World Music Schools

This space is dedicated to schools that focus on teaching traditional, indigenous and contemporary forms of world music.

Schools:
 

Africa:

The Gambian Griot School of Music and Dance teaches how to play kora, bala and drums. It also teaches West African dance. The instructors are experienced jelis. The school is situated in Serrekunda, The Gambia. Address: Dembo Jobarteh, c/o Mustapha Sanyang, Account Section, Gambia Post Office, Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa. Phone: +220 924418. E-mail: dembo.jobarteh@planet.nl

Maali’s Music School is mainly a private jali home in The Gambia, West Africa. Headmaster is Alagi Mbye, a traditional jali and kora master. Location: Nemakunku village appr. 6 km south of Serrekunda, Gambia’s biggest town.

West African traditional drumming, bala, kora, song and dance are taught to children of the village and surroundings. Foreign students are welcomed. Individual programs, prices and conditions negotiable. Primitive accommodation, African style, including experience of Gambian family life available at the school. Hotel district with rich variety of standards and prices reached by taxi or public transport. For hotels, visit: http://www.gambiatouristsupport.com/ Search: ”hotels.”

Maali’s Music School is funded partly by Scandinavian private sponsors, organized by Swedish Sponsor Fund. To support the activities of the school, funds can kindly be sent to: Postgirot Bank, Post address: SE-105 06 Stockholm, SWIFT: PGSISESS, Account number 703095-0.
Account owner: Swedish Sponsor Fund Information needed: For Maali’s Music School. Please add $ 5 for cost of receiving foreign transactions.

Contact: Alagi Mbye, PMB 506, Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa. Phone: +220-37 38 76.

The Academy of African Music and Arts LTD (AAMAL) is a center created by master drummer Mustapha Tettey Addy that tries to retain traditional forms of music, arts, dance and craftsmanship. The AAMAL is a school for artists, musicians and teachers, but it also promotes young talents and supports the Pan-African cultural exchange. Address: Academy of African Music and Arts LTD, P.O. Box 2923, Accra, Ghana.

Complexe Culturel Doudou N'diaye Rose (CCDNR) is a cultural center in Senegal, near the capital. There are percussion and dance classes as well as other activities. The center was founded by percussionist Djibril Rose. It is located 25 km from Dakar in a fishermen’s village named "Petit M’bao". The Complex is a building near the sea (100m). Address: Petit M'bao Dakar Sénégal Bp 20405 Thiaroye, Senegal. E-mail: ccdnr@metissacana.sn

Asia:

"Aarabhi - The violin school"was founded in the year 1998. It has grown to a vibrant institution comprising over 100 students of ages varying from 6 to 60.
 

Aarabhi is registered under an educational and charitable trust, which is being funded by some of the music lovers and individuals. The students of Aarabhi had performed more than 80 live concerts on various platforms in India and offered to perform abroad. Indian Classical Music supposed to be one of the toughest music and children of age group 8 - 14yrs playing violin in a symphony makes Aarabhi a unique institution.
 

To know more about "Aarabhi - The Violin School"click here.  In 2003 Aarabhi started to raise funds in order to promote Indian Classical Music and give scholarships to poor students who cannot afford to learn music. Ashok Gurjale, Principal. Aarabhi - The Violin School, Hyderabad, India. Phone: +9140-27671663, 9140-27651884. Mobile: 98850 10979. E-mail: ashokgurjale at yahoo.com

Karnataka College of Percussion (KCP), Bangalore, India, has been training young musicians who are eager to learn various percussion instruments and vocal styles from South India. This College has trained a large number of students in India and abroad since its inception. As part of their training, periodic programs are arranged to promote art and culture and encourage talented youngsters. KCP is world famous for its vibrant percussion ensemble 'Tala Tarangini' (waves of rhythm) and presentation of the best traditions of percussion and vocals of South India. T.A.S Mani is the director of the school and ensemble. Address: Karnataka College of Percussion, 93/2 17th Cross, West Park Road, Malleswaram, Bangalore 560055 India. Phone/Fax: +91-80-3441515.

