PREVIEW: Veena and Devesh Chandra Bring Indian Music to Local Families
09/05 @ The Egg, Albany
Photo provided
“This isn’t a concert where kids have to sit quietly.”
Some family entertainment asks kids to sit still. Veena and Devesh Chandra are inviting them to do the exact opposite.
On Saturday, September 5 at 2 p.m., The Egg's Family Circle series welcomes the celebrated mother and son musical duo for an immersive, hands-on exploration of Indian classical music that promises to turn one of the Capital Region's most recognizable arts venues into a place of storytelling, rhythm and discovery.
For parents looking for something a little different from the usual weekend activity, this one may be the perfect introduction to a musical tradition that has been passed from generation to generation for centuries.
Family Circle: Veena & Devesh Chandra brings children and caregivers into the vibrant world of Indian classical music through live performance, storytelling and opportunities to explore instruments firsthand. The experience is designed to be welcoming and playful, whether someone is hearing this music for the first time or already has a deep appreciation for its traditions.
And perhaps best of all for parents of energetic young children, “This isn’t a concert where kids have to sit quietly.” Instead, each program is intentionally interactive, giving families the opportunity to connect and experience the arts together in a relaxed environment.
That philosophy makes the Chandras an especially fitting choice.
Veena Chandra is an internationally-renowned sitarist and teacher who has spent decades sharing the traditions of Indian classical music with students and audiences around the world. Based locally, she founded the Dance and Music School of India in Latham and has taught generations of students while also serving on the faculties of Skidmore College and Williams College. Her connection to music began with her own father, who inspired her lifelong journey with the sitar.
Her son Devesh practically grew up inside that musical world and took on the family tradition of musical storytelling.
Devesh began learning the tabla at just three years old and was surrounded by Indian classical music from childhood. According to his biography, some of his first spoken words were rhythmic tabla syllables. Today, his innovative approach to percussion has made him an acclaimed performer and educator, while his longtime collaboration with his mother has created something especially meaningful for audiences: a living example of how art, family and tradition can become inseparable.
That mother and son connection gives this Family Circle event an extra layer of warmth that shines on families of the Capital Region.
The afternoon is not simply about watching two accomplished musicians perform. It is about seeing how knowledge travels from one generation to the next. The program explores a musical heritage passed from guru to disciple and, in this case, from mother to son.
For children, that can be an unexpectedly powerful idea.
Music is often introduced to young audiences as something they consume. Put on a song. Watch a concert. Listen quietly. Family Circle flips that experience around.
Kids can explore instruments, hear the sounds up close and ask questions about how music works. Parents can join them in the discovery. The goal is not to turn every child in the audience into an expert on Indian classical music by the end of the afternoon. The goal is something much simpler and perhaps more valuable: Explore inner curiosity.
What does that instrument sound like? How does rhythm work? Why does this music feel different from the songs we hear every day? These questions are at the heart of what makes Family Circle such a smart addition to The Egg's programming.
The monthly series is designed specifically for families and takes place in The Egg's lobby on the first Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. The informal setting helps remove some of the pressure that can come with taking young children to a traditional theater performance. Kids and caregivers alike are encouraged to feel comfortable, participate and experience the arts together. It is also a reminder that Albany's arts community belongs to families, not just seasoned theatergoers.
The Egg has long been one of the Capital Region's most distinctive cultural landmarks, presenting music, theater, comedy, dance and family entertainment throughout the year. Its Family Circle programming takes that mission and brings it down to a wonderfully accessible level, creating opportunities for children to encounter artists and traditions from around the world without ever leaving the Capital Region.
For Veena and Devesh Chandra, the event offers an opportunity to share a musical tradition that is both ancient and alive. Now, for one Saturday afternoon at The Egg, that tradition becomes an invitation for Capital Region families to join in.
For parents constantly searching for activities that can entertain their children while also opening a door to something new, Family Circle: Veena & Devesh Chandra checks all those boxes. It is educational without feeling like homework. Cultural without feeling intimidating. Musical without requiring anyone to know the first thing about classical music. Most importantly, it is designed to be fun.
Because sometimes the best way to introduce children to the wider world is not through a screen or by sitting down. Sometimes it starts with an instrument, a story and a room full of families discovering music together.
Family Circle: Veena & Devesh Chandra takes place Saturday, September 5 at 2 p.m. at The Egg in Albany. For more info on The Egg's free monthly Family Circle series, go to www.theegg.org/events/category/family-circle/.