On World Music Day, let’s explore the top music schools in India that are shaping the country’s future musicians and keeping its rich musical spirit alive.
There’s something magical about hearing your favorite song—it instantly fills your mind, moves your body, and lifts your spirit. Music has the power to pull us out of gloom, ease our worries, and turn even the toughest days around. World Music Day is a celebration of this universal art form and its profound impact on our lives and the human soul. It’s also a time to honour the spaces where music begins its journey—where talent is nurtured, and melodies are born. On this special day, we take a closer look at the best music schools in India—institutions that continue to shape the soundscape of the nation and inspire the next generation of musicians.
Founded in 1915 by Phillipe Sandré, the Calcutta School of Music is a premier institution known for its excellence in Western Classical and Contemporary Classical music. With a broad spectrum of disciplines, it offers training in both Indian and Western music, along with dance, speech, elocution, and drama. The school regularly hosts orchestras, concerts, chamber performances, and solo music sessions, providing students with rich performance exposure. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to earn a Diploma in music through examinations conducted by renowned international bodies such as Trinity College London and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
Credit: Serenade Music
The Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, located near Chennai, stands as one of South-East Asia’s premier contemporary residential music schools. While it embraces modern music education, the academy also remains committed to preserving and promoting Carnatic music through immersive, tradition-rooted training. With a strong emphasis on the gurukul-style pedagogy, it offers intensive programs for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Students can pursue a Diploma in Music Performance, Audio Engineering, and Music Technology, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance.
The KM Music Conservatory (KMMC), founded by the A.R. Rahman Foundation, is a prestigious music institution located in Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Established with the vision of creating world-class musicians, the conservatory offers a variety of part-time and full-time courses in both Hindustani and Western classical music, as well as music technology. With a strong focus on composition, performance, and music production, KMMC equips students with the skills and knowledge needed for diverse career opportunities in the global music industry.
Situated at the historic Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore, Rabindra Bharati University was established on May 8, 1962, to commemorate the Nobel laureate’s centenary. Under its Faculty of Fine Arts, the university offers comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Rabindra Sangeet, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Musicology, and more. With a balanced emphasis on both practical training and the theoretical and historical dimensions of music, Rabindra Bharati University fosters the growth of well-rounded musicians.
The Madras Music Academy, one of the oldest and most revered musical institutions in South India, is a premier destination for those seeking in-depth training in Carnatic music. Renowned for its commitment to preserving and promoting this classical art form, the academy serves as a cultural cornerstone in Chennai’s music scene. Each year in December, it hosts the famed “Music Season,” a grand celebration featuring a series of concerts, lecture-demonstrations, and expositions by some of the finest artists in the field.
