I'm a trained vocalist, but I'm quite shy about singing when there's other people around. My safe haven is the soundproof music room in my building. This is a way to take that wherever I go. (I hear this is also exciting to people who consider themselves not good singers... I fear there is no such thing)
I'm currently learning how to aalaap (improvise) within a given raga, but the most important thing is discipline in following the notes of that raga. I struggle with this. This thing will beep if I go off course
My grandmother is my favorite person in the universe, and she's slowly but surely ageing. It's hard to keep her mentally occupied when I'm in a different country and my parents both work busy corporate jobs -- especially because, during her lifetime (spent in service of other people or running the house/family), she had little time to develop hobbies or activities just for herself (except embroidery, but she doesn't currently have the dexterity to do that). She also was not very highly educated, so reading extensively is not an option. This idea aims to find ways to keep her senses and mind engaged through different modalities, that perhaps trigger different memories. Could sight (pictures) trigger visuals of the different places she's lived in her life? Could sound play music from her childhood and unlock things she may not actively remember or be able to talk about? I find sensory things unlock in particular what words/questions can't.
This is simpler. I go to a school that constantly has events/functions requiring dressing well. Further, I'm inspired by my mother's (and other Indian women's) saris - a simple 6 or 9 yard piece of cloth with gorgeous designs on it, but which can be worn in any number of different ways. Nearly every state has a different way to drape the sari. I wondered if, inspired by saris' versatility, I could design clothing items that were modular, and could come apart or together in varied ways to create outfits that look different but all equally beautiful, so that I wouldn't have to keep buying new clothes each time an event came up. Good for sustainability and the clout + pride of wearing something I make.