Shanmukhananda, India. Founded in 1956, the Sangeetha Vidyalaya imparts training for the 7 year course leading to the Shanmukha Sangeetha Mani in Vocal, Veena, Violin and Mridangam in Carnatic, Sitar, Tabla and Hindustani musical streams. It is the only Institution training students for a Diploma in Vocal, Carnatic Music, set up by the University of Mumbai. There are about 400 students learning music in all these faculties. E-mail: info@shanmukhananda.org.in

The World School of Music was established by Shri. Thakur Chakrapani Singh. The School provides music aspirants from around the world and India to come and learn music from famous artists, teachers and experts in the field of traditional and Indian classical music and dance. Children as young as 2 years old to adults as old as 70 years old are learning music. It is one of the few schools of music in the world where there is no age limit. Address: JF-21, IIIrd Floor, Front, Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi-110017, India. Phone (res): +91-11-55666172, Mobile: +91-11-9810140994. E-mail: chakrapani at classicalguitar-veena.com or thakur_cpsingh at yahoo.com.

Asian Himalayan Music School is situated at Jamal in Katmandu City. The music school conducts traditional and modern music, dance and vocal classes everyday except Saturday and government holidays. Besides modern musical instruments, the school teaches how to play traditional instruments of different tribes and castes of Nepal such as Maadal, Saarangi, Damphu, Binayo etc. It also teaches traditional and cultural dances of different tribes and castes.  In addition, the school produces and does sales and marketing of audio cassettes and CDs. Contact: Santa Bahadur Gautam, Director; P.O. Box. 9059, Jamal, Katmandu, Nepal. Phone No: +977-1-4252733. E-mail: ahmc1994 at hotmail dor com.

Caribbean:

Centro Nacional de Escuelas de Arte has information about the numerous Cuban music schools, including those that teach traditional Cuban music. Phones: +537-24 0446 &+537-22 3330. Fax: +537- 24 0047. E-mail: cneart@cubarte.cult.cu

Conservatorio "Esteban Salas". Address: Calle Santa Lucía # 304 e/ San Pedro y San Félix, Santiago 1, C.P. 90100, Municipio Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Phone: +53-0226- 26167. E-mail: cneart@cubarte.cult.cu

Bob Marley School for the Arts Institute. Address: Flamingo Beach, Falmouth P.O. Trelawny, Phone: 876-954-5252, Mobile: 876-781-2416.

Escuela de Bomba y Plena de Puerto Rico. A school dedicated to the Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms of bomba and plena. Address: Modesto Cepeda, P.O. Box 7625, Santurce, Puerto Rico 00916-7625. Phone: +1-787-728-1096. E-mail: escueladebombayplena@prtc.net

Europe:
 

Tam Tam Mandingue is an international school of traditional West African (Manding) drumming founded by Mamady Keita in Brussels, Belgium, in 1991. Its purpose is to preserve and pass on the Manding cultural art forms, specifically those of drum and dance. Tam Tam Mandingue has opened schools in various countries.

• Tam-Tam Mandingue asbl Belgium. Address: Chaussée d'Alsemberg 97 b / bte 31, B-1630 Linkebeek, Belgium. Phone: +32 2 380 72 03. E-mail: TTM@advalvas.be

Baila Salsa. A salsa music school in Finland led by a Cuban instructor. Address: Haapaniemenkatu 14 B, 00530 Helsinki, Finland. Phone: + 09-726 80 320, Fax: +09-726 80 322. E-mail: bailasalsagroup@kolumbus.fi

Sibelius Academy, Folk Music Department, Address: Kutomotie 9, 00380 Helsinki, Finland. Phone: +358-9-4054 568, Fax: +358-9-5063 263. E-mail: kristiina.ilmonen@siba.fi

The Academy of Indian Music is run by rubab and sarod maestro Daud Khan. Address: Am Zehnpfennigshof 22, 50996 Köln, Germany. Phone/Fax: + Fax: +49-02236-61396.

