Muthukumar Anil is a musician, composer and music tutor with a journey spanning performance, composition, music programming and teaching. Through MAScoM, he brings these experiences together to help students develop their own understanding, skills and relationship with music.
My musical journey began around the age of 12, almost by accident. A relative had a small keyboard and was learning to play. I started experimenting with it, learnt some basic Western classical notes, and managed to play my first song — Yankee Doodle.
A year later, while staying at my grandparents' home, I discovered their harmonium. Without formal lessons, I figured out songs by ear, including Jana Gana Mana and Saare Jahan Se Achha.
From around 13 to 16, I continued exploring music whenever I came across a keyboard — at neighbours' homes, with relatives or friends. Those years were less about formal learning and more about discovering that I could understand and reproduce music by ear.
At 18, after completing my 12th exams, I joined my first formal music class — guitar. Although I stayed for only about two months, I picked things up quickly, largely because of the musical understanding I had developed by ear.
During college, I played guitar and keyboard in a small light-music band and took part in competitions. Music gradually became more than something I explored on my own — I was now performing, collaborating and creating with others.
After college, in 2004, I joined SAE for a one-year course in Audio Engineering. During this period, I also performed as a bass guitarist with a light-music troupe for about two years. I was increasingly drawn not just to playing music, but also to understanding how music was created and produced.
From a curious beginning to a journey of performance, composition, programming and teaching, these milestones have shaped my path and eventually led to MAScoM.
Joined SAE for a one-year course in Audio Engineering. Around the same time, I began sequencing MIDI ringtones for mobile phones and training light-music bands for colleges and schools.
I began composing music for mime performances, theatre and small projects. Around the same time, I started teaching guitar, keyboard and piano to younger students on a part-time basis.
I began learning classical guitar and music theory during this period. My association with Thangadhurai Samuel later grew into a long-term musical mentorship that continues to influence my understanding of music.
I joined music director Manikanth Kadri as a keyboard programmer, working on films and projects across different languages until 2015. Alongside this, I continued composing and working with other music directors on various projects.
I performed my first concert with the Madras Guitar Ensemble at TATA Theatre in Mumbai. The ensemble brought together 21 guitarists, and I went on to perform with the group in concerts across India until 2019.
In 2015, I moved into full-time music teaching, primarily through home tuition. Teaching had already been part of my journey for years, but this marked the point when it became my main professional focus.
I worked as a music teacher for extracurricular activities at Chettinad Harishri Vidhyashram in Chennai, gaining experience teaching music within a school environment before moving fully into online teaching.
When the pandemic changed the way music was taught, I moved fully to online teaching. What began as an adaptation gradually became a successful long-term model, allowing me to teach students from different parts of India and around the world.
In 2023, I was part of a 445-person electronic keyboard ensemble conducted by M. S. Martin, which received recognition from the Asia Book of Records. The event was organised to raise awareness about the need to stop child labour.
MAScoM has evolved from my years of performing, composing and teaching into a broader vision for music education. Today, I continue to teach online while building MAScoM as a distinctive learning community focused on helping students become confident and independent musicians.
For many years, my teaching was primarily in person — through home tuition, school programmes and individual lessons. When the pandemic changed the way music education could be delivered, I moved my teaching online in 2020.
What began as a necessity gradually became a new way of teaching. Online classes allowed me to work with students from different parts of India and around the world, while still maintaining personalised, one-to-one guidance.
Today, online teaching is an integral part of my work. It has also shaped the way I think about music education — how technology can make learning more accessible while still keeping the personal connection between teacher and student.
My goal is not just to teach you to play notes, but to help you understand music, express yourself and become an independent musician. Each student is unique, and I tailor my teaching to your goals, pace and interests, combining practical playing, musical understanding and creativity.
Go beyond notes to understand how music works and why you are playing what you play.
Every student is different. Learning is shaped around your goals, interests, abilities and pace.
Build the knowledge, skills and confidence to learn, practise and explore music on your own.
Use music to express yourself, experiment with ideas and develop your own musical voice.
Ultimately, I want you to develop a lasting relationship with music — one that gives you the confidence to continue learning, creating and enjoying music throughout your life.
Whether you're beginning your musical journey or looking to develop your skills further, I can help you build a stronger understanding of music, develop your abilities and find your own musical voice.