Celebrating the essence of music in India, we at The Knowledge Review, have highlighted few institutions that have carved a niche for themselves, in our latest edition - 10 Best Music Institutes in India.

1. NOWLEDGEREVIEWEducation. Innovation. Success
TM
VOL - 11
NOVEMBER- 2020
ISSUE - 02
INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
WHISTLING WOODS
INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL OF MUSIC

4. EDITOR’SNOTE
Music is meditation. Music is the universal
language. Music is the best expression of
feelings and thoughts.
Music has the power to magnify or enhance emotions,
soothe, heal, and speak more than plain words. When
words fail, music takes over. It makes us happy, it brings us
tears, it makes us dance, it makes us hum, it gives peace,
it brings memories and creates memories.
Music showed us that The World is Flat, long before
Thomas Friedman wrote the book.
In India, different genres of music have always played a
magnanimous role in defining varied cultures and
emotions. Known for classical and folk music
predominantly since the pre-historic era, Indian music
genres have always been a matter of curiosity for the
PLAY ON….

5. Western music world. But it was not until the
1960s that the Western world began using Indian
musical instruments and started exploring Indian
music. Indian musicians, on the other hand, have
always experimented with music and musical
instruments used across the world. Today, there is
an amalgamation of all kinds of music by
musicians all over the globe. Fusion music, which
none could have imagined or approved a century
ago, is today widely appreciated. Music has
indeed transcended all barriers. And this vast field
has much more to give.
Music is also known to have healing powers on
humans, animals and plants. Music therapies for
human beings and animals are practised by many
alternative healing therapists.
The healing power of music has been explained
beautifully by William Shakespeare in the opening
line of his play, Twelfth Night, where the Duke of
Illyria, Orsino tells his servants and musicians – “If
music be the food of love, then play on…” Orsino
was apparently lovesick being rejected repeatedly
by Countess Olivia.
The metaphor went on to become the most often
sung opera by several singers and later one of the
best-selling pop songs by Samantha Fox in the
1980s.
Unlike in other fields, musicians always consider
themselves as learners despite the degrees they
achieve, including our very own Lata Didi
(Mangeshkar) who till date describes herself as a
student of music.
From the Gurukul system to modern institutes,
education in music has come a long way in India
with the teachers always striving to give the best
to their students.
Celebrating the essence of music in India, we at
The Knowledge Review, have highlighted few
institutions that have carved a niche for
themselves, in our latest edition - 10 Best Music
Institutes in India.
So, if music be the food of the soul then play on….
Have a soulful reading! T R
Sumita Sarkar
sumita@theknowledgereview.com

6. WHISTLING WOODS
INTERNATIONAL, SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Sculpting Exemplary Artists
Articles
Music Updates
Changing Tides
of the Indian
Music Industry
Trends
Crazy New Genres
Musical Powers
Music Education
for Children
08
20 28 34
Cover Story
C O N T E

7. AAFT School of Music
blend of passion and
brilliance with innovation
The Audiophile's School
of Sound Engineering
Producing Creatively
Independent Sound Wizards
Urban Raga
Instilling Interest in
Indian and Western music
Trill Route Music
Academy
Where your Musical
Journey Begins
16
30
24
36
N T S

8. NOVEMBER, 2020
Copyright © 2020 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.,
All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine
should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without
prior permission from Insights success. Reprint rights remain solely
with Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. The Knowledge
Review is powered by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.
CORPORATE OFFICE
www.facebook.com/theknowledgereview/
twitter.com/theknowledgerv
Follow us on:
We are also available on:
People behind this edition
Editor-in-Chief Sumita Sarkar
Co-designer Deepanjali jena
Art & Picture Editor Mayur Koli
Art & Design Head Asha Bange
SME-SMO Executive Atul Dhoran
Circulation Manager Tanaji
Digital Marketing Manager Amol Wadekar
Technical Specialist Pratiksha Patil
Marketing Manager Ankush Patel
Business Development Executive Aditi,Naitiki
Operations Head Megha Mishra
Managing Editor
Sneha SinhaContributing Editor
Darshan ParmarQuality Control
Abhishaj Shjeev
The Knowledge Review
Off. No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk,
Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017
Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85
Email: info@theknowledgereview.com
For Subscription: theknowledgereview.com

9. URLName of the Institution Brief
AAFT - School of Music
https://aaft.com/
schoolofnearts/
A creative and innovative music school where
budding artists can discover themselves
Music Institute of
Chromatics
www.chromaticsindia.com
Providing formal but personalised training in
western music
SoulFul Musik Academy
https://soulfulmusik
academy.com/
Training students to understand and play/sing
any song/tune by listening to it and also to
compose own tunes
Suresh Wadkar's Ajivasan
Music Academy
https://www.ajivasan.com/
Educating and spreading Hindustani music,
culture and art across the world
The Audiophile's
School of Sound
Engineering
https://www.tase.org.in/
Providing affordable and quality courses in
audio engineering
The Music Gurukul http://themusicgurukul.com/
Urban Raga Music School https://www.urbanraga.com/
Vocalite Singing Classes
https://vocalitesingingclass.
wixsite.com/vocalite
Trill Route
Music Academy &
Online Music Lessons
https://www.trillroute
musicacademy.com/
Imparting quality music education in a relaxed
but very sincere environment
Teaching varied forms of music by qualied
and competent teachers
Creating awareness and interest in Indian and
Western music among all age groups
Not just rendering knowledge in music but also
giving students a chance to sing in front of
audience
Whistling Woods
International School
of Music
https://www.whistlingwoods.
net/admissions/school-music/
Creating leaders and professionals in the eld
of music production and composition
INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
T R

11. INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
T R

12. The year 2006 marked the
establishment of Whistling Woods
International (WWI), one of the
largest and best media institutes in India.
WWI is Asia’s premier Film,
Communication and Creative Arts Institute
founded by one of India’s leading
filmmakers, Mr. Subhash Ghai. It offers
programmes that vary in duration from one
year to four years catering to all major
verticals of the media and entertainment
industry.
As WWI grew, it launched the School of
Music in 2015 with a vision to create a
state-of-the-art institute that sets new
standards of world-class education in the
field of music production & composition.
Its mission is to benchmark quality,
inspire innovation, encourage creativity
and mould professional yet artistic
talents. It offers a three-year degree
programme in Music Production &
Composition.
The programme is unique, as it brings
together the best practices of Indian music,
western music, film culture and production
technology with real-life opportunities to
arrange, compose, perform, and produce
music for industry standard projects. The
graduates transition smoothly from being
students to industry-ready professionals.
The faculty are all active working
professionals and bring years of experience
into the classrooms and studios. The ratio
of faculty to students is favourable to
individual mentoring and building positive
relations and solidarity within the school.
The vast network of WWI ensures that
students will have ongoing support and
resources available to them during their
programme and as alumni well after
graduation.
A Walk through the Campus
Located within Filmcity, Mumbai, WWI’s
We endeavour
to train the
students in a
way that makes
them employable
and
industry-ready.
Subhash Ghai
Founder & Chairman

13. 5.5-acre campus comprises of high-end
facilities that contribute towards
nurturing the students’ professional and
personal development. These amenities
include – classrooms, auditorium,
workshop rooms and studios – that are
acoustically treated with projection and
audio systems, acting/dancing/music/
yoga studios, gymnasium, fashion –
pattern making and cutting room,
grooming and draping room, apparel
construction room, VFX lab, edit labs,
Dolby Digital film surround mix
studio, cybercafé, and ATM amongst
others.
In addition to this, the campus also
comprises of advanced technical
infrastructure which includes, a 250-
seater auditorium with 4K 3D
projection and Auro 11.1 sound, WWI
JIO VR Lab, Sony Media Technology
Centre, Red HD Digital
Cinematography Cameras, 48 Track
Recording Studio and Foxconn Media
Lab to name a few.
The institute offers cutting-edge
academia catering to various
competencies including Filmmaking,
Media & Communication, Animation
& Game Design, Music, Fashion
Design, Visual Communication Design
and Event Management. All the
programmes are accredited by the Tata
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Indian music is popular across the
globe. The unique programme at WWI
School of Music features in-depth
training in North and South Indian
Music, Western Classical and Popular
Music and exposure to some of the
great musical cultures of the world.
The students learn skills to be able to
analyse any given piece of music and
create musical compositions from a
wide range of possible styles and
traditions. The students learn to be able
to freely create from brief references to
fully realised finished productions.
Besides, a state-of-the-art campus and
facilities, a favourable student to
faculty ratio, a small tight community
culture, opportunities for working on
exciting projects, meeting iconic
industry personalities and highly
skilled dedicated faculty make WWI
School of Music unique.
Walking an Extra Mile
Over the past 14 years, WWI has
proactively prepared a niche for its
alumni in several key media industry
areas. WWI music graduates are
working as music directors,
composers/arrangers, engineers,
singers, instrumentalists, DJ’s, lyricists
Whistling
Woods
International is
a platform for
self-expression
and self-
realisation.
Meghna Ghai Puri
President

14. and play a host of other music-related roles. The
institute provides opportunities to students via its
deep connections throughout the industry. The faculty
members are always looking for ways to promote the
students. The faculty believes that the graduates are
the most effective ambassadors and goes the extra
mile to ensure that students are well prepared to be
industry-ready professionals.
Also, the campus is frequented by professionals from
the industry for guest lectures, masterclasses,
workshops, and practical sessions. The students have
a unique opportunity to interact and impress their
future employers while still learning from them. The
calibre of WWI School of Music students ensures
meaningful association with the industry.
A key major affiliation has been WWI’s partnership
with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS),
Asia's oldest institute for professional social work
education, to offer degree and diploma programmes in
film, communication and creative arts, ensuring that
WWI launched its School of Music under the
leadership of its HOD, Dr. Sangeeta Shankar.
Dr. Sangeeta is a world-renowned violinist,
highly acclaimed in the world of Indian
classical and world music. She is the
daughter and disciple of Padmabhushan Dr.
Smt. N. Rajam. Having performed all around
the globe, she is a brilliant composer and
has various releases to her credit, including
participation in a Grammy-nominated
album.
A PhD and a gold medalist from BHU, she is
a visionary educator and has immensely
contributed to various educational projects.
She is also the founder and managing
director of the record label, Legendary
Legacy Promotions Pvt. Ltd. It has been her
vision to ensure an all-round solid training in
music for aspiring students, to hone their
skills and to make them capable of easily
adapting to different musical genres.
Her futuristic vision is that in today’s times,
everyone creates music with the latest
available technology. If aspiring, young
music composers are well-trained and
strongly rooted in the fundamentals of
music, reading and writing the language of
music, then they would be in a much better
position to tackle the challenges that come
their way musically and also be able to
produce and deliver a higher quality of
music.
It is with this vision that she has envisioned
the syllabus and training at WWI School of
Music, making it a unique programme. Since
2009, she has been educating students to
become composers, music directors, and
producers at Whistling Woods International
ABRILLIANTCOMPOSERANDLEADER
We create professionals that think out
of the box, for a world where ideas
have intrinsic value.
Rahul Puri, Head
Academics

