Gurmat Sangeet Outreach

With our Gurmat Sangeet Outreach program, we want to offer everybody in the world the possibility to study Gurmat Sangeet and Sikh Music with Raj Academy. This idea proved to be very successful and popular, currently 130 students are signed up for combination or distance learning.

The requirements for the student are a medium to view DVDs and a daily commitment for practice and studies of 30 minutes maximum.

The courses we are offering follow a specially designed graded examination syllabus created by Raj Academy in collaboration with Lodon College of Music (LCM). These so called LCM Graded Exams consist of 8 levels to be taken within 8 terms comprising 12 weeks each. Students progress to the next level by passing an assessment examination at the end of each term. The examinations will be assessed by LCM and are globally recognised qualifications.

The lectures in these courses are offered as DVD videos and can be viewed whenever and as often as desired. All teaching materials, educational resources and assignments can be requested by email.

The focus of our educational approach is always vocals and musicology of rágs. As a supporting learning tool, we promote the use of sacred instruments - string and percussion instruments which were all created and used by the Sikh Gurus in the historic times.

For each of the following six instruments we offer from Grade 1 to 8 of the LCM Graded Exam syllabus:
1. Dilruba
2. Jori (percussion)
3. Rabab
4. Saranda
5. Sarangi
6. Taus

For each of the instruments, Grade 1 course includes:

- Profound introduction to the instrument
- Listening exercises
- Singing exercises for the development of the vocal capacity
- Playing exercises for the development of instrumental skills
- Breathing exercises
- Rhythm exercises
- Singing and playing together
- Singing and/or playing in accompaniment of audio recordings
- Terminology: Basic notions of Sikh / Indian music
- Rág Vidiya: Theory and application of rágs
- Personalised practice plan
- Historic studies
- Feedback and assignements
- Online Forum to meet teachers and peers