Goregoan based Sarod maestro Pandit Vivek Joshi is a music therapist with a difference. For more than two decades he has used music therapy to bring peace and spread happiness to people from all sections of the society, including patients suffering from depression, mental disorder or imbalance or patients suffering from psychosomatic diseases, like asthma, blood pressure, heart ailments, etc.

Vivek says "Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, emotional and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music improves the quality of life and its interventions can be designed to elevate mood, improve concentration, instill cheerfulness, stimulate memory, resonate with heart beats and rejuvenate mind, body and spirit”.

Interestingly music relates to the seven chakras of the body, the seven notes of music like Sa for Muladhar (legs), Re for Swadhista (reproduction), Ga for Manipur (stomach), Ma for Anahat (heart), Pa for Vishudha (throat), Dha for Ajne (ears) and Ni for Sahasrar (Brain). Hence in specific raags with the elaboration of the melody, the music creates an amazing impact on the listeners that stimulates his health and well being which has been observed in various music therapy sessions.

Pt Vivek Joshi is quite passionate and a devoted musician. He is the disciple of Pt Kishanlal Saigal of Maihar Gharana. In 2000 Vivek left for Singapore for a six month tour of performances, it is here that he realised the healing qualities of music and started working towards that perspective. He has several performances to his credit, in mental hospitals in Thane, Yervada, KEM Hospital, Nair Hospital, Sion Hospital and several other organisations.

Pt Vivek says “Music is an antidepressant, there are particular raags that have a soothing and resonating impact on the listeners like raag Yaman, Bhairavi, Malkauns, darbari etc I have been honoured by various organisations for my contribution to the music world in a different level, what is most gratifying is the positive feedback I get from the audience In a progrogramme 95 year old woman walked upto to me and blessed me, such gestures makes me really happy and am really happy to learn that am in a position to give  happiness and peace through the medium of music which I feel is truly a blessing which cannot be purchased and is priceless".

By Guru Vijay Shanker