15. the best film and media education is
offered to its students. WWI started
India’s first applied arts degree
programme in Filmmaking, Acting,
Screenwriting & Music – launched in
association with the Tata Institute of
Social Sciences.
Some Glorious Affiliations and
Recognitions
WWI has partnered with several global
film, media and technology giants to
set up four technology and innovation
labs on campus:
a) Sony Media Technology
Centre – 2010
b) Red Education Platform – 2015
c) Foxconn Media Lab – 2016
d) WWI Jio VR Lab – 2018
In 2010, WWI was accepted as a full
member of CILECT (Centre
International de Liaison des Ecoles de
Cinéma et de Télévision) – the world’s
premier association of film and
creative arts institutions. Moreover,
central and state governments consult
with WWI management for strategies
on film, media, and entertainment
education.
Secondly, The Hollywood Reporter has
rated Whistling Woods International as
one of the Ten Best Film Schools in the
world. It has also been rated among the
‘Top Institutes of Influence’ globally, in
2015 by Forbes India.
Besides, the institute was also awarded
Excellence in Creative & Performing
Arts at the 6th FICCI Higher Education
Excellence Awards 2019. Additionally,
WWI School of Filmmaking,
Department of Screenwriting, HOD,
Anjum Rajabali has received the
CILECT Teaching Award 2019 for his
work at WWI for the past 14 years.
Creating Leaders and Professionals
is the Aim
The vision of WWI School of Music
has and will always be to create leaders
and professionals in the field of music
production and composition. It will
continue to align itself with reputed
institutes and organisations like
CILECT, Google, Reliance, TISS, etc.
and further its evolution by pushing the
envelope of educational advancement
through new programmes and their
dissemination to the students. Its goal
is to provide vocational training in
music to students of smaller towns and
cities all over the country and thanks to
its partner, TISS, this will also continue
to grow steadily. The aim is to take
WWI School of Music to new heights
and set new standards for world-class
education in the field of music
production and composition.
www.whistlingwoods.net
No education
will bring you as
much joy as one
that is also your
hobby and
passion.
Ravi Gupta
Dean
T R

16. CORPORATE OFFICE
Check should be drawn in favor of : INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA AND TECH PVT. LTD.
SUBSCRIBE TO SUCCESS
READ IT FIRST
www.theknowledgereview.com
Follow Us :
Off. No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk,
Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017
Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85
Email: info@knowledgereview.com
For Subscription: www.theknowledgereview.com
The Knowledge Review

18. Asian Academy of Film and
Television (AAFT) - School
of Music is a leading
foundation for advanced and creative
learning which believes in setting the
bar high with luminous system of
holistic education. It was founded in
1993 in Delhi NCR to provide
professional training in the field of
music.
Our Vision
Our vision is to become the world’s
most creative and innovative music
school where budding artists can
discover themselves. Our vision of
setting new standards for the best
music academy in India requires
diving deep into the dynamics of the
music industry. We look forward to
build strong global communities of
music artists united together to
promote intellectual diversity
through artistic expressions in this
field.
Our Mission
The mission of our school is to
inculcate and nurture students’
natural inclination towards music
through intensive training as well as
resurgence of debilitating classical
sense embedded in the art of music.
We intend to instill and encourage
unity in the global music community
by entwining creative ideas and
industry insights to inspire, inform
and empower today's youth to
become leaders of tomorrow, thereby,
giving platform to future musicians
for building outstanding repute.
Infrastructure and Academic
Programs
The campus has research centers
which are manned by the top Indian
and International experts who
interact with the students on a regular
basis and share their valuable
experience. We also have in-house
community radio, film club, research
center, news agency and production
studio for imparting practical
exposure to the students. It is the
right place to gear up with world
class competitive edge.
We offer varied degree and diploma
courses at the bachelor’s and
master’s level along with short-term
programs and certifications. These
courses provide skill enhancement
for every candidate ranging from
Indian to Western music - Vocal
Music, Instrumental Music, Music
Production, History of Music,
Applied theory of music, etc.
Constant engagement of students in
live projects, summer trainings, full-
term optional/ compulsory
internships, on-the-job trainings,
study tours, skill enhancement events
and inbound workshops aimed at
solving real-time problems. Students
also get to learn by participating in
cultural fests, symposiums, club
activities, case studies, camps,
community services, etc. He
promotes the facilitation of practical
training modules so that the students
can get the latest scoop on music
productions and the industry.
Students can connect with guest
performers, hosts, artist-in-residence,
etc. through star-studded events
throughout the year. More practical
apprehension with sound
understanding of foundation theories
trigger a new awareness of positive
attitude, group behavior skills, inter-
personal relationships and team
performance skills which play a
crucial role for the comprehensive
development of the young talents.
Following is the list of courses that
we currently offer:
Bachelor’s degree courses [4 years]
• Bachelor of Performing Arts
(Music) + Diploma in Music
Production
Bachelor’s degree courses [3 years]
• BA in Indian classical vocal
• BA in instrumental (Indian
classical/Western)
• BA in music for Film and TV
AAFT
School of Music
Blend of Passion and Brilliance with Innovation
INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
T R
NOVEMBER | 202016

19. Master’s degree courses [2 years]
• Master of Performing Arts
(Music) + PG Diploma in Music
Production
• MA in Indian Classical vocal
• MA in instrumental (Indian
classical / Western)
• MA in music for Film and TV
Diploma and PG diploma courses
[1 year]
• Diploma/PG Diploma in Music
Production
• Diploma in Instrumental
(Classical / Western)
• Diploma in Sound Design
• Diploma in Dance
• Diploma in classical vocal +
instrument
• Diploma in western vocal +
instrument
• Diploma in Music for Film and
TV
Short term courses [3 months]
• Advanced Disc Jockey
(DJ) - Every Genre
• Music Production
• Sound Designing
• Music Business
• Music Composition
• Voice Over/Dubbing
Personality Behind the Success
Dr. Sandeep Marwah, who is the
Founder-President of AAFT, has
been a key player in the
establishment and growth of the
School of Music. He is a renowned
Indian film producer, director and
educator who is prominently known
for his contribution in media and
cultural exchange across the globe.
He has been acknowledged with
more than 500 international, national
and state awards along with recently
achieved Dada Saheb Phalke Film
Foundation Award 2018. He is also
the Chancellor of AAFT University
which is India’s first dedicated Film,
Media and Arts University.
He has always encouraged a learning
environment which is full of
excitement, thrill and challenges.
This has helped the group to
successfully train over 17,000
students till date. His persistent
efforts, knowledge-sharing and zeal
have helped the group to grow and
become a prominent name in the
field of media and arts education
since its inception in 1993. His vision
is to nurture talent and build
employability of the students through
industry-oriented training. He has
been globally propagating the
objective of AAFT School of Music
which is to craft a learning hub that
motivates and guides aspirants
looking forward for building career
in the disciplines of Music
Production, Sound Design, Indian
Classical Music, Instrumental, DJing
and more.
Career Options
One can look for lucrative job roles
in government, private and
freelancing sectors. Along with the
traditional roles of music composer,
director, singer, lyricist, etc., one can
also look forward to modern roles
like music doctor/therapist and serve
other people through their knowledge
and art.
Singing, playing instruments,
recording and sound mixing for some
are hobbies, while for some others it
is their passion. We, at AAFT,
believe to nurture such talent and
transform their skills into employable
assets. One can find global
opportunities in this field with the
right training. Freelancing in music
has opened doors to unlimited work,
money and fame.
Different job roles include -
• Music Producer
• Mixing and Mastering Engineer
• Music Director (Film/Album
Projects)
• Music Arranger (Film/Album
Projects)
• Stage Performer - Singer
• Stage Performer - Instrumental
• Live Sound Engineer
Dr Sandeep Marwah
President AAFT
17NOVEMBER | 2020

