Music for many is a form of expression, a way for them to communicate to others their thoughts and emotions. It is no easy feat to be able to master a form of music, but there are ways to hone your skills into something bigger to share with the world. There are a few institutions to help each passionate individual with this, such as the Global Music Institute (GMI).
A higher level
Situated in Greater Noida, GMI aims to help musically passionate individuals reach their full potential. “The idea behind GMI was to create a space for artistes and musicians to have access to a higher level of contemporary music education that is at par with international standards,” says Aditya Balani, Co-Founder and Director, GMI. “What began in 2011 as a short performance programme has now grown into a three-year diploma taught by faculty from around the world. It has become a hub for local musicians to learn, interact and perform,” he adds.
“Studying at GMI exposed me to some great music and musicians. I was able to analyse the music I was listening to and gain much more from it, which consequently helped me in my own writing,” says GMI alumnus Aman Sagar.
GMI currently offers six programmes: a three-year graduate diploma, a two-year diploma, a one-year certificate, a music production programme, a weekend performance programme and a summer certificate programme. It is up to the students — based on the amount of time they are willing to spend and how far they are willing to go to learn — to choose a programme suitable for them. After the one-year programme, students have the option of extending their studies for a two-year diploma and further to a 3-year graduate diploma.
The courses include interactive classes and workshops, one-on-one learning with the faculty and exposure to industry-standard music production software. All programmes have a contemporary focus with a variety of musical styles including jazz, pop, rock and blues. The curriculum also includes an interdisciplinary approach combining Hindustani, western classical and world music. The choice of performance major offered includes guitar, voice, piano, drums, and bass.
Application
Through an online application process, applicants have to provide information about their musical training and educational background. They are also required to send video links to their performances based on which the institute can assess which programme they would be best suited for. There is also a detailed interview with a potential student, either face-to-face or via an online platform depending on the location of the applicant.
The certificate and diploma courses are college-level programmes; applicants must be high school graduates (10 + 2) and be at least 15 years of age at the beginning of their studies. Applicants must also understand basic English to be able to communicate with the international faculty. “We have students with a very high degree of musical proficiency; so we also require that our incoming students have at least two to three years of play experience on their instrument,” shares Aditya. “For us, the quality of applications matter more than the quantity.”
Experiences
Apart from the more obvious choice of becoming a performer through this education, there are other fields one can be drawn to, such as music business and management, music production and engineering, live sound, song writing, composition and arranging, film scoring, music therapy, music education and so on.
GMI has also partnered with various cultural centres and music venues to provide professional performance opportunities, and to integrate students into the live music circuit and performing arts community. “We also have a network of schools and organisations that recruit young and dynamic music educators. Many of our graduating students find teaching opportunities through this network,” says Aditya.
GMI, although still relatively young, already has an impressive alumni list which includes Abhishek Shekri, who has set up a studio and focuses on producing artistes; Aman Sagar, a guitarist and vocalist who received a full scholarship to study at Berklee, and Tarana Marwah and Kamakshi Khanna who perform shows across India. Dhruv Goel after studying at GMI, transferred to Berklee and is now working with Hans Zimmer in Los Angeles.
“GMI was my first experience studying concepts like music theory, composition, ear training, piano, voice and how to work in an ensemble. I’ve trained under so many exceptional teachers,” says Kamakshi, of her experience.
GMI runs on a semester-based system with three semesters in a year: spring (Jan-Apr), summer (May-Aug) and fall (Sep-Dec). Fresh enrolments open at the beginning of every semester.
