Shannon Jacob:  Student musician extraordinaire

This week we feature someone who is currently pursuing her career at the prestigious Berklee College. Shannon has been around the local scene for quite some time before she left Sri Lanka. I first had the opportunity to watch her play while rehearsing for a show with the Late Ruwani Seimon where she used to just let her fingers glide over the keys, following every change that Aunty Ruwani needed on the fly.

A couple of years later I was invited to watch a concert put on by Music Inc. which was founded by Shannon and to see how much she had progressed over the years was simply fabulous.  She currently is a Senior Student Supervisor at Berklee and is set to graduate next year which by the way she has been able to do almost in half the time Berklee graduates normally take to complete their course of study.

Check out her thoughts on life as a music student and her future plans for music in Sri Lanka.

1.    Tell me about your entry into music?
It all began when I was 4 years old, and my mother decided to take me for my first piano lesson. I loved my ‘Music Class’ and my ‘Music Aunty’ (the late Mrs.Barbara Cooray), was my neighbour so I ended up going everyday. That was my introduction to the world of classical music and all written and practical exams with ABRSM and Trinity College of Music, London. I joined the church choir at St.Paul’s Church Milagiriya at the age of 8 (which I later went on to direct before coming to Berklee), and it was really there that I started to experiment and grow as a musician. I started playing by ear at a very young age, and picked up a few other instruments along the way, but the piano has always been my firm favourite. From then on, be it the Bishop’s College Choir, S.Thomas’ College Choir to my very own non profit show choir Music.inc, I was fortunate enough to have worked with wonderful people like the late Ms.Ruwani Seimon, Vinodh Senadeera, Aruna Siriwardena and many others who always believed, guided and encouraged me to keep doing what I love.

2.    What made you choose Berklee?
I came to a point when I decided that I wanted to pursue further studies in Music, beyond classical music. I had already received my BTECH Diploma in Interior Design at the Academy of Design Sri Lanka, and was a working designer by day, but music always occupied most of my life. It was also not just composing and directing that I was interested in. I wanted to be self sufficient in the music industry. That meant being able to do everything from Arranging, Orchestrating, Film Scoring, Producing and Studio Mixing/Recording/Engineering. A lot of colleges I looked into overseas had all of these elements as different Majors, and I wanted to do them all, which is not possible! Berklee was actually the first and only college that I found that had all these elements as one big Major called Contemporary Writing and Production. As a result, it is also the only college that I applied to. There is a competitive audition and interview process that you need to go through in order to get accepted, and with the full support of my family and close friends, I just went for it. I suppose it is a great plus point that it is rated as the best contemporary music college in the world, and I cannot express how grateful and humbled I am that I get to be here doing what I love.

3.    The most rewarding moment in your career as a student at Berklee?
Every single moment. Seems cliché, but true.  How do you choose between meeting A.R.Rahman and James Newton Howard, getting to work alongside amazing musicians from around the world, meeting wonderful people when travelling for the College and professors who are celebrities in their field?! There was this one instance though, being in SIR Studios in NYC on an Admissions related trip, when the whole cast and orchestra for the Broadway Musical Les Miserables was rehearsing. That was just breathtaking.

4.    What is your routine like over there?
Apart from classes, I work as an Admissions Student Recruiter Supervisor in the Admissions Office, serve on the board of the Berklee Musical Theater Club as the Company Manager, (ran) Cross Country competitively last year, occasionally write for the student run online newspaper ‘The Groove’ and have the honour of being a Student Ambassador for Berklee. This means that my life here is scheduled by the minute. I have to multi-task; run between work and class, practise for my Private Instruction lesson and Ensemble class, spend time recording/mixing/engineering in the studios, compose and arrange for writing projects, attend various other rehearsals, and try and fit all of the above and much more into one day. As Berklee students, we take an average of 8 classes per semester. For a college level, this is a LOT. Usually college students take an average of 4 classes. As a result, Berklee students graduate with a wealth of knowledge in all areas. That is another really great aspect of Berklee, it really teaches you time management, which comes in handy because the music industry is a demanding world with seriously short deadlines. I am also interning for a Boston based establishment called ‘Trill’ that lists all of the shows based in Boston on their website. How do I balance life? I have no clue, I just pray to God to get me through, one day at a time.  

5.    How would you define a good song?
A song that is memorable, achieves its purpose in terms of musicality, rhythm, creativity and emotion.  For me, it needs to cast a lasting impression. This does not mean that it needs to be complicated in terms or lyrics, melody or form; it just needs to mean something more than just generic music for the entertainment industry. Some of the greatest music in the history of mankind is actually also some of the simplest when it comes down to the analysis of it, however, they have also changed the face of humanity on many occasions by sending out a message nestled within. I just love that.

Music is such a powerful tool that can be used to change lives, and I have seen that happen, especially when Music.inc worked towards the benefit of less privileged children in Sri Lanka. If you are gifted with this ability, why not use it towards the betterment of others?

6.    Where do you draw your inspirations from when creating melodies?
Honestly, I am not quite sure, but I think it is a lot of listening, learning and soaking up everything that I hear, and putting it down with my own twist. Sometimes it all comes tumbling out in one big mess, and I have to sit at the piano and figure things out before scoring it. Other times, there is no inspiration whatsoever, and deadlines force you to put something down, which later turns out to sound quite pleasant! When I come to a point when I feel like I am breaking, I take a break and go for a run to clear my head.

7.    Out of the songs you’ve done which one is closest to your heart?
All of them are. Even the smallest homework project that I have done has a place in my heart for it. That piece of music, be it two notes, to a whole song, to an entire orchestral score is unique to me. I often listen to older projects to see how far I have come and what I can do to improve. There is a lot of work that goes into creating music that people are unaware of, and having been on both sides of the fence, I am able to appreciate even the tiniest detail as a result.

8.    For those who don’t know, tell us the about the things you have to go through to become an accomplished musician?
A LOT of hard work, discipline, and faith. The common misconception is that music cannot be a career field that you can support yourself with. Wrong. It is just like any other career field you choose, you just need to know what you want and find a way to achieve your dreams whatever they may be, no mater how hard that may be. It is true that there may not be enough resources or people to support this idea, but if you believe in it, that’s all it takes. There will tough choices and sacrifices that you will be faced with. Face them bravely, make wise decisions, think long term, and never take your eyes off your final goal. Never look back. If you want to make your dreams come true, you have to be willing to work hard for it. For me, I put my faith in God, pray, rely on those closest to me and give it my very best shot. I am yet to see this method fail me.

9.    Once you come back to Sri Lanka, What would you like to introduce to the local scene that you have learnt from there but do not see here?
Someday, I would love to create a platform that grants Sri Lankan musicians the chance to be self-sufficient. I know this is a huge responsibility, and will need a much more comprehensive thought process, but if I do take it on, I want our locally talented musicians to change the way the music industry is thought of as in Sri Lanka. I see great change happening already and I am so thankful for those who already campaign for the betterment of our local talent.

10.    What is the best lesson you have learnt about  the connection between music and life?
Music can be replaced, but your family, loved ones, closest friends and all those who care for you are irreplaceable. Being at Berklee and studying music so far away from home has taught me that family is, and will always be the most important aspect of my life. My mom, dad and brother have always loved, supported and encouraged me, and without them, I would not be here today. This also includes my support system of closest friends and loved ones. Alongside believing and trusting in God to carry me through, they are a part of the rock on which I stand. It is important to keep these ties strong, as they are a huge part of your emotional well-being, which impacts your creativity in return. It is amazing just how much music can teach you about everyday life choices. The gift of music is at its best when shared. So share your knowledge with others, be humble, and stand up for what you believe in.  Never give up. Never. Even if you are the last to finish the race, have faith and just keep swimming.
 

Text by Reihan Stephen