20. • Studio recording artist
(Film/Album Projects)
• DJ
• Ghost Producer
• Voiceover/Dubbing artist (Project
Based)
• Music Programmer
• Recordist
• Foley Artist
• Music Educator
• Music Therapist
• Radio artist
• Sound Designer
Being Different
We, at AAFT School of Music, lay
equal emphasis on both theoretical
knowledge and practical orientation.
We have developed a healthy and
disciplined environment that ensures
quality education through an
industry-driven course curriculum,
and an overall transformation of
individual student to a professional
through practical labs,
extra-curricular activities and major
competitive events. We have students
from more than 120 countries
enrolling as a part of our institution,
a large percentage being from
Europe, Middle East, Far East and
the Pacific Rim regions, and from our
neighboring countries. This provides
students a global community of
learning and a platform for cultural
exchange.
At AAFT School of Music, we focus
on delivering industry-oriented
training through practical activities.
Our creative pedagogy includes
knowledge of reading music
sheets/language, performing both
alone and with other musicians,
hearing and identifying notes,
understanding rhythms, performing
technically, grasping music theory
concepts, conceptualizing music,
playing by ear and improvise,
expressing emotion, problem solving
attitude, listening while
singing/playing, multi-tasking nature,
concentration and meditation and so
on.
Achievements and Collaborations
Students at AAFT School of Music
play a vital role in serving the society
through own radio station, Radio
Noida 107.4 FM, which is a
Community Radio broadcasting with
the objective to inform, educate and
entertain the listeners through
engaging programs relevant to the
educational, social, cultural and
developmental needs. T R
NOVEMBER | 202018

22. CHANGING TID
of the
Mus
Indust
IND
NOVEMBER | 202020

23. DES
sic
try
DIAN
In the early 1990s, India was not a country one would
think to be of any import when it came to establishing
a market for global music. India was just not a major
music consumer in the world. But that too is changing
rapidly!
Recently, India surpassed US to become the second-largest
smartphone market in the world with more than 450 million
mobile phone users. With rise in smart phones and
technology, elevation of music production, consumption
and distribution went hand-in-hand.
To satisfy the needs of its 1.3 billion music listeners, many
streaming services, a countless variety of smart devices,
concerts, and music shows are emerging and establishing
themselves as Titans in the music Industry. Three of India's
largest streaming services are run by local telecom and
internet companies.
The Indian Music Industry was valued at around Rs 15
billion in 2019, and that value is expected to rise up to Rs
20 billion in the year 2022.
With such exciting figures, India is sure to be the
battleground of the global streaming industry in the years to
come.
The Indian Music Industry consists of three main sub-
Industries; namely -
1. Live Industry - The live industry mainly works when
artists and musicians go along with their crews on tours to
perform live for their audiences around the globe.
According to the Indian Music Convention, the total
revenues of live business can be put around $280 million.
Live music is still the cash cow of the industry. The key
players in the touring industry are - artists and mangers,
booking agents, promoters, tour managers and technicians.
This expansive crew goes on tours festivals, and tours to
meet and perform for their thousands of fans.
2. Recording Industry - The recording industry is a
subsection of the music industry that deals specifically with
the production(i.e. recording) and subsequent promotions
and distributon of music. Streaming revenue is a part of
recording revenue. In 2018, it went up 22.3%, with
streaming accounting for 69% of all recording revenues.
3. Publishing Industry - The publishing industry is still
in its nascent form. Having started as recently as 2012 by
Music Updates
21NOVEMBER | 2020

24. apparently sees a growth in popularity, with a 9.6% increase
from last year.
Distributing your music online could not be easier. You
have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
4. Technology is rapidly changing music promotion
YouTube has been around for a long time, and has quitely
supplanted itself as the king of video content. Their latest
additions to their platform include live-streaming. The
artists now have the ability to stream their performances to
a live audience of thousands and sometimes millions
without the need of a stadium and in real-time. This allows
for an artist to connect to their fans on a personable level.
This and many more small and big changes are taking place
in the music industry.
With all the new and old possibilities and opportunities, one
thing is certain: Now, is the best time to be a musician.
India is ready to be the next music superpower!
the Music Copyright Act of India, it assigned copyrights to
film producers insted of the actual lyricists.
Royalties to songwriters and composers made up less than
1% of the total industry’s revenue, or $4 million.
As there is an economic outlook on the many changes
mentioned above , there has also been distinct strides in the
artistic and stylistic ends of things.
Everything from what we listen to and how we listen to it
are transposed by new electronic media forms and musical
artforms such as Rap and electronic dance music (EDM).
With the advent of new technology and social media,
sharing and listening to your favourite tracks is entirely
effortless.
Some of the biggest trends of the music industry as of 2020
are :
1. Songs keep getting shorter – the average length of the
top 40 songs of the year 2019 was three minutes and seven
seconds. That is a whole 30 seconds shorter than the year
before. This is largely a byproduct of streaming and
discovery through playlists. Consequently, traditional pop
song structure is being thrown out the window so that your
chances are not reduced in a deck of 52 other artists.
2. The death of genres – Genres are an easy way to
classify the music into different categories according to
their style of music , composition, and other such
ingredients. But recently, new genres and subgenres are
emerging almost daily, so much so that some artists are
being granted their own genre.
As you can guess, it gets very tedious to keep track of your
music preferences. You might consider letting go of the
whole genre game entirely. Besides, up-comers like
YUNGBLUD, and Machine Gun Kelly – after having
famously decried the whole notion of genres and refused to
put their music in any box– are leading to redefine the
whole game.
People often care more about culture than genre. Expect
more stylistic boundries to be broken.
3. Physical sales are down for the music industry
According to Nielsen’s 2019 Mid Year Report, streaming
now accounts for 78% of music consumption. Vinyl
T R
-Aditya Umale
NOVEMBER | 202022