Shekere, a British school for African arts. It has workshops in West African drumming. Alan Bartlett, "Crosslands", Shillingford, Exeter, Devon EX2 9QL, Great Britain. Phone:+44- 01392 832073. Fax: +44- 01392 832252. E-mail: bartrowe@hotmail.com
 

Greece
 

Musical Workshop “Labyrinth”
 
 The Musical Workshop "Labyrinth" was founded in 1982 by Ross Daly with the goal of initiating young people, primarily, into a creative approach to traditional musical idioms from various parts of the world. Today the M.W. Labyrinth, in cooperation with the municipality “Nikos Kazantzakis”has concentrated all of its activities in a tastefully restored old manor in the village of Houdetsi (20 km due south of Iraklion), where one can visit a permanent exhibition of rare musical instruments from all over the world.
 
 Special musical seminars and “master-classes”are organized at regular intervals featuring some of the foremost master-musicians of the traditional music from all over the world.
 
 In the instrument- making workshop, courses in the construction of musical instruments are offered for luthiers interested in broadening their knowledge in new directions. For this purpose master craftsmen from various traditions are invited to share their knowledge with the participants in these courses.

Ross Daly, Aristic Director. Musical Workshop Labyrinth, Houdetsi 70100, Herakleion, Crete, Greece. Phone: +30 6977 283833. E-mail: rossdaly@otenet.gr.

The Hungarian Folk Music School (Óbudai Népzenei Iskola) The Hungarian Folk Music School. Address: Nagyszombat u. 27, 1034 Budapest, Hungary. Phone/fax: +36-1- 437 04 98, Phone/fax: +36-1 388 63 81. E-mail: hungarian@folkmusicschool.hu.

The Frankie Kennedy Traditional Music Winter School was established in memory of Frankie Kennedy who died in September of 1994. He was one of the best flute players in Ireland. He was also a member of the renowned group Altan. The school is centered on the Gweedore Gaeltacht, a culturally rich area where Irish is the primary spoken language and the traditional customs are still very strong. Address: c/o Gearoid Mooney, Coshclady, Bunbeg, Co. Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Phone: +353 87 930 9656.

Queen Maeve School of Traditional Music and Song. Classes are held daily in tin Whistle, flute, traditional singing, button accordion, piano accordion and Fiddle. Address: Carmel Gunning T.T.C.T., 4 Church View Crescent, Ballytivnan, Sligo Town, Ireland. Phone: +353 (0) 71-62008, 087-6250454. E-mail: carmelgunning@hotmail.com

The Flowing Tide Traditional Irish music school. Named after the old hornpipe, the title also refers to the location of the school on the western sea board of Ireland within the heart of the musical county of Clare. Run by Bill McNamara of Doonbeg. Instruction is given in set dancing, sean-nós singing, fiddle, flute, pipes, whistle, concertina, accordion, banjo, mandolin, guitar, bodhrán (Irish hand drum). Address: Bill Mc Namara, School Founder, The Flowing Tide, Doonbeg, Co.Clare, Republic of Ireland. Phone: +353-065-87528. E-mail: theflowingtide@yahoo.com.

Etnofonie is an Italian school that teaches courses in many Western instruments as well as Middle Eastern percussion. E-mail: info@etnofonie.it.

Amala Summer School for Gypsy Music holds
summer workshops in Romani (Gypsy) folk music, dance, and language. It offers 3-week summer workshops, taught by local Romani musicians in the central Yugoslav town of Valjevo. The goal is to offer a complete cultural experience: participants will learn authentic Romani music by ear, in the traditional way, while surrounded by the Romani culture: food, language and family atmosphere. At the same time, because the course is organized and run by Roma, participants will help keep the tradition of Romani music alive. E-mail: galbeno@galbeno.co.yu

The Agrupación Folklórica Bediesta runs a folk music school. The association was created with the aim of preserving and promoting the folk music of the Canary Islands. It is located on the island of La Palma in the western part of the Canary Islands. Address: Calle Príncipe Felipe, 19 - 1º, Santa Cruz de La Palma, La Palma, Spain. Phone: +34-922 451473, Fax: + 34- 922 451037.

