Asha for Education

In the short term, the gurukul aims provides those individuals who wish to learn Dhrupad with world class music education. Students are taught in the guru/ shishya parampara. The Sansthan organizes workshops and concerts, and has an extensive library filled with a vast body of literature. Thus students are immersed in Dhrupad practice and theory as they develop their understanding of this unique art form.

Over the long term, the gurukul serves as a place where systematic teaching processes in the master/ disciple tradition of guru/ shishya parampara are brought within the modern educational context through extensive research. Students are prepared in a fixed time frame, with clear evaluation, including public performance, and evaluated under a clear set of standards and goals. With this continued research and development of best practice in teaching Dhrupad, the gurukul seeks to spread awareness and appreciation of an important part of Indian heritage.

Dhrupad Sansthan was started by the Gundecha Brothers as an effort to promote and preserve India's most ancient form of music. It was established primarily to provide quality instruction to financially disadvantaged students, whose parents can not afford expenses for their music education. Over this period,they have trained some 27 young dedicated performers, not only from India, but from various foreign countries as well, in Dhrupad vocal and pakhawaj, as well as in performance on surbahar, bamboo flute (bansuri), saxophone, and silver flute. The Gurukul also invites people from all around the world to come and learn both vocal and instrumental Dhrupad. Students stay at the gurukul itself where they are provided with room and board. The gurus do not take money for their teaching. Students who can afford it, pay fees which are used to cover their living expenses. Living expenses for students who cannot afford it continue to be covered by Dhrupad Sansthan, and are partially funded through organizations such as Asha