Artium Academy has been part of this movement since day 1. Through this blog, we want to talk about where music education in India stands today, its importance and what global examples can teach us. We\u2019ll also talk about how all of us, parents, teachers, schools, communities and platforms, collectively can contribute to giving music the place it truly deserves in learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is Music Education Advocacy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn simple words, music education advocacy is an effort to promote, protect, improve and expand access to quality music learning in schools, communities, homes and institutions. It effectively means making the case through research, policy, community action and public conversation that music is not a luxury but a developmental necessity. An advocacy movement brings together musicians, educators, parents, technologists, policymakers and industry leaders to change how society treats music in learning environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, advocacy for music education is highly important. Despite centuries of tradition, music learning in India<\/a> remains largely informal, unorganised and inaccessible to the vast majority of aspirants. The gap between what is culturally available and what is institutionally supported is immense. Closing that gap is what music education advocacy is all about. <\/p>\n\n\n\nImportance Of Music Education In Child Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s start with science because it is powerful and often underestimated. As per research conducted by the University of Southern California<\/a>, it was found that children receiving structured music training showed significantly faster brain development, especially in the areas linked to language processing, reading and speech sound processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Brain](\"https:\/\/artium-v2-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Brain-Development-by-Music.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnother study in Neuroscience<\/a> found that structured music learning significantly improves language-based reasoning and executive functions, including planning, attention and working memory. These are core skills that determine academic success across every subject. The benefits of music education extend well beyond academics:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Emotional Development: Music gives learners a healthy channel to express, process and manage emotions. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Social Skills: Music enables ensemble playing, group singing and collaboration, thus building teamwork and empathy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Motor Coordination: Learning an instrument improves motor skills and bilateral coordination. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Confidence and Resilience: Performing in front of others builds courage and capacity to handle pressure. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultural Identity: For children, especially Indian, learning classical or folk music connects them to a heritage that is their own. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Child development through music is not just a mere theory; it is measurable, consistent and documented through decades of research. So, the right question is not whether music matters, but why are we still treating it as an option? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Current State Of Music Education In India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile music has been an integral part of Indian history, music education is complicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On one side, we have the world\u2019s richest and centuries-old musical tradition, Indian classical music. It is a vast folk music<\/a> ecosystem tied to every region, along with a commercial music industry growing at an approximate 13.4% CAGR. The Indian music market is projected to grow to USD 5.9 billion by 2034<\/a>. On the other side, you\u2019ll see that school-level music education in India is very much unstructured and inconsistently delivered. Go to a majority of Indian schools and you will find they do not have trained music teachers or a standard graded curriculum. Music assessment is informal and students in tier 2 and tier 3 cities have limited or no access to quality music learning compared to their peers in metros.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen we started Artium Academy, we just had one dream: that no one who loves music should ever feel that music is out of reach\u201d<\/em>.
Vivek Raicha, Co-founder, Artium Academy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile building Artium Academy\u2019s platform, our Co-founder, Vivek Raicha<\/a>, observed: India\u2019s music learning journey for learners is \u201ccompletely broken\u201d, highly unorganised and falls short, with uncertain outcomes. While it is not a critique of individual schools or teachers, it is a reality that advocacy, policy and technology must collectively address. This shows that access to music education in India heavily depends on geography, income and who you happen to know. A child in Mumbai may have access to a Carnatic guru, while a child in a small town in Jharkhand may have no access to music at all. This inequality is one of the most powerful arguments for building scalable, structured online music education. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Music Should Be A Core Part of Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere are three pillars based on which we feel music education should be treated as a core subject: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Cognitive and Academic Benefits
<\/strong>As mentioned above, music training builds cognitive skills. If we want our children to build better language skills, stronger memory, sharper focus and greater creativity, we need to ensure music education is integrated into their daily learning environment.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Cultural Continuity
<\/strong>Music education in schools is the most practical and efficient way to keep India\u2019s cultural identity alive and evolving. India is home to musical traditions of extraordinary depth and beauty. With structured music learning for kids, these traditions can be admired, learned and practiced by future generations.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- The Global Benchmark
<\/strong>Let\u2019s take China as a reference. Their experience in formalizing music education within their national curriculum offers India a powerful and instructive reference. Music is a mandatory part of education under the Chinese national curriculum standards. It clearly defines the learning outcomes and formative assessment systems, aligning them from central policy to individual classrooms.