Conservatorio de Música Tradicional da Universidade Popular de Vigo. This traditional music school is part of the Universidade Popular de Vigo. There are many different courses: bagpipes, zanfona (hurdy-gurdy), harp, fiddle, tambourine and traditional Galician singing.

Conservatorio de Música Tradicional e Folque De Lalín. A new school dedicated to teaching Galician roots music. In addition to teaching how to play musical instruments, the degrees includes courses in the knowledge about new technologies, the permanent recreation of roots music, CD releases and the latest theories about folk music. Address: -font-size:18.0ptAuditorio Municipal, 36.500 Lalín, Spain. Phone: +34-986 783570, E-mail: lalin@lalin.org.

Escola de Gaita Tradicional Galega. A Galician bagpipe school founded by Xoán Brandón, a Galician piper who moved to Madrid. The school offers pipe and drum courses. Address: Xoan Brandón, calle San Claudio 41, Local 3, 28038 Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34-606-411895. E-mail: xoanbrandon@telepolis.com

Escola Provincial de Gaitas. This school focuses on the pipe band style pf playing the gaita (Galician bagpipe). Address: Escola Provincial de Gaitas, Diputación de Orense, E-32080 Orense, Spain. Phone: +34-988-227314, Fax: +34-988-244350.

Escuela de Dulzaina de la Diputación Provincial de Segovia. C/ San Agustín, 23. 40001 Segovia, Spain. Phone: +34- 921 43 64 11

Escuela de Folklore Castellano "Plaza Castilla"- Madrid

A new school dedicated to Castilian folk music, located next to Plaza de Castilla square. Founded by musician Fernando Llorente, one of Spain's finest dulzaina players. Other teachers include Eliseo Parra and Manuel Pérez. The school also has storytelling and theater workshops.

Info about traditional music and dance workshops: Fernando Llorente. Teléfonos: +34 670.05.71.63 / +34 91.315.62.37
Info about storytelling workshops: Maísa Marbán: +34 607 904 633.

Escuela de Folklore Popular e instrumentos de cuerda. Ayuntamiento de Almería, Plaza de la Constitución, 10, 04003 Almería, Spain. Phone: +34- 950 23 30 11

Escuela de Folklore del Consorcio del Fomento Musical. Av. Plaza de Toros s/n Ent., Apdo 401, 49007 Zamora, Spain. Phone: +34- 988 53 47 06, Fax: +34- 980 52 87 38.

Escuela De Danza y Música “Marta De La Vega”. A school started in 2001. It includes courses in Galician pipes, flamenco guitar, flutes, tin whistle, darbuka, riq, bodhran, Galician percussion, mandolin, hurdy gurdy, and music theory. There are also Spanish culture and musical history classes, as well as seminars, workshops and concerts. Calle María Teresa 11, 28028 Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34-91 725 55 69. E-mail: beatriz_barcelo@hotm.ail.com

Escuela de Música Tradicional de Llanes. This school was created with the intention of studying and propagating traditional Asturian music. The school is the home of a bagpipe band and was created by the Asociación Cultural "Llacín."Address: Asociación Cultural "Llacín"Barriu Llacín s/n, Porrúa 33509, Llanes, Asturias, Spain. Phones: +34-985 40 25 47 and +34-985 40 05 74.

Escuela de música tradicional de la Fundación de Música Moderna de Avilés teaches fiddle, guitar and bouzouki applied to Asturian folk music. Phone: +34-985 93 23 95. E-mail: fundaciondemusica@fade.es

Escuela Municipal de Música y Danza de Arona. A music school that includes courses in Canary Islands' folk and dance. It is located in the municipality of Arona in the southern part of the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Phone: +34-922 75 70 06, Fax: +34-922 75 71 38.

