Aroho is a music and performance training institution aiming at building and nurturing fundamental concepts in learning, listening and appreciation of music. We run both online and offline short and long-term courses and workshops.
Aroho’s curriculum has been conceptualized, designed and guided by Srikanta Acharya, who is also the chief mentor of the institution. Dr. Arna Seal, the noted lyricist and Artpreneur is the Program Director. Aroho works in association with Bengal Web Solution, India that manages its operations and logistics.
Each new session starts from April of each year.
Aroho offers both online and offline music training curriculum in the following categories:
1. Aroho Shishu Bibhag (for children in the age group of 5 plus to 10 years) with three proficiency levels.
2. Aroho Kishore Bibhag (for children in the age group of 10 plus to 17 years) with three proficiency levels.
3. Aroho Sharbik Bibhag (for 18 plus adults) with three proficiency levels.
4. Aroho Rabindra Sangeet Bibhag (for 18 plus adults only).
5. Aroho One-to-one Online training for adults (for Rabindrasangeet and Ragasrayee songs only) conducted by Aroho Faculty.
6. Aroho Special 2- Hour Online Workshops by Srikanta Acharya
7. Aroho Special Offline Workshops by Srikanta Acharya
8. Aroho in Schools
9. Guitar for Beginners
Aroho Academy is proud to announce 'Aikatan 2023' – a Kolkata-based inter-school Bengali group singing competition to inspire young people to engage with Bengali music – an art form that has enriched our culture for generations.
We cordially invite schools to enable the participation of students from Classes 7 to 12 in this exciting competition.
"Aikatan 2023" will feature two rounds, with the first round requiring a video recorded audition uploaded to our website by 19th April.
The schools that proceed to the final round will participate in a day-long event on 24th June, where they will present their performances in front of a panel of esteemed judges.
The three winning schools will receive a rare opportunity to perform for a special audience at Aroho Academy's annual programme, scheduled to be held in July.
Aroho will also host music workshops in the three winning schools, involving the winning teams as well as 20 other students chosen from each school. The workshops will be supervised by Srikanta Acharya and other members of the Aroho faculty.
"Aikatan 2023" is an initiative born out of Aroho Academy's vision to foster young people's engagement with Bengali music. We strongly believe that this art form's multiple and diverse traditions deserve to be protected, preserved, and practiced. Through this competition, we aim to encourage students to engage with this art form, countering the general disconnect many of them feel with the Bengali language in the current climate.
Split into three levels, the key components include foundational voice training, note recognition training, practice guidance, delivery & enunciation training, Taal and Laya training & Listening. Songs from various genres will be taught as part of the Delivery & Enunciation and Taal & Laya training. Performance practice will also be encouraged through in-house programs throughout the year.
Class Type:
a) Group Online classes (not exceeding 15 students). Additional practice materials and student guidance provided through digital groups.
b) Group Offline Classes at designated Centers at New Garia, Srirampur.
Number of Classes: 36 sessions including assessment sessions in each academic year at each level.
Following completion of training at SishuBibhag, students graduate to Kishore Bibhag.
Faculty :- Experienced faculty, working with the guidance and mentoring of Srikanta Acharya will be conducting the classes. Srikanta Acharya Sir will be in a monitoring and supervision role in the online and offline lessons and interacting both with students and guardians to provide feedback and guidance on progress.
Method of Selection :- By Audition only.
Guardians of interested candidates are required to register the names of their wards through email arohoacademy@gmail.com or What'sApp +91 9804470910 for offline or face to face audition.
The time, date and place of the audition will be informed at the beginning of the session. After the offline audition, guardians will be informed about their selection within a week through What'sApp Or email. Upon being informed, they will be given two days to inform their decision to join the programme. Seats will not be reserved beyond this time frame.
Split into three levels, the key components of this division include foundational voice training and breathing exercises, note recognition training, practice guidance, delivery & enunciation training, Taal and Laya training & Listening. Songs from various genres will be taught as part of the Delivery & Enunciation and Taal & Laya training. Performance practice will also be encouraged through in-house programs throughout the year.
Class Type:
a) Group Online classes (not exceeding 15 students). Additional practice materials and student guidance provided through digital groups.
b) Group Offline Classes at designated Centers at New Garia, Srirampur.
Number of Classes: 36 sessions including assessment sessions in each academic year at each level.