This has resulted in a generation of Chinese students with strong musical literacy, greater engagement with the arts, and a more robust pipeline into careers in music performance, production, and education. In India, our cultural richness gives us more opportunities than most countries. What we need is the same, if not more. We need structural commitment: clear curriculum, trained teachers, dedicated time to music in school and certified pathways for music learners at all levels. This is a major lesson we at Artium Academy<\/a> have learned before building our own structured curriculum and globally recognised certification programmes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nGovernment Initiatives Supporting Music Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe policy of the Indian government when it comes to music is changing and there are genuine reasons for optimism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is by far the most important policy shift for arts and music in Indian music education. The NEP calls for greater emphasis on music, arts and crafts at all levels of schooling. It promotes the hiring of artists, craftspeople, and musicians from local communities as guest faculty, bringing authentic expertise into classrooms. As per the 2023 National Curriculum Framework, performing arts have been given equal status to science and mathematics – a move that\u2019s not only symbolic but also inspiring. The state of Karnataka has taken one step forward in implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have made it mandatory to offer music and performing arts across all educational levels in the state. Their initiatives like Kala Utsav, a national festival of arts in schools, have brought music performance into the educational spotlight. However, as advocates of music education, we honestly acknowledge that, the gap between policy intent and classroom reality remains wide. Trained music teachers are scarce, infrastructure is inconsistent and assessment frameworks are yet to be developed. Although the direction is right, the momentum is lacking. To build momentum, we need community, industry and platform support to translate into a genuine learning experience for aspirants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Role Of Parents In Music Education Advocacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn a child\u2019s life, right from an early age, parents can be the most powerful advocates for music education. A lot of parents still think of music as a \u201cbackup hobby\u201d or an activity to be kept for weekends. This conversation shifts when parents understand that music education for kids is not just about producing professional musicians. It is about developing focused, creative, emotionally intelligent human beings who have a lifelong relationship with one of humanity\u2019s most universal languages. Parents can advocate for music education by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Actively choosing to enroll kids in schools that include music in their academic curriculum<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enrolling kids in structured, graded online music classes or singing classes in India that offer recognised outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Asking schools why music is not assessed with the same seriousness as other subjects<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sharing the research on child development through music with their school communities<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Making it a norm that spending time on music is as important as studying any other subject. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Schools Can Strengthen Music Education <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile government infrastructure may spring up in its own time, schools do not have to wait to begin music education. Many changes are within reach right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Bring on board trained music teachers rather than assigning music periods to whoever is available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create a structured, graded curriculum rather than ad hoc sing-along sessions. Map it to developmental stages, as is done in core academic subjects. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dedicate consistent time to music learning, at least 2-3 periods\/week across all classes, not just primary schools. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create performance opportunities like school concerts, inter-house music competitions, and cultural programmes with musical components. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Collaborate with known platforms for supplementary online music learning that can give students access to expert teachers beyond the school\u2019s own resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The schools making this investment will see results not just in music but in classroom engagement, student confidence and overall learning culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Online Music Learning Is Expanding Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTechnological advances have become the most powerful lever for promoting music education in India, and they are being used to great effect.
Online music learning has basically changed who can access quality instruction. A learner from Jharkhand, Bihar or Sikkim can now learn from one of India\u2019s best music teachers through a structured, live, online class from their home – something that was unimaginable a decade or two ago. Geography is no longer a limitation to music learning.