Escuela de Flamenco Puro teaches traditional flamenco dance in the style of the Gypsies of Lower Andalusia. Address: Raquel Quijano de la Fuente, Flamenco Puro, Calle Castellón de la Plana 7, E - 28006 Madrid, Spain. E-mail: raquel@jmorao.com. Additional Web site: http://www.jmorao.com

Escuela Provincial de Danzas Castro Floxo. The Provincial School Of Dancing is run by the Orense County Council. It was created in 1984 and today it has as many as 5,000 students throughout the province. All types of Galician popular dancing are taught there: muiñeiras, jotas, mazurcas, carballesas, processional dances, guild dances, esparabanes and pandeiradas. There are also tambourine and singing classes. Management: Mariló &Julio Fernández Senra. Address: Aptdo. / P.O. Box: 484, 32080 Ourense, Spain. Phone/Fax:+34 (88) 24 94 93. E-mail: escdanza@lander.es

Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas. A center created in May 2000 inside a restored building located at calle de Cañizares, 10, right above the famous Casa de Patas Flamenco tavern. Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas is Madrid's first Flamenco conservatory. It includes a hall for conferences and presentations and several classrooms for teaching music theory and Flamenco guitar. The center also includes a store, library, audio library and video library.Address: calle de Cañizares 10, Madrid, Spain.

Mamá Africa teaches West African and dance classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 20:00 to 22:00 at Centro Cultural Ramiro de Maeztu. Calle Mayorazgo (Leganés).
Tlf.: 635 27 72 24 / 91 250 18 71. E-mail: info at mama-africa-ritmos.com.

Taller de Músics is a music school in Barcelona that teaches jazz and flamenco courses. Address: Requesens 5, 08001 Barcelona, Spain. Phone: +34-93-329-5667, Fax: +34-93-442-8246, E-mail: escola@tallerdemusics.com

Taller Flamenco. A school specialized in Flamenco dance, guitar, compás (rhythm) and Spanish language. Taller Flamenco, C/ Peral 49, E-41002 Sevilla, Spain. Phone:+34-954 56 42 34, Fax: +34-954 56 40 66. E-mail: tflamenco@interbook.net

Tapan. Tapan Bhattacharya, professional music and and music teacher of Indian tabla and percussion. Address: Paseo San Juan, 179-1º-2ª, 08037 Barcelona, Spain. Phone: +34 93 458 72 17 // 600 03 09 79.

Middle East:

Tarschool Music Institute. The Tarschool is a cultural institution whose main mission is to promote and preserve Persian classical music through musical education and performance. This musical education includes the study of various Persian instruments, such as Tar, Setar, Ud, Tombak, Daf, Kamancheh and Santoor. It also includes vocal instruction, Persian music theory and history, as well as special classes for children. Classes are offered in five different locations in northern California by Tarschool instructors and independent instructors. The Tarschool is also the source of certain academic projects such as the researching of and writing about subjects in the realm of Persian classical and folk music. Musical performances include concerts of the Neydavood Ensemble and the group performance of the Tarschool students.  

North America:

The College of Piping and Celtic performing Arts of Canada, The College offers instruction in Highland bagpiping, Scottish-style snare drumming, Highland dancing and step dancing, as well as programs for bodhrán, fiddle, guitar, and tin whistle. Address: 619 Water street East, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1N 4hB. Phone: +1 902 436-5377, Fax: +1 902 436-4930. E-mail: college@piping.pe.ca

Ali Akbar Khan College of Music (AACM). The Ali Akbar Khan College of Music provides an education in the classical music of North India at the highest professional level. Sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan (Khansahib) and tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri teach all classes at the school thus training all levels of students from the beginner to the advanced professional musician. Address: Ali Akbar Khan College of Music, 215 West End Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, USA. Phone: +1 (415) 454-6264.

