capabilities when I was 14 years old and since then have developed it to a point that I can play along with most music without ever having to read a guitar tab or staff notations. I inculcate this habit in all my students as it is imperative that they are able to play music without worrying about constantly having to read and decipher notations. It's an incredible feeling to put on a song you've never played before and be able to instantly jam along with it.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  This is an incredibly difficult question as I believe that it takes utmost skill and dedication to your craft to "master" any instrument. I consider myself a good guitarist but I cannot say I have mastered the guitar. As a musician, you are constantly learning. There is no end-point where you feel like you have mastered the instrument no matter how well you play.
  
  But to answer the question, I would say that the piano is perhaps the most difficult to master because your finger and brain independence has to be at a very high level to be able to play complex bass and melody parts on two different hands, and these parts are extremely divergent rhythmically. You are essentially playing two instruments at once.

• What are your keys to success?

  My keys to success have been, frankly, a deep unending love for music and all that it stands for in my life, and my relentless pursuit to keep pushing forward in this direction against all odds. I studied law for 5 years at O.P. Jindal Global University, doing internships in all the summer and winter breaks and working very long hours. Despite this, I never stopped playing my instruments, learning more instruments and skills, and producing my own music. I spent more time in the music room in my college than in the library. I always knew that being a lawyer was not the life I wanted for myself but I completed my degree with the utmost professionalism and haven't looked back since.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  1. Thom Yorke from Radiohead - He is simply a genius and it would be a pleasure to talk with him about everything under the sun, ranging from politics to the production techniques used on Radiohead's latest album.
  
  2. Alexander Brettin from Mild High Club - My biggest influence in the past 2 years. He has shaped the way I write my own music and the soundscapes that I wish to create. I would love to pick his brain and get more insight regarding his creative process because there is so much to learn from him.
  
  3. Andy Rourke from the Smiths - My favourite bass player of all time. His sense of melody and rhythm is unmatched for me and his bass playing has left a very large impression on my own musicianship. He also comes across as a very nice person in his interviews, very humble and kind. It would be a pleasure to talk to him.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  As a touring musician, I have travelled to many different states across the country, going all the way from the Northeast to Goa and everything in between. What I have realised is that the love for music in this country is everywhere in many various shapes and forms. Exploring the wide variety of cultures and cuisines that the country has to offer, as well as meeting some wonderful people and playing in front of large audiences, has perhaps been the best part of being a musician.
  
  Going to music school was a pleasure since I was learning guitar at Parikrama School of Music under the tutelage of Mr. Sonam Sherpa from the rock band Parikrama. It was incredible learning music from such a great musician who had so much insight to offer based on his vast experiences. He was one of the best guitarists India had ever seen and was a wonderful teacher. I had countless jam sessions with him as a student there and learned so much from him.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I take great care in ensuring that my students learn the style of music that they want to learn. If someone wants to learn how to play Iron Maiden, I will make sure that I train them to do that as well as I possibly can without bogging them down with music theory or unrelated genres because they supposedly make you a more "whole musician". It can be enriching to learn different genres and be a more well-rounded musician, but an individual's particular tastes also need to be given due importance. I believe everyone's musical journey is unique and that there is no right or wrong path. The core idea of playing music is to have fun while doing it, it should never seem like a chore to you. I never give out boring practice routines which are simply an added burden on top of the student's academics, work, or otherwise gruelling routine. The tough exercises and routine practices are necessary, undeniably, but I sneak them in in such a way so that the student won't feel bored playing them because they are usually contained within a part of a song which they already like. I think that's what makes me quite different from other average guitar instructors.