Online music education for kids<\/a> platforms offer benefits that even the best individual teachers struggle to match: structured progression, graded assessments, recorded lessons for review, peer community and online performance opportunities.
Singing lessons online in India<\/a> and online music classes have democratised access to Indian classical, Western and folk traditions alike. The first generation of music learners, children whose parents had no musical education, can now access expert instruction at reasonable prices right from their home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is the biggest plus point of online music education: it removes the access inequality that has historically defined who gets to learn music in India and who does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Online](\"https:\/\/artium-v2-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Online-Music-Education-in-India-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Communities And Organisations Can Advocate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen it comes to music education advocacy, it is no longer a school or government conversation. Communities, businesses, NGOs and cultural institutions all play an important and meaningful role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- CSR activities and corporate help can fund music education infrastructure in government and low-income schools. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultural organisations can bring Indian classical music directly into schools and colleges to create awareness and appreciation. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Local music communities, such as riyaz circles, bhajan groups, and local bands, can offer mentorship or performance opportunities to young learners. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Music industry communities like streaming platforms, record labels, and event companies can invest upstream in education to grow the ecosystem they depend on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s important is to understand that music education ultimately benefits everyone. A more musically literate population is a larger audience, a richer talent pool and a more culturally vibrant society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common Myths About Music Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere are some common myths associated with music education in India. It\u2019s time we address them directly and not let them hold the progress we have been trying to make – <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Music is only for talented children<\/strong>
Talent is not inherited; it is a skill and not a gift. Just like reading or mathematics, you need to learn it through practice and guidance. If you can speak and hear, then you are capable of learning music.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Focusing on music hurts academic performance<\/strong>
On the contrary, it is quite the opposite, and also backed by research. Music training improves the cognitive skills that drive academic performance.\u00a0
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Music cannot lead to a career<\/strong>
India\u2019s music industry is worth billions of dollars and growing rapidly. Various career paths in the music industry, like performance, production, teaching, music therapy, composition, sound design and music technology, are rapidly growing.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Online music classes are not as effective as in-person learning
<\/strong>Research and experience increasingly show that structured online music education, taught by expert teachers with proper technology, delivers excellent outcomes, often better than in-person lessons.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe Future Of Music Education In India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIndia is at a stage of genuinely exciting turning point –
On one side, we have a music industry growing annually at 13%, a streaming audience of 178 million, a live music sector that grew 414% between 2020 and 2024 and international artists increasingly recognising India as a priority market.
On the other hand, a music education ecosystem is just starting to organise itself, backed by progressive policy in NEP 2020 and supported by platforms that are building what institutions alone cannot yet provide.
It is important to understand that the investment in music learning is not just for art but also for the human capital of a creative economy. Children receiving structured, quality music education today will end up being performers, producers, composers, teachers and music entrepreneurs of tomorrow. India\u2019s musical soul does not need to be discovered; it just needs to be supported, structured and given room to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Music](\"https:\/\/artium-v2-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Music-Education-in-India.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nArtium Academy: Building The Gold Standard In Music Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n“Technology has transformed the global music landscape in favour of creators and India presents a huge opportunity. We are building the gold standard in music education for Indians globally.”<\/em>
