In Shardul Bapat’s classroom, the youngest student is only 4, and the oldest an impressive 65.
They’re standing with violins of different sizes, practising a new music piece as their teacher walks around correcting their postures and notes. The music is not entirely in sync, but the atmosphere is light and the students are having a good time.
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Founded in 2018 by Bapat, The Pune School of Music’s aim is to make music accessible to everyone. “Music education has a reputation for being hard to access. Only those from a certain financial background have been able to obtain quality music education. My goal is to remove the elitism associated with music and make it affordable without compromising on quality,” he explains. Currently, three instruments are taught here, the violin, guitar, and piano, with more being added soon.
One of Pune School of Music’s principles is that the learning journey is different for everyone. Since everyone’s goals and abilities are different, the syllabus is customised for each student. “While learning at Pune School of Music, I felt that the lessons were simplified and very well explained. The teacher helped us with continuous feedback and encouraged us to improve,” explains Aarav Thite, a guitar student.
The teachers use Western Classical music to build a strong foundation and then students can choose whether they want to learn a different genre of music. Structured courses are on offer for those who wish to appear for International Examinations like those conducted by The Royal School of Music or Trinity College.
Learning should be fun
Bapat feels that music should be a creative outlet for his students. “Nowadays, with the number of classes and extracurriculars children are enrolled in, they are under an immense amount of pressure. I don’t want music lessons to add to their stress. At Pune School of Music, we make sure to focus on enjoying the process rather than grades,” he says.
At this music school, students learn the art of performance, which is usually a fun way to show off their skills in front of friends and family. Regular recitals and jam sessions teach them to play with other musicians and in front of an audience.
An Indian Board of Music
In India, music students have been following syllabuses developed by Western boards of music. They have been used for generations but may not be the best suited for Indian learners. Pune School of Music is in the process of setting up an Indian board of music, the first of its kind. “This board of music will establish a curriculum developed specifically for Indian musicians and offer nationally recognised certifications that will eventually be globally recognised as well,” Bapat explains.
Pune School of Music offers virtual classes and in-person sessions at their Pune location. Visit puneschoolofmusic.com for details.
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