Creative Music Studio is an improvisational and world jazz school in woodstock, New York, where young musicians of all instruments and musical persuasions can interact with accomplished players/composers and develop music together through studies, rehearsals, performances and recordings. E-mail: contact@creativemusicstudio.org

Djembekan is a school that was created to teach and preserve the legacy of the Mandingo and Bamana musical Traditions, and to give the history and fundamentals needed to develop excellent skill at playing jembe and dunun. The school was started by West African drummer Tepaka Sekou Lunda, and it is located in Memphis, Tennessee. Address: MBAA Community Arts Center, 985 S. Bellvue Ave, Memphis, TN 38104, USA. Phone: +1-901-337-0536. E-mail: Djembekan_school_of_percussion@hotmail.com
 

Gamelan Dharmaswara in New York teaches traditional and contemporary Balinese dance and music. It operates under the auspices of the Consulate of Indonesia in New York. Classes are given by Balinese master artists Ayu Ari Candrawatih and I Nyoman Saptanyana. Instruction in Balinese music and dance is available to all interested regardless of experience. Contact Lela at join@dharmaswara.org.

Japanese Music Institute of America. The founder is Masayuki Koga who is considered to be one of Japan's finest shakuhachi masters. He received his master-teacher degree from the Tozan School in 1964. "MS Mincho"Address: 730 Wintun Ct., Dixon, CA 95620, USA. Phone: +1- (707) 678-1597.

Maimouna Keita School of West African Dance Maimouna Keita School of West African Dance offers, produces and presents innovative programming in music and dance. 586 Halsey Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233, USA. E-mail: ourculture@yahoo.com

RagaChitra Foundation based in Flushing, New York, provides courses in Carnatic / Indian Classical vocal, bhajans and veena taught by Nivedita ShivRaj. Phone classes are offered for students in other locations. Contact: info@ragachitra.org or phone: 917-515-9164.

Ragha School of Music. Dr. Raghavendra is a senior member of KCP and founder of the Ragha School of Music in Massachusetts. He is an accomplished artist on the vina, an ancient classical plucked instrument. His technique blends Carnatic (south) and Hindustani (north) styles of Indian classical music. Address: 65 Satucket Trail, Bridgewater, MA 02324, USA. Phone/Fax: +1-508-279-1690. E-mail: ragha@att.net

SambaLá Samba School teaches Brazilian samba dance and drum classes in southern California. Address: P.O. Box 21617, Long Beach, CA 90801, USA. Phone: +1- (562) 438-3669, Fax: (562) 437-0976. E-mail: info@sambala.org

Tam Tam Mandingue is an international school of traditional West African drumming founded by Mamady Keita in Brussels, Belgium, in 1991. Its purpose is to preserve and pass on the Manding cultural art forms, specifically those of drum and dance. Tam Tam Mandingue has opened schools in various countries:

• Tam Tam Mandingue USA - Washington D.C. Address: P.O. Box 29650, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA.
  Phone: : +1 202-238-9070

• Tam Tam Mandingue USA - San Diego. Address: 238 W. Lewis St. , San Diego, CA 92103, USA. Phone: +1 619-294-7036. E-mail: monette@ttmusa.org

Tenri Cultural Institute Of New York offers koto classes by Masayo Ishigure, Instructor at Wesleyan University. Address: 43A West 13th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA. Phone: +1 (212) 925-8500.

Tiger Paw Percussion is a school founded by Jessica Marcus that teaches Afro-Cuban and Haitian drumming. Address: PO Box 1149, Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704, USA. Phone: (808) 328-9995. E-mail: tigerpawpercussion@turquoise.net

Instructional Web sites:

• http://www.ezfolk.com. An instructional website for guitar, banjo, and ukulele mostly geared towards beginners.

• Britchops Drum Tuition. This course provides all the information you need to begin learning today's popular drumming styles such as Pop, Rock and Britpop/Indie in the comfort of your own home. Drum charts by top UK and US bands Oasis, Cast and Bryan Adams are featured by kind permission from Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Publishing. Other features include Yamaha XG MIDI files (with adjustable tempo), Digital Imaging, Professional Drum Score Notation and extensive Tutor Notes. Find out more @ www.britchops.co.uk

• Sitar classes are available from http://www.mp3.com/RajBhanSingh or here.