26. Aperformer is known for
entertaining the audience but
in the absence of a sound or
audio engineer, the quality of sound
would not have been as soothing as it
is to the listener. Recording music
would not have been so perfect in the
absence of audio engineering.
Bringing perfection into the song and
enhancing the quality of musical
instruments for accurately portraying
the song being played is the art of the
audio engineer. As it is said that
having an ear for music is the
prerequisite for anyone in the field of
music, the sound engineers precisely
do that to produce and reproduce
performances.
Lot of creativity and attention to
minute details go into audio
engineering by controlling
microphones, sound levels, and
outputs. Besides well-trained ears,
knowledge of acoustics to produce the
best quality of sound is very essential
for audio engineers. Creativity and
continuous research on audio
experiments are part of their routine
work.
There may be a pool of talent aspiring
to be an audio engineer but few can
actually afford some of the lucrative
courses. Noting this, The
Audiophile’s School of Sound
Engineering (TASE) was started to
educate audio engineering aspirants.
Mervin T Thomas, Founder of
TASE, noticed that many students
wanted to take up advanced courses
which were expensive. He incepted
TASE along with Co-Founder Neeraj
Kashyap in Kilpauk, Chennai, to
provide the quality courses with
affordable fees.
The Inception, Vision and Mission
TASE is an educational institution that
was started solely with the vision and
mission of providing quality education
in the field of audio engineering and
music production while at the same
time keeping it affordable. Quality
here means striving for international
standards of learning and education.
Hence all the study methodology and
practical approach is from a western
perspective, which is a bridge to the
Indian music industry.
More emphasis is on practical
training, encouraging students to
become recording engineers, mixing
engineers and independent music
producers. TASE encourages students
to become creative independent.
Brains Behind the Success
Mervin is an Audio Engineer and
teacher who designs the curriculum
while Neeraj with an experience of
10-15 years in international
educational institutes like Singapore
ensures growth for the school.
After graduation Mervin travelled to
Hollywood, Los Angeles to pursue
higher education in Audio
Engineering at Musicians Institute –
College of Contemporary Music, Los
Angeles. Back in India he worked
with sound engineering schools.
Career Options
Students have quite a number of
options starting from recording
engineer, mixing engineer, mastering
engineer, post-production engineer,
re-recording engineer, sound editor,
foley editor, music director, music
producer. Someone who has
composition background can also
major in composition. This field is
very vast. For example, if you take
The Audiophile’s
School of
Sound Engineering
Producing Creatively Independent Sound Wizards
INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
T R
NOVEMBER | 202024

27. the subject audio engineering, it
has various aspects. You can become
a theorist, you can become a pro-audio
guy who is into marketing and sales.
If you have a coding background you
can go into video game design, audio,
etc.
Compulsory Internship Programme
We have 100 percent internship
placements based on the field that
the student chooses at the end of
the programme. For example, if a
student decides to be a music
producer, we will place him with a
music producer for internship so that
he can learn the art of music
production. The student will be
working under him for few months.
This is a skill-based labour. I do not
believe 100 percent placement is
possible. But as of now all our
students are working. The first batch
of students just passed out. All of
them are doing good work. One of our
students is already assigned music
producer and independent artist with a
record label.
Uniqueness
First and the foremost thing that
makes TASE stand apart from other
audio engineering institutes is the
faculty. “We have world class faculty.
They all work in the music industry
with AR Rahman, Yuvan Shankar
Raja and other artists in and around
the city. I can say that we have the
best faculty team on board when. We
have specialised faculty for
specialised subjects. We have very
small student-faculty ratio which is
very 5:1 per class/batch, which is not
the usual case,” informs Mervin. He
adds that TASE has world class
infrastructure and the studio is
acoustically treated in a very nice way.
“We have treated it like a full-fledged
studio and not like a temporary studio
for teaching. Our studio also functions
as a real time studio where
independent artists, musicians,
composers walk in and out of it and
students are subject to these real time
sessions as part of their class and
credits. So, they learn real time other
than their classes,” says Mervin.
Survival During the Covid-19
Pandemic
These times are very tough, but we
have not yet given up, says Mervin.
Most of the schools have started
taking online lessons but TASE is only
taking theory classes because they
believe that students are paying for the
experience, and they do not want to
cut short on that experience. “TASE is
an experience. Hence, all our core
subjects are put on hold. We are
planning to start practical lessons in
November or December. Theory can
be managed online. Some of our
music production and music
programming subjects where it is not
required to be present at the studio,
are being conducted online but all our
core subjects like recording, mixing,
where one on one experience with the
environment and faculty is needed
have not yet started. We are waiting
for things to calm down. We do not
have a big threat because we are
taking only five students per batch.
So, we are actually following social
distancing.
Mervin T Thomas
Founder Co-founder
Neeraj Kashyap
25NOVEMBER | 2020

28. Future Plan
Every year we look forward to
introduce one new programme. This
year also we were planning to start
one but due to the pandemic we could
not do so. But we started a complete
online programme which is a
Certificate programme of three
months. Our benchmark programme is
the one-year Diploma which is full-
time. Our part time programme which
is fully online is a certification in
music production.
We are looking to expand nationally
and internationally. We are looking at
brands to associate with us. We
already have lot of brand collaboration
across the world. They support us in
terms of equipment and software.
They support our students in terms of
equipment and software. Our students
fetch 50 percent discount on almost
any software they want to buy. We are
looking for expansion specifically in
South East Asia and the Asian market
in general. T R
NOVEMBER | 202026

