A piano school in Guwahati, Assam, has grown from four students to more than 250 enrolled learners over 15 years, offering a curriculum that blends Western piano pedagogy with indigenous Assamese musical traditions. Assam Times reported that Piano Kids celebrated its anniversary on October 10 at an in-campus stage called Jibakrishna, bringing together students, parents and alumni.
Founder and piano maestro Kushal Krishna Dev Goswami launched the institute formally in 2011 after envisioning it in 2008, according to Assam Times. The school currently has more than 45 students pursuing advanced-level music studies, and over 400 students have completed their musical education there.
The institute follows John Thompson’s piano teaching syllabus with instruction based on Western staff notation, Assam Times reported. A key classroom focus is documenting Assamese songs in staff notation to preserve indigenous musical traditions. The curriculum includes Borgeet, Bihu songs, Biya Naam, Holi songs, Jhumur songs, lullabies and several regional song traditions.
Assam Times reported that hundreds of students trained in staff notation have performed Assamese compositions as musical symphonies at prominent venues including the ITA Centre, Rabindra Bhawan and Kalakshetra. The institute has organized nine major musical events in Guwahati, giving students ensemble performance opportunities that feature traditional Assamese folk songs prominently.
For more information, visit assamtimes.org.