STUDY MUSIC: MUSIC SCHOOLS IN NEPAL
As the pandemic drags on, many of us rethink what we could have missed out on in life. I’m pretty sure most of you have wanted to learn an instrument at some point in your life. If you invest time and energy, it is entirely possible no matter your age. To make things easier, we have compiled a list of music schools you can join to study music.
KATHMANDU JAZZ CONSERVATORY
KJC is without a doubt the best music school in Nepal. It has both domestic and international faculty with facilities comparable to European conservatories. KJC is the only music school on this list with authentic acoustic pianos and other genuine instruments. It is also the only place in Nepal where you can get a professional Jazz diploma.
Don’t be fooled by the name though, KJC doesn’t just offer Jazz courses. They have faculty that specialize in classical, jazz, Nepali and pop music. I go here so I can personally vouch for its quality. They offer mostly private classes in several instruments as well as professional diplomas in Jazz and pop music. They do have limited group classes too.
I go to KJC so I can personally vouch for its quality. The teachers are amazing, the staff is very friendly and the services you get are top-notch. It is also the most expensive place on the list. Students are usually foreign citizens or come from affluent Nepali families.
Courses offered: Piano/Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals, Drums, Bass, Saxophone, Violin and Eastern instruments like Bansuri, Madal, Tabla etc.
Price: Rs 7000 per month for 4 one-hour private classes (Piano)
: Rs 5000 per month for 4 one-hour private classes (Other instruments)
Check their site here.
NEPAL MUSIC CENTER
If KJC is too expensive for you, Nepal Music Center offers high-quality music courses too. It has very experienced, mainly Nepali, faculty. Besides general instrument courses, NMC provides secondary schooling (until grade 12) in music education. NMC is also the only music school in Nepal which provides international music certifications. It has partnered with ABRSM and Rock School to provide international recognition for Nepali students.
In stark contrast though, Nepal Music Center is the best place to learn eastern musical instruments like Tabla, Bansuri, Eastern vocal and so on. They do provide Western instrument courses too but due to the lack of good infrastructure, the quality lags.
I went there before and I can vouch for the quality of the faculty, but not the infrastructure if you’re learning a Western instrument. They generally provide group lessons, but you can ask for private lessons from the faculty too.
Courses offered: Vocals, Sarangi, Tabla, Violin, Keyboard, Madal, Drums, Guitar, Eastern/ Western Dance, Bass, Sitar, Flute, Kathak Dance.
Price: Rs 1500 per month for 4 one-hour group classes.
Check their site here.
SURSHALA MUSIC ACADEMY
Besides KJC and NMC, Surshala is the only credible music organization providing music courses with assured quality. It has recognition from CTEVT for providing reasonable vocational courses in music.
Surshala provides separate package lessons for children, youth and vocational trainees. It lacks good infrastructure too, but the teachers are well-known people in their field. Surshala is especially good for vocal classes. They provide a 3-year classical vocals course, one of a kind in Nepal.
Although I haven’t attended Surshala, I have many friends and colleagues who have. Hence, I can say with certainty that their courses are of good quality too. They provide both group and private classes
Courses offered: Classical vocal, western vocal, Piano, Guitar, Violin, Flute, Sarangi, Madal, and Dance classes.
Check their site here.