30. CRAZY
NEW
GENRESNOVEMBER | 202028

31. e all have had this moment at some point or
Wthe other in our lives when we were having
a relatively bad day, but somehow a random
upbeat song playing in the background rescued our soul
from lethargy and brought a big grin on our faces.
That is what music can do.
It does not matter who you are, what nationality, what
race, what ethnicity, everyone can enjoy music. It is the
great equaliser.
There are many different genres of music you can
subscribe to. There is hip-hop, jazz,
classical, classical-light, electronic dance music, reggae,
and many more. So many options!
However, this has seldom stopped musicians to venture
unexplored territories and come up with something
new.
They are artists, explorers, innovators, visionaries and
not the crowd to stop at a few thousand genres. But
don’t you worry, I am here to get you catchup on some
exciting, brilliant but mostly weird new genres in the
music world.
Here is a list of five new musical genres:-
1. Lowercase
Lowercase is an extreme form of ambient minimalism
where very quiet, usually unheard sounds are amplified
to extreme levels. Minimal artist Steven Roden
popularised this movement with an album titled ‘Forms
of Paper’!
To describe Lowercase, Roden says “It bears a certain
sense of quiet and humility; it does not demand
attention, it must be discovered..... It is the opposite of
capital letters – loud things which draw attention to
themselves.”
2. Glitch hop
This subgenre of hip hop that emerged around the year
1997 from the early works of ‘push-button objects.’ In
2001, the genre gained popularity thanks to labels like
Merck Records, Warp Records, and Ghostly
International.
3. Folktronica
This is a genre that blends electronic and folk or
acoustic music. Artists who are popular for their work
in this genre are the UK artists Bibio, Alt-J, Animal
Collective, The Books and Caribou.
4. Cloud Rap
Cloud Rap refers to a form of hip hop whose
distinguishing features include spaced-out dreamlike
beats and abstracted, sometimes deliberately absurd,
lyrics that make little to no sense.
5. Hypnagonic Pop
The definition of hypnagogic means the state one is in
just before falling asleep. But the actual definition bears
little resemblance to its application with the genre of
hypnagogic pop. In this context, hypnagogic pop refers
to psychedelic music that evokes cultural memory and
nostalgia for the popular entertainment of the past.
Some popular hypnagogic pop bands include Neon
Indian, Pocahaunted, Homeshake and Peaking Lights.
- Aditya Umale
‘Music
is the language
of the spirit. It opens
the secret of life bringing
peace, abolishing strife.’
-Kahlil Gibran
T R
Trends
29NOVEMBER | 2020

32. It is said of music that without it,
life would be a mistake.
Thankfully, most lives have music in
some form or the other, be it prepared
or inadvertent. The mistake that
invariably creeps in, in most cases is
that music of the kind which could
enrich our lives in a myriad of ways is
either not taught the right way or not
made available the right way for
learning. And when it does, it’s
available only to a select few at
exorbitant costs with little in the name
of standards and pre-set curriculums.
A situation that has existed in India and
to an extent, most parts of the world
for ages in the name of education and
career in music is all set to change.
Bringing humongous changes in the
way music is taught, learnt, imbibed,
and propagated is one institution that
has taken upon itself the task of
changing the very paradigm right from
the grass-root. The Trill Route Music
Academy.
It all started in 2016 at Bengaluru with
Co-founders and Directors, Varun
Raj and Aarabhy Surendran. The
founders were professionally touring
musicians even before starting the
academy and were students of music
from the age of seven. Although
infotech and aerospace engineering
was their dissertation, music was
always parallelly pursued
predominantly from a very young age.
Accolades, adulation and
accreditations were coming their way.
They then seriously thought of taking
up music as a career despite the
“unsafe” tag it carried when compared
to the likes of engineering, medicines
and commerce.
But then music is music like food is
food, a necessity. If food could be an
industry with its own qualification-
based education and career, why not
music they surmised. Aiding their
efforts to bring a semblance of
“industry” with its own standards,
educational content and qualifications,
and well-defined job profiles is the fact
that communication, of which music is
an important, important part is going
through the roof, when it comes to the
quantum of content requirements and
variations, formats and genres, ways of
communication in terms of gadgets,
technology of recording and mixing
and so on.
Exhibiting Excellence
The Trill Route Music Academy
is then the solution that by its very
thought shall bring change sure to
benefit not just music lovers but
also allied industries and sectors
while providing employment and
opportunities to sizable numbers
who remain qualified and capable. A
look at the Academy’s USPs:
- An inspiring ambience that
promotes the right learning
environment which include:
• Acoustically engineered
classrooms to help develop
required sound quality,
• In-house recording studio for
students to explore and create
their own music
• Well-equipped recital space
and classrooms with
professional grade instruments
and sound systems.
- A well-thought mix of short
and long-term programs in
subjects as varied as Western
Contemporary Guitar, Keyboard,
Piano, Ukulele, Drums, Violin,
Western Vocals, Hindustani Vocals
and,
- Professional courses in Music
Production.
- Curriculum highlights
• Course content based on
contemporary styles to develop
usable skills for modern performing
musicians with a strong focus on
composition, improvisation and
production for those aspiring to
become independent musicians for
Trill RouteTrill Route
Music AcademyMusic Academy
Trill Route
Music Academy
Where your Musical Journey Begins
INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
T R
NOVEMBER | 202030

