Hitting The Beat | Here's Top 10 Schools to Learn Western Music in Delhi

Located in the plush expat surroundings of Chanakyapuri, DSM is the oldest school in the city – they’ll hit 50 next year! Being the mothership, it brought about the genesis of formal Western music education in the city, setting curriculum structures that are more or less followed by all other schools. It is one of the few schools to offer formal classes in recorder, saxophone and clarinet. Mind you, they have a strict admission and attendance policy.

Address | Plot No. 8, Nyaya Marg, Near Carmel Convent School, Chanakyapuri

Who wouldn’t want to attend school where the mentor plays with the mother of Indian rock bands? Parikrama School of Music was founded by Parikrama’s guitarist Sonam Sherpa in 2003. Everything about the institute is in-keeping with the rock spirit of its music education. The courses taught cover all the basic elements for your average band – piano, guitars, vocals, bass and drums; they offer only Rockschool exams, and they’re based in HKV!

Address | A/2, Ground Floor, Back Lane, Deer Park, HKV

Their site says that ‘their courses are designed for those with average ability as well as those with exceptional talent.’ With a faculty of stalwarts, a statement like that is much needed. Apart from the regular courses Music Tec also runs Speech and Drama programmes at their Sushant Lok residence. They even conduct a weekly Jam Band programme that encourages students to practice and perform as a band.

Address |  A-213A, Sushant Lok-1, Gurgaon

If you’re familiar with the local music scene you’d recognize half their faculty. Add to this some fantastic infrastructure – fully equipped recording studios, a performance room with a capacity for 40 fully equipped with a stage and private practice rooms. Although a part of the general curriculum, one may take separate courses in songwriting, lyric-writing, music appreciation, jazz studies and other subjects. The school runs a theatre programme as well.

Address | 3807, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon

We’ve been told that their vocal students pass the Rockschool exams with distinctions every year! No surprise that their vocal classes are much sought after. A relatively young faculty with a lot of spunk who’ve tuned (pun intended) NSR into India’s first ISO certified Music School. They offer separate courses in composition and music theory and run Orff Schulwerk programme for toddlers.

Address | A 117C, Sector 35, Noida

What it lacks in digital presence, it makes up in a stellar reputation. Leading the place is virtuoso Pranai Gurung, listed by Guitarstreet in their ’28 Indian Guitarists to See Before You Die.’ If you’d like to know more you’d have do it the old fashioned way – call! Or better still, pay them a visit at their Vasant Kunj residence. 

 Address | Sector D, Pocket 7, Flat No 7482, Vasant Kunj

With the legendary Gussy Rikh and classical extraordinaire Thu Le on board, IMD is an apt choice for aspiring guitarists. They offer long and short term courses and the space is open to students for practicing. Big wig corporates might want to try out their ‘music classes in the work space’ programme which has received quite a few positive reviews. They also conduct a music production course.

Address | 1502A, C Block, Sector 43, Phase 1, Sushant Lok, Gurgaon

The first of its kind in NCR and probably the biggest, Performers Collective (formerly GSM or Gurgaon School of Music) is to contemporary music education what DSM is to classical. They even ushered the Rockschool exams, a fun yet equally prestigious alternative to the traditional Trinity Guildhall and ABRSM. The school offers a wide range of courses including a unique a capella programme for vocal enthusiasts. 

In Gurgaon | 7416, Behind Supermart 2, DLF Phase 4
In South Delhi | 40/54, G.Floor, Chittaranjan Park

Gurgaon seems to be the hub for music schools too, and that's probably why Lorraine Music Academy has both its centres in Gurgaon itself. At the helm of affairs is pianist Lorraine Aloysius who’s sent 300 (and counting) students for various music examinations. Apart from the usual, the school also offers programmes in music theater, speech and drama and acting. 

Address | Sector-12A, Gurgaon

Berklee alumni Aditya and Tarun Balani took music education to the next level when they opened GMI in 2011. It is the only school in the county teaching the Berklee College syllabus conducted by an international faculty. Their full-time courses are proper 2 year diplomas and 1 year certificates but there are  part-time programmes on offer as well. Fees for the full-time courses are steep, but scholarship is also available to gifted applicants. 

Address | 119 Vinoba Puri, Lajpat Nagar-II

This post is curated by Stephanie Samuel who works in the field of development communications when she's not making educated guesses on Indian art and the local music scene. She hates to write for a living.