Join the chorus: Each ward to get music academies in BMC schools

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to open 17 more music academies in civic school across the city. The civic administration is likely to make provision in its proposed budget for 2019-20.

The BMC had started seven music academies in each of the seven zones in June last year. This was proposed in budget 2018-19 with a budgetary provision of Rs 10 lakh.

The academy was well-received by the citizens who flocked in large numbers for admission last year. A senior official from the education department of zone IV and VII said that two music academies imparting classical music at Chembur Naka and Mulund have received good response from citizens.

The students are selected through a test after evaluating their interest in music. "Students attend music class simultaneously with their regular classes," said a teacher from music academy. Students of I and II standards are taught Bal Geet. "As they grow up, they are being trained for Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal music exam," said the teacher.

In 2017-18, the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal Mumbai conducted music examination where 280 students from civic schools participated. "BMC school students sang for a commercial advertisement," said another teacher.

"In order to provide a better platform for the BMC school students to become proficient in Indian classical music, we are planning to open 17 more music academies," said another official. He added that at present, seven wards are having and with proposed 17 more schools, every ward will have one music academy.