Vivek Raicha, Co-founder, Artium Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWe started Artium Academy with a simple belief to make music education accessible to those who want to learn, regardless of geographical location. Over the last 5 years, this belief has transformed into 45,000+ learners pursuing their passion for music across India and internationally. We offer a structured & globally recognised curriculum in Indian classical, Western vocals, Film music, and instruments certified by legends from the music industry. Not just that, these are taught in live online music classes by India\u2019s best music teachers<\/a> 1who are also performers and music aspirants themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOur commitment to credibility and structure is what sets us apart in this conversation for music education advocacy. We launched India\u2019s first and only globally recognised music programme (GRMP), certified by internationally respected institutions, giving Indian learners access to global credentials in Indian classical music for the first time in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they say, Rome was not built in a day. We did our bit by studying global models, including China\u2019s approach to music education. This helped us in building a curriculum that reflected the rigor, progression and assessment quality that serious music education demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Music Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Importance Of Music Education In Child Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s start with science because it is powerful and often underestimated. As per research conducted by the University of Southern California<\/a>, it was found that children receiving structured music training showed significantly faster brain development, especially in the areas linked to language processing, reading and speech sound processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnother study in Neuroscience<\/a> found that structured music learning significantly improves language-based reasoning and executive functions, including planning, attention and working memory. These are core skills that determine academic success across every subject. The benefits of music education extend well beyond academics:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Emotional Development: Music gives learners a healthy channel to express, process and manage emotions. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Social Skills: Music enables ensemble playing, group singing and collaboration, thus building teamwork and empathy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Motor Coordination: Learning an instrument improves motor skills and bilateral coordination. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Confidence and Resilience: Performing in front of others builds courage and capacity to handle pressure. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultural Identity: For children, especially Indian, learning classical or folk music connects them to a heritage that is their own. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Child development through music is not just a mere theory; it is measurable, consistent and documented through decades of research. So, the right question is not whether music matters, but why are we still treating it as an option? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Current State Of Music Education In India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile music has been an integral part of Indian history, music education is complicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On one side, we have the world\u2019s richest and centuries-old musical tradition, Indian classical music. It is a vast folk music<\/a> ecosystem tied to every region, along with a commercial music industry growing at an approximate 13.4% CAGR. The Indian music market is projected to grow to USD 5.9 billion by 2034<\/a>. On the other side, you\u2019ll see that school-level music education in India is very much unstructured and inconsistently delivered. Go to a majority of Indian schools and you will find they do not have trained music teachers or a standard graded curriculum. Music assessment is informal and students in tier 2 and tier 3 cities have limited or no access to quality music learning compared to their peers in metros.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen we started Artium Academy, we just had one dream: that no one who loves music should ever feel that music is out of reach\u201d<\/em>.
Vivek Raicha, Co-founder, Artium Academy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile building Artium Academy\u2019s platform, our Co-founder, Vivek Raicha<\/a>, observed: India\u2019s music learning journey for learners is \u201ccompletely broken\u201d, highly unorganised and falls short, with uncertain outcomes. While it is not a critique of individual schools or teachers, it is a reality that advocacy, policy and technology must collectively address. This shows that access to music education in India heavily depends on geography, income and who you happen to know. A child in Mumbai may have access to a Carnatic guru, while a child in a small town in Jharkhand may have no access to music at all. This inequality is one of the most powerful arguments for building scalable, structured online music education. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Music Should Be A Core Part of Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere are three pillars based on which we feel music education should be treated as a core subject: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Cognitive and Academic Benefits
<\/strong>As mentioned above, music training builds cognitive skills. If we want our children to build better language skills, stronger memory, sharper focus and greater creativity, we need to ensure music education is integrated into their daily learning environment.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Cultural Continuity
<\/strong>Music education in schools is the most practical and efficient way to keep India\u2019s cultural identity alive and evolving. India is home to musical traditions of extraordinary depth and beauty. With structured music learning for kids, these traditions can be admired, learned and practiced by future generations.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- The Global Benchmark
<\/strong>Let\u2019s take China as a reference. Their experience in formalizing music education within their national curriculum offers India a powerful and instructive reference. Music is a mandatory part of education under the Chinese national curriculum standards. It clearly defines the learning outcomes and formative assessment systems, aligning them from central policy to individual classrooms.
