The Freedom to Find Your Own Voice | Vidushi Nandini Rao | TEDxCNS Pune Youth

Carnatic classical vocalist Nandini Rao discusses how years of musical training led her to choose classical music over more conventional paths and find the freedom to interpret, innovate and create her own work. Drawing parallels between music and education, she encourages students to look beyond imitation, follow their curiosity and make their learning personal. Her central message is that knowledge becomes meaningful when it is internalised, built upon and used to contribute something new. The talk was given at a TEDx event organised independently by a local community.

• Carnatic classical vocalist reflects on choosing classical music
• Parallels between music training and education
• Encourages students to look beyond imitation and explore curiosity
• Learning as a route to creating something personal

What happens when knowledge becomes more than something we learn and turns into something we create? Vidushi Nandini Rao is a Carnatic classical vocalist whose musical journey began in childhood. In this talk, she reflects on choosing classical music over more conventional paths, and how years of learning helped her discover the freedom to interpret, innovate, and create something of her own. Drawing parallels between music and education, she encourages students to look beyond imitation, explore their curiosity, and make their learning truly personal. Her message is that knowledge becomes meaningful when we internalise it, build on it, and use it to contribute something new to the world. Because learning is not just about knowing what already exists. It is about discovering what you can create. Vidushi Nandini Rao is a Carnatic classical vocalist who began her musical journey in early childhood. With over two decades of experience and hundreds of performances across India and internationally, she is known for her versatility and devotional music in multiple Indian languages. Through her work, she explores how discipline, curiosity, and creative freedom can transform learning into a meaningful form of self-expression. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx