As the gentle notes of Amor begin to fill the room,  one can't take one's eyes away from its source, or stop swaying one's head to the soft melody. Amor is the Portuguese word for love, explains the man on stage, dressed in his customary white shirt and beaded necklace. 

A pianist, accordionist, composer, arranger, music producer, TV host and teacher, all rolled into one is Brazil's Grammy award winning Marcos Nimritcher. This musical genius started playing classical music at the age of four and later worked on more popular forms of Brazil. Marcos, who is in Chennai as part of Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music's fall faculty says, "I have always wanted to go to India. I heard so much about India, since I was a teenager, mostly through my yoga teacher. And I've imagined how it would be to go there ever since. I thought I should go there to learn music. I can't believe I'm invited her to actually teach music."

If there's one Indian artist I really like listening to, it's undoubtedly Anoushka Shankar. She is extremely talented. I love the blend of Indian, Spanish and Jazz. I wish I get to play alongside her someday

Marcos Nimrichrter, Grammy Award-winning composer

Nimritcher is the first in his family to have anything to do with music. "I've heard music passes from generation to generation. But that's not true. I found my own way." He describes his interest is music as broad and enjoys all genres. However, stressing the need for classical music he says, "It doesn't matter what genre you want to play, the background of western classical music is very important, even for jass, rock or metal. That's because of the amount of detail and technicality involved."

It's just been two weeks in Chennai and Nimritcher has already been taking lessons in Carnatic Music. Moving his hands in the traditional Indian style, he goes 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ne Sa' in his Portuguese accent and says, "I've been really enjoying Carnatic Music. It is so sophisticated. The melody is different, but the rhythm is similar to Brazilian music."

He does a lot of travelling in his line of work, so we asked him if he managed to carry his favourite piano around everywhere he went. He had a hearty laugh and told us that he settles for carrying the accordion because the piano was just way too big and heavy

"If there's one Indian artist I really like listening to, it's undoubtedly Anoushka Shankar. She is extremely talented. I love the blend of Indian, Spanish and Jazz. I wish I get to play alongside her someday." When asked how is winning the Grammy was the best moment of his life, he says, "No, for me, the best moment is whenever the music starts playing, There is no feeling that can compare to it."