This has resulted in a generation of Chinese students with strong musical literacy, greater engagement with the arts, and a more robust pipeline into careers in music performance, production, and education. In India, our cultural richness gives us more opportunities than most countries. What we need is the same, if not more. We need structural commitment: clear curriculum, trained teachers, dedicated time to music in school and certified pathways for music learners at all levels. This is a major lesson we at Artium Academy<\/a> have learned before building our own structured curriculum and globally recognised certification programmes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nGovernment Initiatives Supporting Music Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe policy of the Indian government when it comes to music is changing and there are genuine reasons for optimism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is by far the most important policy shift for arts and music in Indian music education. The NEP calls for greater emphasis on music, arts and crafts at all levels of schooling. It promotes the hiring of artists, craftspeople, and musicians from local communities as guest faculty, bringing authentic expertise into classrooms. As per the 2023 National Curriculum Framework, performing arts have been given equal status to science and mathematics – a move that\u2019s not only symbolic but also inspiring. The state of Karnataka has taken one step forward in implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have made it mandatory to offer music and performing arts across all educational levels in the state. Their initiatives like Kala Utsav, a national festival of arts in schools, have brought music performance into the educational spotlight. However, as advocates of music education, we honestly acknowledge that, the gap between policy intent and classroom reality remains wide. Trained music teachers are scarce, infrastructure is inconsistent and assessment frameworks are yet to be developed. Although the direction is right, the momentum is lacking. To build momentum, we need community, industry and platform support to translate into a genuine learning experience for aspirants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Role Of Parents In Music Education Advocacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn a child\u2019s life, right from an early age, parents can be the most powerful advocates for music education. A lot of parents still think of music as a \u201cbackup hobby\u201d or an activity to be kept for weekends. This conversation shifts when parents understand that music education for kids is not just about producing professional musicians. It is about developing focused, creative, emotionally intelligent human beings who have a lifelong relationship with one of humanity\u2019s most universal languages. Parents can advocate for music education by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Actively choosing to enroll kids in schools that include music in their academic curriculum<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enrolling kids in structured, graded online music classes or singing classes in India that offer recognised outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Asking schools why music is not assessed with the same seriousness as other subjects<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sharing the research on child development through music with their school communities<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Making it a norm that spending time on music is as important as studying any other subject. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Schools Can Strengthen Music Education <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile government infrastructure may spring up in its own time, schools do not have to wait to begin music education. Many changes are within reach right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Bring on board trained music teachers rather than assigning music periods to whoever is available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create a structured, graded curriculum rather than ad hoc sing-along sessions. Map it to developmental stages, as is done in core academic subjects. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dedicate consistent time to music learning, at least 2-3 periods\/week across all classes, not just primary schools. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create performance opportunities like school concerts, inter-house music competitions, and cultural programmes with musical components. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Collaborate with known platforms for supplementary online music learning that can give students access to expert teachers beyond the school\u2019s own resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The schools making this investment will see results not just in music but in classroom engagement, student confidence and overall learning culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Online Music Learning Is Expanding Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTechnological advances have become the most powerful lever for promoting music education in India, and they are being used to great effect.
Online music learning has basically changed who can access quality instruction. A learner from Jharkhand, Bihar or Sikkim can now learn from one of India\u2019s best music teachers through a structured, live, online class from their home – something that was unimaginable a decade or two ago. Geography is no longer a limitation to music learning.
Online music education for kids<\/a> platforms offer benefits that even the best individual teachers struggle to match: structured progression, graded assessments, recorded lessons for review, peer community and online performance opportunities.
Singing lessons online in India<\/a> and online music classes have democratised access to Indian classical, Western and folk traditions alike. The first generation of music learners, children whose parents had no musical education, can now access expert instruction at reasonable prices right from their home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is the biggest plus point of online music education: it removes the access inequality that has historically defined who gets to learn music in India and who does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Communities And Organisations Can Advocate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen it comes to music education advocacy, it is no longer a school or government conversation. Communities, businesses, NGOs and cultural institutions all play an important and meaningful role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- CSR activities and corporate help can fund music education infrastructure in government and low-income schools. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cultural organisations can bring Indian classical music directly into schools and colleges to create awareness and appreciation. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Local music communities, such as riyaz circles, bhajan groups, and local bands, can offer mentorship or performance opportunities to young learners. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Music industry communities like streaming platforms, record labels, and event companies can invest upstream in education to grow the ecosystem they depend on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s important is to understand that music education ultimately benefits everyone. A more musically literate population is a larger audience, a richer talent pool and a more culturally vibrant society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common Myths About Music Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHere are some common myths associated with music education in India. It\u2019s time we address them directly and not let them hold the progress we have been trying to make – <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Music is only for talented children<\/strong>
Talent is not inherited; it is a skill and not a gift. Just like reading or mathematics, you need to learn it through practice and guidance. If you can speak and hear, then you are capable of learning music.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Focusing on music hurts academic performance<\/strong>
On the contrary, it is quite the opposite, and also backed by research. Music training improves the cognitive skills that drive academic performance.\u00a0
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Music cannot lead to a career<\/strong>
India\u2019s music industry is worth billions of dollars and growing rapidly. Various career paths in the music industry, like performance, production, teaching, music therapy, composition, sound design and music technology, are rapidly growing.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Online music classes are not as effective as in-person learning
<\/strong>Research and experience increasingly show that structured online music education, taught by expert teachers with proper technology, delivers excellent outcomes, often better than in-person lessons.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe Future Of Music Education In India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIndia is at a stage of genuinely exciting turning point –
On one side, we have a music industry growing annually at 13%, a streaming audience of 178 million, a live music sector that grew 414% between 2020 and 2024 and international artists increasingly recognising India as a priority market.
On the other hand, a music education ecosystem is just starting to organise itself, backed by progressive policy in NEP 2020 and supported by platforms that are building what institutions alone cannot yet provide.
It is important to understand that the investment in music learning is not just for art but also for the human capital of a creative economy. Children receiving structured, quality music education today will end up being performers, producers, composers, teachers and music entrepreneurs of tomorrow. India\u2019s musical soul does not need to be discovered; it just needs to be supported, structured and given room to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nArtium Academy: Building The Gold Standard In Music Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n“Technology has transformed the global music landscape in favour of creators and India presents a huge opportunity. We are building the gold standard in music education for Indians globally.”<\/em>
Vivek Raicha, Co-founder, Artium Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWe started Artium Academy with a simple belief to make music education accessible to those who want to learn, regardless of geographical location. Over the last 5 years, this belief has transformed into 45,000+ learners pursuing their passion for music across India and internationally. We offer a structured & globally recognised curriculum in Indian classical, Western vocals, Film music, and instruments certified by legends from the music industry. Not just that, these are taught in live online music classes by India\u2019s best music teachers<\/a> 1who are also performers and music aspirants themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOur commitment to credibility and structure is what sets us apart in this conversation for music education advocacy. We launched India\u2019s first and only globally recognised music programme (GRMP), certified by internationally respected institutions, giving Indian learners access to global credentials in Indian classical music for the first time in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they say, Rome was not built in a day. We did our bit by studying global models, including China\u2019s approach to music education. This helped us in building a curriculum that reflected the rigor, progression and assessment quality that serious music education demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Music Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnother study in Neuroscience<\/a> found that structured music learning significantly improves language-based reasoning and executive functions, including planning, attention and working memory. These are core skills that determine academic success across every subject. The benefits of music education extend well beyond academics:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Child development through music is not just a mere theory; it is measurable, consistent and documented through decades of research. So, the right question is not whether music matters, but why are we still treating it as an option? <\/p>\n\n\n\n While music has been an integral part of Indian history, music education is complicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On one side, we have the world\u2019s richest and centuries-old musical tradition, Indian classical music. It is a vast folk music<\/a> ecosystem tied to every region, along with a commercial music industry growing at an approximate 13.4% CAGR. The Indian music market is projected to grow to USD 5.9 billion by 2034<\/a>. On the other side, you\u2019ll see that school-level music education in India is very much unstructured and inconsistently delivered. Go to a majority of Indian schools and you will find they do not have trained music teachers or a standard graded curriculum. Music assessment is informal and students in tier 2 and tier 3 cities have limited or no access to quality music learning compared to their peers in metros.