Following completion of training at three levels in Kishore Bibhag, students above 18 years graduate to Sharbik bibhag, while those under 18 remain in the Prastuti or Preparatory division, before they can graduate to the theSharbikBibhag. Selection of level for students in the Sharbikbibhag is decided by the faculty in consultation with Srikanta Acharya Sir.
Faculty :- Experienced faculty, working with the guidance and mentoring of Srikanta Acharya will be conducting the classes. Srikanta Acharya will be in a monitoring and supervision role in the online and offline lessons and interacting both with students and guardians to provide feedback and guidance on progress.
Method of Selection :- By Audition only.
Guardians of interested candidates are required to register the names of their wards through email arohoacademy@gmail.com or What'sApp +91 9804470910 for offline or face to face audition.
The time, date and place of the audition will be informed at the beginning of the session. After the offline audition, guardians will be informed about their selection within a week through What'sApp Or email. Upon being informed, they will be given two days to inform their decision to join the programme. Seats will not be reserved beyond this time frame.
The Sharbik Bibhag students comprise of those graduating from Sishu and Kishore divisions as well as adult students with previous training in music who want to further hone and upgrade their knowledge and skills of delivery, performance and core musical concepts.
Depending on the level of proficiency the Sharbik Bibhag comprises of three sections:
General
Senior
Advanced
Each session has its ongoing curriculum changing after each academic year (3 classes per month for 12 months including assessment). Graduation from one section to another is not mandatory. However, the faculty in consultation with Srikanta Acharya Sir may advise a student to migrate from one section to another if deemed appropriate vis-à-vis the students’ advancement.
Key Components - Voice and Performance training, Delivery & Enunciation training, Taal and Laya training & Listening. Songs from various genres will be taught as part of the Delivery & Enunciation and Taal & Laya training.Performance practice will also be encouraged through in-house programs throughout the year. Students also attend special workshops conducted by Srikanta Acharya Sir, beyond the usual classes at least two times a year.
Class Type:
a) Group Online classes (not exceeding 15 students). Additional practice materials and student guidance provided through digital groups.
b) Group Offline Classes at designated Centers at New Garia, Srirampur.
Faculty :- Experienced faculty, working with the guidance and mentoring of Srikanta Acharya will be conducting the classes. Srikanta Acharya will be in a monitoring and supervision and feedback-giving rolein the online and offline lessons and taking special classes in the Senior and Advanced Sections.
Method of Selection :- By Audition only.
Guardians of interested candidates are required to register the names of their wards through email arohoacademy@gmail.com or What'sApp +91 9804470910 for offline or face to face audition.
The time, date and place of the audition will be informed at the beginning of the session. After the offline audition, guardians will be informed about their selection within a week through What'sApp Or email. Upon being informed, they will be given two days to inform their decision to join the programme. Seats will not be reserved beyond this time frame.
Key Components : This course taught primarily by our faculty Jayashree Das focusses on teaching of a selection of Tagore Songs from different genres and Notation along with practice guidance, delivery & enunciation training, Taal and Laya (conducted by our faculty Amitabha Mukherjee) training & Listening. Srikanta Acharya Sir will be taking special sessions on pronunciation and Tagore’s philosophy on Music, focusing specifically on Tagore’s writings in Sangeet Chinta.
Class Type:
a) Group Online classes (not exceeding 12 students). Additional practice materials and student guidance provided through digital groups.
The unit has its ongoing curriculum changing after each academic year (3 classes per month for 12 months including assessment).
Faculty – Our Rabindrasangeet Specialist Faculty Jayashree Das will be conducting the classes under the guidance Srikanta Acharya who has created the curriculum. Srikanta Acharya Sir will be in a monitoring and supervision and feedback-giving role in the online and offline lessons and taking special classes.
Method of Selection :- By Audition only.
Guardians of interested candidates are required to register the names of their wards through email arohoacademy@gmail.com or What'sApp +91 9804470910 for offline or face to face audition.
The time, date and place of the audition will be informed at the beginning of the session. After the offline audition, guardians will be informed about their selection within a week through What'sApp Or email. Upon being informed, they will be given two days to inform their decision to join the programme. Seats will not be reserved beyond this time frame.
Aroho faculties customized to the needs of the student based on mutually agreed and convenient timings. Our faculties Shaonli Mukherjee (Ragasrayee), Pramith Ganguly (Ragasrayee) and Jayashree Das (Rabindra Sangeet). Srikanta Acharya Sir attends mid-term and end-term evaluation sessions. Students are also invited to participate in special sessions conducted by Srikanta Acharya Sir for Sharbik (General) Section students. Two classes are held per month. Selection is based upon audition.
