Art of Violin - Hyderabad

I am very happy to share that, my student, Laya Ravisankar has passed the ABRSM grade 5 Violin performance exam with Distinction.

I feel blessed to be able to guide hardworking students like Laya - highly passionate about her Violin, and committed to Classical music. She hardly misses two lessons a year, even during her boards she didn't miss a single lesson and passed CBSC 10th grade with above 92% score. She is a state level Taekwondoin too.

Laya, once had a lesson from a restaurant while having a road trip with parents. She had a lesson from the wedding venue of her relatives wedding once too. She is so strict about attending lessons, that sometimes I cancel my other important work so I don't have to miss her lesson. She joined me just a few years ago as a beginner, and very quickly, progressed to this level. She has already travelled to Hungary twice to play at the Grand Budapest Concert with our prestigious Indo-European Chamber/Youth Orchestra and now, preparing for her next projects.

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary support of her parents. Her Mom and Dad are always beside her for every opportunity and trust my advice in everything related to her music education journey. Congratulations to Laya and her wonderful young brother and parents. She has a long way to go, this is just the beginning!

One of the happiest moments in a Classical music educator's life is when his students achieve stupendous success. This is when the gift given to the artist by the universe is justified to its true meaning.

Suraj got 142/150 in his ABRSM grade 8 Violin examination. It's a very rare score not just in India, but worldwide, and also, not to be seen too frequently. However, Suraj's real achievement is greater than these marks, it is his unwavering passion for Classical music. His attention towards daily practice and minute details, own personal research and studies are astounding, especially for a teenager. He hardly misses two lessons a year by the way. He does all that on his own, completely by his own passion and desire.

This morning, when his Dad congratulated me and naturally expressed: "This wouldn't have been possible without your guidance and efforts", I had already written to Suraj that: "This wouldn't have been possible without your Mom and Dad's amazing support". That's the fact. I did my duty with my best. But, Suraj's parents, coming from a modest working family, have done beyond and above for him. When they couldn't accompany Suraj to Hungary for the Grand Budapest Concert 2022 with our Indo-European Chamber/Youth Orchestra , they allowed Suraj to travel alone to Europe from India at the age of 12+ and continued to do so every year including masterclasses in Italy twice. Everything I have advised them till today as Suraj's Violin Guru, they trusted my advice and did it for Suraj. They never said no to any of them. They even planned his higher studies consulting with me. Mr. Subramaniam took up a job in Manchester and moved to the UK last year to make sure Suraj gets what they didn't get as a teenager. Unbelievable, no?

Congratulations once again to Suraj, his wonderful young brother Siddharth and his amazing parents on this historic success. This is just the beginning for Suraj, he will go places!

Auditions Now Open!

2nd Corelli International Music Fest Rome 2026-27

We are thrilled to announce the 2nd Corelli International Music Fest (CIMF) - a landmark initiative by the Indo-European Orchestra in collaboration with the distinguished Istituto Corelli, which will be held in Rome, Italy from 27th December 2026 to 3rd January 2027. This marks a significant step forward for Indian students of Western classical music.

The Festival is made possible by the Indo-European Chamber/Youth Orchestra, an initiative of the Michael Makhal Symphony Orchestra (MMSO), under the visionary leadership of Maestro Michael Rupam Makhal. The Corelli International Music Fest provides a platform for Indian students of Western classical music, recognizing their musical strengths and distinct training backgrounds while aligning with international standards. Participants selected for the program will benefit from immersive masterclasses led by accomplished Italian/European Maestros, gaining rare insights into European interpretation, technique, and musical expression. This is not only a program to refine their craft and performance skills but also a pathway to engage deeply with a dynamic artistic journey - nurturing creativity, confidence, discipline, and, above all, a deepening passion for classical music.

Instrumental and voice teachers, as well as music institutes and academies, whose students are selected for the 2nd Corelli International Music Festival in Rome, Italy 2026-27, would be recognized across our website and social media platforms. Their role in nurturing talent through world-class coaching and mentorship deserves mention on the global stage.