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen we started Artium Academy, we just had one dream: that no one who loves music should ever feel that music is out of reach\u201d<\/em>. While building Artium Academy\u2019s platform, our Co-founder, Vivek Raicha<\/a>, observed: India\u2019s music learning journey for learners is \u201ccompletely broken\u201d, highly unorganised and falls short, with uncertain outcomes. While it is not a critique of individual schools or teachers, it is a reality that advocacy, policy and technology must collectively address. This shows that access to music education in India heavily depends on geography, income and who you happen to know. A child in Mumbai may have access to a Carnatic guru, while a child in a small town in Jharkhand may have no access to music at all. This inequality is one of the most powerful arguments for building scalable, structured online music education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are three pillars based on which we feel music education should be treated as a core subject: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The policy of the Indian government when it comes to music is changing and there are genuine reasons for optimism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is by far the most important policy shift for arts and music in Indian music education. The NEP calls for greater emphasis on music, arts and crafts at all levels of schooling. It promotes the hiring of artists, craftspeople, and musicians from local communities as guest faculty, bringing authentic expertise into classrooms. As per the 2023 National Curriculum Framework, performing arts have been given equal status to science and mathematics – a move that\u2019s not only symbolic but also inspiring. The state of Karnataka has taken one step forward in implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They have made it mandatory to offer music and performing arts across all educational levels in the state. Their initiatives like Kala Utsav, a national festival of arts in schools, have brought music performance into the educational spotlight. However, as advocates of music education, we honestly acknowledge that, the gap between policy intent and classroom reality remains wide. Trained music teachers are scarce, infrastructure is inconsistent and assessment frameworks are yet to be developed. Although the direction is right, the momentum is lacking. To build momentum, we need community, industry and platform support to translate into a genuine learning experience for aspirants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a child\u2019s life, right from an early age, parents can be the most powerful advocates for music education. A lot of parents still think of music as a \u201cbackup hobby\u201d or an activity to be kept for weekends. This conversation shifts when parents understand that music education for kids is not just about producing professional musicians. It is about developing focused, creative, emotionally intelligent human beings who have a lifelong relationship with one of humanity\u2019s most universal languages. Parents can advocate for music education by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n While government infrastructure may spring up in its own time, schools do not have to wait to begin music education. Many changes are within reach right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The schools making this investment will see results not just in music but in classroom engagement, student confidence and overall learning culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Technological advances have become the most powerful lever for promoting music education in India, and they are being used to great effect. This is the biggest plus point of online music education: it removes the access inequality that has historically defined who gets to learn music in India and who does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to music education advocacy, it is no longer a school or government conversation. Communities, businesses, NGOs and cultural institutions all play an important and meaningful role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s important is to understand that music education ultimately benefits everyone. A more musically literate population is a larger audience, a richer talent pool and a more culturally vibrant society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some common myths associated with music education in India. It\u2019s time we address them directly and not let them hold the progress we have been trying to make – <\/p>\n\n\n\n India is at a stage of genuinely exciting turning point – “Technology has transformed the global music landscape in favour of creators and India presents a huge opportunity. We are building the gold standard in music education for Indians globally.”<\/em> We started Artium Academy with a simple belief to make music education accessible to those who want to learn, regardless of geographical location. Over the last 5 years, this belief has transformed into 45,000+ learners pursuing their passion for music across India and internationally. We offer a structured & globally recognised curriculum in Indian classical, Western vocals, Film music, and instruments certified by legends from the music industry. Not just that, these are taught in live online music classes by India\u2019s best music teachers<\/a> 1who are also performers and music aspirants themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our commitment to credibility and structure is what sets us apart in this conversation for music education advocacy. We launched India\u2019s first and only globally recognised music programme (GRMP), certified by internationally respected institutions, giving Indian learners access to global credentials in Indian classical music for the first time in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As they say, Rome was not built in a day. We did our bit by studying global models, including China\u2019s approach to music education. This helped us in building a curriculum that reflected the rigor, progression and assessment quality that serious music education demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The Current State Of Music Education In India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vivek Raicha, Co-founder, Artium Academy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Music Should Be A Core Part of Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong>As mentioned above, music training builds cognitive skills. If we want our children to build better language skills, stronger memory, sharper focus and greater creativity, we need to ensure music education is integrated into their daily learning environment.
