Muskoka Mosaic: One note at a time

Introducing Philip Kashap

MUSICALLY INCLINED. Philip Kashap’s passion for music was instilled at a very young age and as a teacher he hopes to instill that same passion in his students. / Mandi Hargrave

HUNTSVILLE – It’s said that music is evident in all of us, whether we play an instrument, sing with a perfect pitch or simply enjoy the talent of others.
For Philip Kashap, his passion for music became evident at a very young age.
“When I was little my parents bought me one of those Fisher-Price record players with the plastic needle. I was about three,” recalled Kashap. “I had a favourite recording, which was the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, I played that thing to death. I wore the grooves out on that record in one night. My parents ran down stairs assuming there was a cat fight.”
Kashap began playing the violin when he was around the age of seven and went on to study music in his postsecondary education at Yale University where he earned two degrees and his masters. And while studying for his masters he met his wife, Martha.
Kashap had seen her around the campus for about a year before they were finally introduced.
“I admired her from afar,” he said. “One night at an after concert reception we met and then we lived only a block apart so we walked back together and got to know each other that way.”
After finishing their education the two moved to North Carolina where they got married and had their first child. They have now been married for nearly 30 years and have five children, four boys and one girl, who have a love of music and play various instruments.
After their first son was born a teaching opportunity became available in Saskatoon and the three were on the move.
Kashap began teaching at the Suzuki School of Music and the University of Saskatoon and also played in a string quartet there with his wife.
But after 26 years in Saskatoon, he was ready for a change. Enter Muskoka.
The Huntsville Suzuki School of Music began looking for a new instructor to run the school last June with the upcoming retirement of Linda Drennan.
Kashap was aware of the school and knew it had a good reputation thanks to Drennan’s work.
He plays and teaches the viola and violin.
“Under duress I’ll play the piano, but I’m not very good at it,” he joked.
Kashap is considered one of the best violin teachers in the country and many of his students have gone on to become professional violinists and several have won the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition and the nationals for the Canadian Music competition.
He said it’s important for adults not to sell kids or themselves short.
“A person can do whatever they set their mind to do,” he said. “If they’re quite determined to do something, they can certainly learn how to do it.”
Outside of music, Kashap enjoys cooking and has given classes on how to cook north Indian cuisine in Oxtongue Lake and Dorset.
“People found out pretty fast I knew how to do that,” he said. “The word got out and we auctioned a few (meals) off as prizes.”
Kashap’s also an avid sports fan, preferring golf, baseball or racket sports but is getting more and more use to winter sports the longer he lives in Canada.
“My wife and kids are better at winter sports. I try,” he said.
Thank you Tammy Brockhaus for recommending Kashap. If there is someone in the community you would like to recommend contact Mandi Hargrave at 705-789-5541 ext. 285 or mhargrave@metrolandnorthmedia.com.

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