33. sectors as varied as commercial
movies, ad films, teaching, performing
artists or even providing transcribing
and other services for industries with
audio divisions like gaming & radio
•Seamless balance of technical
work, music theory, repertoire, ear
training, guided music listening and
most importantly creativity.
• Students are certified on the basis
of recitals and ensemble
evaluations.
• Student Assessment Program
(S.A.P), a Trill Route exclusive
that’s far removed from the
traditional system of evaluation.
Here evaluations done at strategic
intervals consist of one-on-one
faculty reviews, peer reviews and
student recitals which lead to
further fine tuning, and
development in music and learning.
• DISCOVERY, a yearly event
where the student-pool works for
over 300 hours in ensemble
preparation thus helping students
step into the shoes of professional
musicians.
• Proactive hosting of events,
workshops, masterclasses, and
discussions to strengthen the local
student community of musicians.
What started as a Guitar-only school
delivering quality education at
affordable prices, saw a surge in
demand. This led to their opening up to
teaching varied forms of music in all
their complexities at the hands of
qualified and competent teachers and
gurus who came with the same mind
set. Demand for this form of teaching
has seen them extend their footprint all
over India and even beyond to places
as far away as Dubai, US, and
Australia.
The Root Notes
An idea develops into an edifice
because someone cared to add the
steel. At Trill Route Academy that steel
was imparted by duo Co-founders and
Directors, Varun Raj and Aarabhy
Sudrendran who cut their teeth in the
field for close to two decades. In their
long and cherished career, Varun rose
to fame with his band - “The Down
Troddence” and is famous as a prolific
session artist with over 20 films and 50
independent works under his name as
also a Laney Amplification endorsee.
He was awarded the “Best Guitarist of
the Year” by Rolling Stones alongside
8 awards under Critic’s Choice &
Popular Choice for the Album. This
paved the way for international
recognition for their own composition
by Chris Adler of Lamb of God & Alex
Skolnick of the Testament. He is also
known for past collaborations with
Motherjane and an upcoming project
“Floe”.
Aarabhy too remains a respected
musician with innings as long as
Varun’s which saw her perform and
judge known cultural festivals in India
like the BITS Goa Cultural Festival,
JIPMER Cultural Festival Pondicherry,
Anna University Cultural Festival
Chennai, TAPMI Manipal Brand Scan
Cultural Festival Bangalore to name
some. She has in the past collaborated
with the likes of Baiju Dharmajan
Syndicate and was a featured artist
with The Down Troddence. She was
awarded the Best Guitarist by The
Hindu, Chennai Live with past
endorsements including IRET Guitar
Enhancements.
With founders so accomplished, it was
just a question of time before the
Co-founder & Directors
Aarabhy Surendran
Varun Raj
Co-founder & Directors
31NOVEMBER | 2020

34. academy too would show its mettle.
It started with a quality certification,
the coveted ISO 9001:2015 followed
by an international affiliation for
examinations with the RSL Awards of
the UK for Western Contemporary
Music Examinations & Certifications.
Its community engagement initiatives
have seen collaboration with
accomplished musicians from Spain,
U.S, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand
besides those in India.
Expanding Horizons
The Covid-19 pandemic did prove a
dampener on the institute’s plans to
develop and expand its activities. That
said, they have learnt from it and are in
the process of harnessing technology to
further strengthen the existing online
infrastructure for music education and
services. Their Learning Management
System is undergoing extensive
restructuring and streamlining to cater
to the increasing demand.
Curriculum development and assistive
learning aids, their core focus areas
shall be scaled up in the near future.
These besides, the institute is also
looking to create more platforms to
increase community engagement
through online and offline resources.
In the end, it all boils down to a
thought which in the case of Trill
Route Academy is: “Our students and
the musical community that we help
build, are like the music we make. They
embody our commitment to our art &
uphold our musical image in their own
way. We love our people and are
constantly inspired by their stories.” T R
NOVEMBER | 202032

36. Music has been proven to
have a powerful effect on
the brain. Studies show that
music can help many aspects of the
brain. It also shows that music
stimulates more parts of the brain than
any other human activity. It can be said
that music has healing powers and
helps develop the brain.
Music is an important subject in
school. Many schools have
started eliminating this
subject. The importance
has been lost somewhere
over the years and schools
need to be reminded of it.
Music can give life
changing lessons to the
children. School days are
the period that the children
are groomed. Those years
should be utilized fully
and efficiently.
Music education for kids
at a very young age can
prove to be healthy. In
some schools music is a
part of their regular
curriculum. Schools strive to
mandate standard for them to
gain necessary skills to obtain
their choice of career. There
are various benefits of music
education that schools should
consider.
Brain Development
Children engaging in music
leads to an improvement in their brain
development. It is said that children
who study art can learn to think
creatively. This kind of thinking makes
them learn to solve problems by
thinking out of the box. It also makes
children realize the number of answers
that each problem might have.
Language Capabilities
Students with musical training at early
ages develop the part of the brain
related to language and reasoning.
Children would have larger vocabulary
and enhanced comprehension skills
with musical training. In young
children, the ability to learn words,
pronounce them correctly and process
for
Children
Music Educ tiona
NOVEMBER | 202034

37. new sounds is made easier with music
education.
Improved Memory
Memorisation is a must in music
learning. Students need to have the
habit of memorising when it comes to
singing or playing an instrument. There
are notes, words, sounds, tunes, etc.
that students should be able to
memorise. The memory power
becomes strong when they are
acquainted with music education.
Teaches Discipline
Music teaches children to develop time
management skills and discipline.
Music requires practice, be it singing
or playing a particular instrument. The
children learn to set aside time for
practice. They tend to rise to the
challenge of learning things with
discipline.
Stress Buster
With all the academic stress, it
becomes difficult for the children to
find time to reduce their stress. Music
is one of the key stress busters. By
learning to play music or sing, the
students find a way to relax and fight
stress. Soothing music is helpful for
relaxation.
Imagination Abilities
Music in the early years of childhood
fosters a positive attitude towards
learning. It builds the curiosity and
imagination power. It is said that
artistic ability tends to build the
imagination capabilities of the
children.
Teamwork
Music is always seen as a way of
expressing individuality, however it is
also teaches teamwork. Bands and
orchestras need students to work in
groups. There should be proper
coordination and understanding among
the team to deliver a worthy music
piece. The tendency of working as a
team remains as they are already
practicing it.
Even after schooling and college,
music remains to be a major part of
peoples’ lives. Music has intangible
powers of healing and development.
Indulging children into music at a
young age can help them get through
life in an easier manner.
Musical Powers
T R
35NOVEMBER | 2020