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<\/strong>Music education in schools is the most practical and efficient way to keep India\u2019s cultural identity alive and evolving. India is home to musical traditions of extraordinary depth and beauty. With structured music learning for kids, these traditions can be admired, learned and practiced by future generations.
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<\/strong>Let\u2019s take China as a reference. Their experience in formalizing music education within their national curriculum offers India a powerful and instructive reference. Music is a mandatory part of education under the Chinese national curriculum standards. It clearly defines the learning outcomes and formative assessment systems, aligning them from central policy to individual classrooms.
This has resulted in a generation of Chinese students with strong musical literacy, greater engagement with the arts, and a more robust pipeline into careers in music performance, production, and education. In India, our cultural richness gives us more opportunities than most countries. What we need is the same, if not more. We need structural commitment: clear curriculum, trained teachers, dedicated time to music in school and certified pathways for music learners at all levels. This is a major lesson we at Artium Academy<\/a> have learned before building our own structured curriculum and globally recognised certification programmes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nGovernment Initiatives Supporting Music Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Role Of Parents In Music Education Advocacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Schools Can Strengthen Music Education <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How Online Music Learning Is Expanding Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Online music learning has basically changed who can access quality instruction. A learner from Jharkhand, Bihar or Sikkim can now learn from one of India\u2019s best music teachers through a structured, live, online class from their home – something that was unimaginable a decade or two ago. Geography is no longer a limitation to music learning.
Online music education for kids<\/a> platforms offer benefits that even the best individual teachers struggle to match: structured progression, graded assessments, recorded lessons for review, peer community and online performance opportunities.
Singing lessons online in India<\/a> and online music classes have democratised access to Indian classical, Western and folk traditions alike. The first generation of music learners, children whose parents had no musical education, can now access expert instruction at reasonable prices right from their home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Communities And Organisations Can Advocate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Common Myths About Music Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Talent is not inherited; it is a skill and not a gift. Just like reading or mathematics, you need to learn it through practice and guidance. If you can speak and hear, then you are capable of learning music.
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On the contrary, it is quite the opposite, and also backed by research. Music training improves the cognitive skills that drive academic performance.\u00a0
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India\u2019s music industry is worth billions of dollars and growing rapidly. Various career paths in the music industry, like performance, production, teaching, music therapy, composition, sound design and music technology, are rapidly growing.
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<\/strong>Research and experience increasingly show that structured online music education, taught by expert teachers with proper technology, delivers excellent outcomes, often better than in-person lessons.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe Future Of Music Education In India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On one side, we have a music industry growing annually at 13%, a streaming audience of 178 million, a live music sector that grew 414% between 2020 and 2024 and international artists increasingly recognising India as a priority market.
On the other hand, a music education ecosystem is just starting to organise itself, backed by progressive policy in NEP 2020 and supported by platforms that are building what institutions alone cannot yet provide.
It is important to understand that the investment in music learning is not just for art but also for the human capital of a creative economy. Children receiving structured, quality music education today will end up being performers, producers, composers, teachers and music entrepreneurs of tomorrow. India\u2019s musical soul does not need to be discovered; it just needs to be supported, structured and given room to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nArtium Academy: Building The Gold Standard In Music Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vivek Raicha, Co-founder, Artium Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nJoin Us in Shaping the Future of Music Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n