Apart from the traditional courses, there is a section of youngsters which is warming up to some unconventional career options like becoming
a disc jockey (DJ), a professional musical instrument player or a gym trainer. TOI takes a closer look at the prospects in store.
DJ-ing: Prathamesh Deshpande, who was once a leading DJ of the city, now teaches his craft at the Birds School of Art. The institute is definitely not the only one of its kind in the city. Given Deshpande's experience, students have been known to flock to him. However, as is the case with every other career, not everyone may have what it takes to be a DJ.
"All I can do for a student is share whatever technical knowhow and small tips and tricks that I know. The rest is up to the student, as to how much of a grasping power he or she has. There are a lot of technicalities, like the beats per minute of a song, which the student has to understand. Also, there are some things like a keen ear for music and familiarity with certain kinds of songs, which some people are born with, while others have to struggle to develop," he explains.
"Then after two to three months, when all that could have been taught has been taught, a DJ has to look for practice. If he gets a decent gig at a club, he can earn around Rs 8,000 per month. However, there are private parties too where a DJ may be asked to play. Then, his earning will depend on the kind of party, the size of the crowd and the reputation of the DJ himself," Deshpande adds.
Playing musical instruments: Sanjay Gade claims to run the only institute in central India through which one can earn certificates and diplomas given out by the reputed Trinity College in London. Yes, that is the same college from which our own A R Rahman received a scholarship. Gade says that, for the past year, his academy has been helping students sit for these examinations. He himself has obtained a grade 8 certification in western classical guitar playing.
"The Trinity College offers certificate courses for grades 1 to 8, and then a diploma. The musical instruments one can learn there include the plectrum guitar, the classical guitar, the violin, the English flute and the keyboard. Students can sit for any of these annual certification examinations without having sat for the previous grade. However, just a certificate does not guarantee that a person is a good instrument player. One has to have talent and creativity in order to make it big," Gade explains.
Gym training: Ever gone to a gym and been perplexed by how the exercise prescribed by your trainer may not remotely resemble what you had in mind? Well, there is a method to this madness, and if you want to earn your living by making people sweat while they pump iron, build their body, or lose weight, here is what Amit Sondawale, a gym trainer at Workouts', suggests.
"One has to have a properly built physique, knowledge of the subject, and interest in the topic in order to become a gym trainer. In addition, one has to have a certification, which I got after giving an examination in Mumbai. But now, you can get it in Nagpur. We had had to undergo rigorous training of our own, and were explained several medical details about the human body, and the nature of injuries. We were also taught about how to go about training people with specific medical conditions," he explains.
"A gym trainer, as a beginner, can earn around Rs 5,000 per month. However, depending upon his training skills, he may get increments at intervals of three to six months. This is a very lucrative profession, but is in no way a layman's job," Sondawale opines.
a disc jockey (DJ), a professional musical instrument player or a gym trainer. TOI takes a closer look at the prospects in store.
DJ-ing: Prathamesh Deshpande, who was once a leading DJ of the city, now teaches his craft at the Birds School of Art. The institute is definitely not the only one of its kind in the city. Given Deshpande's experience, students have been known to flock to him. However, as is the case with every other career, not everyone may have what it takes to be a DJ.
"All I can do for a student is share whatever technical knowhow and small tips and tricks that I know. The rest is up to the student, as to how much of a grasping power he or she has. There are a lot of technicalities, like the beats per minute of a song, which the student has to understand. Also, there are some things like a keen ear for music and familiarity with certain kinds of songs, which some people are born with, while others have to struggle to develop," he explains.
"Then after two to three months, when all that could have been taught has been taught, a DJ has to look for practice. If he gets a decent gig at a club, he can earn around Rs 8,000 per month. However, there are private parties too where a DJ may be asked to play. Then, his earning will depend on the kind of party, the size of the crowd and the reputation of the DJ himself," Deshpande adds.
Playing musical instruments: Sanjay Gade claims to run the only institute in central India through which one can earn certificates and diplomas given out by the reputed Trinity College in London. Yes, that is the same college from which our own A R Rahman received a scholarship. Gade says that, for the past year, his academy has been helping students sit for these examinations. He himself has obtained a grade 8 certification in western classical guitar playing.
"The Trinity College offers certificate courses for grades 1 to 8, and then a diploma. The musical instruments one can learn there include the plectrum guitar, the classical guitar, the violin, the English flute and the keyboard. Students can sit for any of these annual certification examinations without having sat for the previous grade. However, just a certificate does not guarantee that a person is a good instrument player. One has to have talent and creativity in order to make it big," Gade explains.
Gym training: Ever gone to a gym and been perplexed by how the exercise prescribed by your trainer may not remotely resemble what you had in mind? Well, there is a method to this madness, and if you want to earn your living by making people sweat while they pump iron, build their body, or lose weight, here is what Amit Sondawale, a gym trainer at Workouts', suggests.
"One has to have a properly built physique, knowledge of the subject, and interest in the topic in order to become a gym trainer. In addition, one has to have a certification, which I got after giving an examination in Mumbai. But now, you can get it in Nagpur. We had had to undergo rigorous training of our own, and were explained several medical details about the human body, and the nature of injuries. We were also taught about how to go about training people with specific medical conditions," he explains.
"A gym trainer, as a beginner, can earn around Rs 5,000 per month. However, depending upon his training skills, he may get increments at intervals of three to six months. This is a very lucrative profession, but is in no way a layman's job," Sondawale opines.