38. The field of music has
undergone a sea change over
the decades. With the satellite
boom and now the Internet boom, we
are exposed to music in different parts
of the world. While many genres of
music kept emerging, the Indian
classical music thrived despite various
influences. It is not just being pursued
in the country but abroad as well where
many music enthusiasts are taking
lessons from Indian maestros.
However, it has not been an easy task
for the keepers of Hindustani Classical
Music to stay afloat in a world and
particularly in a generation, that is so
influenced by everything Western,
music not being an exception.
One such influencer is Bidyut
Chakrabarty, Founder Director of
Urban Raga, Music Educator and
Pianist, who has been instilling
interest in Indian and Western music.
The institute located in Bengaluru has
quite some repute among keen learners
and respect from fellow music
afficionados. Chakrabarty has also
created a niche for himself in the
global education market.
History, Mission and Vision of
Urban Raga Music School
Urban Raga, Performing Arts and
Learning Centre was founded in
2008 with the sole aim of creating
awareness and interest of Indian
and Western music which is
very much prevalent in this modern
culture.
The school has three centres in
Bengaluru and is known to be most
well reputed for its musical education
in the region. It has students of all age
groups and from all walks of life.
Expert Instruction
What makes the school more unique
and innovative is its involvement and
integration with the system and
syllabus of the Urban Raga School of
Music, Bengaluru.
Urban Raga Performing Arts and
Learning Centre expects the active
support of all like-minded people to
come forward to make our effort a
reality in the interest of preserving
meaningful music for the future
generation.
It teaches a range of musical subjects
from, keyboard, piano, guitar, western
vocal, Indian instruments, Indian vocal
and much more.
Online Presence for Global
Education
The institute works with only the best,
degreed music instructors, many of
whom play for music bands and
orchestras or perform with traditional
groups. Background checks are
conducted for all teachers.
Instructors teach students of all ages
and skill levels from raw beginners to
experienced piano players who want to
take their performance to a higher
level.
The Campus and the Academic
Programs
Urban Raga, Performing Arts and
Learning Centre has its own
state-of-the-art facility with all
modern instruments at various
locations within Bengaluru. It gave us
great pleasure in introducing both
Western and Indian music, helping
people to pursue their quest in the field
of music. Urban Raga is committed
towards spreading the joy of music in a
fun and fulfilling way by spreading its
music school in Bangalore.
UrbanRagaUrbanRagaUrbanRagaInstilling Interest in Indian and Western music
We aim to teach
music through a
combination of online
and at the centre. We
are backed up by
highly qualified
teachers and quality
Online Class materials
videos tailored to suit
interests of all age
group.
INSTITUTES IN INDIA, 2020
THE 10 BEST
T R
NOVEMBER | 202036

39. The music program includes -
Sound Reasoning course for adults
who have little training in music and
would like to get more out of listening
to music
The Basic Elements of Music is an
introduction, suitable for non-
musicians, to some of the basic
concepts and terms used to discuss
music
Reading Music is a basic-level
course on common music notation
Special Subjects in Music Theory
is an introduction to some more
advanced concepts, including
some necessary for exploring non-
western music, where student will
learn the basics of Indian
Classical Music
Understanding Basic Music
Theory is a more complete course,
including introductory information
on notation, basic and some
advanced music theory concepts,
and some of the physics underlying
the concepts
Kidsmuzik – Basic program for
children (age 5 to 8 years). Music is
fun for a beginner’s first class at
Urban Raga as our teaching
techniques are customized to suit
the child’s need
Regular course – Junior/grade
musicians (Age: 9 years and above)
Popular choices at this stage include
Piano, keyboard, guitar and violin. The
syllabus is based international
curriculum.
Theory of music – Theory class is also
important as it helps in understanding
music better. It is very important for
students who want to pursue higher
grades
Vocal/Choir - includes
Hindustani/Carnatic/Western classical.
Audition is must. Performed in group
classes.
Drums and Tabla - One of our most
popular and enjoyable subject is
percussion.
Standing Apart
What makes the school more unique
and innovative is its involvement and
integration with the system and
syllabus. The Urban Raga School of
Music expects the active support of all
like-minded people to come forward to
make our effort a reality in the interest
of preserving meaningful music for the
future generation.
Teaching all Age Groups
For piano, keyboard or strings, one can
start at the age of four years. For guitar,
drums or vocal, one can start at the age
of 7-8 years. For most other
instruments one can start around the
age of nine or so.
About 20% students are adults. The
criteria are a little different as
adults move at their own pace.
Adults know the importance of
practicing, so they are not going
to hear the speech that the
teachers normally reserve for some
children.
37NOVEMBER | 2020

40. Group Lessons
There are group classes and
ensembles for students who
already play an instrument to a
certain degree. Group lessons do
not work well for beginners
because the teacher has to divide
his/her time to focus on one
student at a time while the others
sit and wait.
Private Lessons
Private classes i.e. one to one for those
who wish to learn independently are
conducted. But it depends on the
availability of music teacher and time.
About the Founder-Director
Bidyut Chakrabarty is a musician
(piano, keyboard and tabla player),
music educator and founder and
director of Urban Raga. He received
training in music at a very young age
in vocal, tabla and piano and per-
formed at several functions, stage
shows, concerts as well TV shows. He
is associated with many cultural
activities and organized several
campus, social and cultural events to
promote music and arts.
Career Prospects
After successful completion of the
course, students can start their own
band, music production center.,
become teacher, work in performing
arts and learning center. The
certification program will help them
take it to next level if they wish to
further study music abroad.
Why Urban Raga?
The number one reason to consider
studying music at The Urban Raga
is the instructors who are patient,
experienced teachers, inspiring,
motivating mentors, professional
performers and musicians who love
to play music.
Besides, the environment, friendly
and encouraging 'exam atmosphere'
which is fun filled as well as
professional. International certifica-
tion, tie-up with Royal School of
Music London and Trinity School
of Music London, proper structured
music lessons, giving chance to
students to perform in concerts are
other reasons. Urban Raga is also a
part of Western Classical Music
forum for Teachers and many
cultural activities, workshops,
concerts are organized.
Other Highlights
International Certification, Course
Collaboration with Associate Board of
Royal School of Music London
(ABRSM), LCM and Rock School of
Music London.
Future Prospects
Urban Raga is now Online Music
Education destination across the globe.
The aim is to teach music through a
combination of classes online and at
the center with highly qualified
teachers and quality online class
materials, videos tailored to suit
interests of all age groups. T R
NOVEMBER | 202038