Audition Now! Limited Seats.
Email at: [email protected]

Sudeshna Makhal
Program Director
+919000654447 (Preferably WhatsApp)

Audition Now!

Register here: https://forms.gle/3zPKvRqJhw9HTANF6

Throwback Monday: ABRSM Violin Grade 8 topper and Grade 5 topper - both are students of Maestro Ananta Makhal.
At the highest scorer concert, with the British High Commissioner, Kolkata 🎻🎶

Sunday Thoughts:

Q. Why highly accomplished Western classical musicians and music educators charge well for teaching?

A. There are three reasons in my personal understanding why accomplished Western Classical music educators charge well:

1. They sacrifice on daily performances in corporate and other events in order to maintain regularity and punchuality in private tutoring. They do charity by choosing music tutoring over high income daily performances which they did for years of their life very successfully. They now only do selected events which are of top standard classical music programs, and don't cause much conflicts with teaching. That's why they charge well to compensate at least a small percentage of what they are giving up to make sure the next generation of serious learners are able to get high standard lessons. Wise parents understand that, and acknowledge the opportunity with reverence.

2. When they give up much of their daily events, they invite risks of financial crisis, especially in the retirement when they won't be able to perform at their best too like sportsmen. They don't have salary or pension. They have to earn well now so they can save for twenty odd years of old age. Wise parents and students understand that, and they consider it contribution to the life of a guru, rather than just paying fees. Some parents do more for the Maestros, above paying the fees, because they see what their children are receiving and show gratitude.

3. Quality matters! Why a talented coder or a senior program developer, a CFO, COO makes hundreds of thousands dollars salary per annum? The same way, a highly accomplished musician with unparalleled knowledge, experience, international exposure, and gifted talent, deserves to earn well against their 100X better teaching quality than the inexperts. It happenes in every field and completely logical. The teachers deserve to live a decent and financially free life too.

Still, interestingly, many unprofessional teachers make more money than the Maestros by teaching 8 students in group classes. The honest Maestro teaches one student at a time, because no two students are the same mentally, physically and musically - each students needs tailored attention, proper methodical individual training with all sincerity and honesty, and therefore, the Maestros often earn less than them even if they charge will, in total per month. It's unbelievable, but it's a fact. Wise parents understand this, and that's why they prefer not to waste two rupees in the bushes, and better spend five rupees to water the garden which will actually produce real flowers. The matter of fact, that's how it used to be twenty years ago and before, when our parents and grandparents didn't have much money, no 2cr rupees apartments, no apple garden, no jack daniels in the weeknd, but had top standard brain, general knowledge and commonsense, exposure and most importantly, wisdom. Today this percentage is really really low. God knows what went wrong with all the higher education and excellent MNC salaries.
The scenario supposed to be the opposite in present times, no?

Disclaimer: The purpose of this post is to create awareness.

Have a melodious Sunday! 🎻🌿🎶

I hear from music learners who have been learning for years but struggle with ABRSM or Trinity exams. The reason? They were never taught under the authentic European classical method.

Parents should know: exam success is built on proper foundations. General music classes are often not enough.

The key is to learn Western Classical Violin, Cello, Piano, Classical Guitar, or Voice from a Maestro who imparts international‑standard playing techniques while deepening the understanding of European classical music interpretation.

Confidence, emotional intelligence, and positive thinking, aren’t just partial effects of music education. They flourish when children learn through the authentic European classical method, guided by a real Maestro.

In India, many instrumental classes are taught by well-meaning but inexpert tutors. The result? Children’s potential is often limited without anyone realizing it.

A true Maestro understands that no two students are the same. They tailor their teaching, nurture individuality, and impart knowledge that goes far beyond technique.

Parents who have chosen Western Classical music for their children deserve to know what real training looks like.