Fee: Rs. 3000/- per month/USD 40 per month (for Outside India)
In case a student opts for three classes a month, a schedule can be arranged for it. The fees in this case will be ₹3,500.
Workshops conducted once a month by Srikanta Acharya on different topics pertaining to delivery and performance of songs of different genres.
Class Type – Group Online class held once a month with 8 selected candidates only.
Method of Selection :- By Audition only.
Guardians of interested candidates are required to register the names of their wards through email arohoacademy@gmail.com or What'sApp +91 9804470910 for offline or face to face audition.
The time, date and place of the audition will be informed at the beginning of the session. After the offline audition, guardians will be informed about their selection within a week through What'sApp Or email. Upon being informed, they will be given two days to inform their decision to join the programme. Seats will not be reserved beyond this time frame.
Workshop Fee – INR 2000/- I USD 40 per workshop.
Selected candidates will need to register a week in advance.
Special Workshops on different topics pertaining to different aspects of music are conducted by Srikanta Acharya with Aroho faculty at different centers. Topic, timing, number of open seats and fees are announced in advance.
Class Type – Group
Method of Selection :- By Audition only.
Aroho offers School Music Curriculum design and Workshop-based music teaching program for Schools. In this program, Aroho faculties conduct 2-day workshops in batches covering all classes every 2 months. In the 7th session, Srikanta Acharya provides feedback on class-wise presentation of students and taking a 2 Hour workshop with musically gifted students identified by faculty.
For details send email to arohoacademy@gmail.com or Whatsapp +91 9804470910.
This course aims to train guitar to students in the beginners level through guidance and detailed practice materials. Both theoritical exposure and techniques to improve in practice will be focused in these sessions.
Medium – Online
Number of classes – 3 classes per month
Fees – Rs. 1500 per month and Rs 1,000 for admission
Faculty – Purab Seal Acharya
Srikanta Acharya
Srikanta Acharya is a household name among Bengali music lovers across the globe and has been presenting his repertoire of Bengali music through albums, live performances, radio and television over the past two decades.
Srikanta’s professional journey as a singer began 20 years ago in 1996, with the release of the now Platinum cover album Moner Janala and Rabindra sangeet album Hey Bondhu Hey Priyo. The next two years also saw record-breaking popularity of cover albums like ‘Neel Dhrubotara’ and ‘Ekechi Dujone’ with Sadhna Sargam.
Despite his enormous success with cover renditions, Srikanta has steadfastly worked towards creating milestones with his OWN repertoire of BASIC Bangla music, Rabindrasangeet renditions and film playbacks.
From ‘Ek Jhank Paakhi’ in 1998 and MUSAFIRANA 2 in September 2016, Srikanta’s basic songs in albums like ‘Brishti Tomake Dilam’, ‘Ghuri’, ‘Nodir Chhobi Aanki’, ‘Musafirana’ etc. have resonated across the cross-section of his listeners and won him several awards. In the realm of Rabindra Sangeet, Srikanta is now considered having created a unique style of rendition that leaves a legacy for the future generation.
In films, his immensely popular song ‘Meghpeon’ rendered for Rituporno Ghosh’s ‘Titli’ won him the Bengal Film Journalist’s Award (BFJA)’. Other mentionables include songs in Rituporno’s ‘Khela’, ‘Noukadubi’, Abhijit Choudhury’s ‘Patalghar,’ Aparna Sen’s ‘Iti Mrinalini,’ Koushik Ganguly’s ‘Waris’, Anjan Dutta’s ‘Cholo lets Go,’ Srijit Mukherjee’s ‘Jatishwar’ and ‘Chotushkone’ and Raja Sen’s ‘Maya Mridanga’ to name a few.
In 2015 Srikanta co-founded Musiana, with his wife Dr. Arna Seal comprising a FREE web-platform for archiving and showcasing music of the sub-continent, encapsulating Srikanta’s lasting contribution to the cause of music. In 2018, the Aroho Music Academy operating through the association of the Musiana Collective and Bengal Web Solution has was founded under his mentorship and guidance.
Since 2012 Srikanta Acharya has been releasing his songs from his own production house Srikanta Acharya Productions and YouTube Channel Srikanta Acharya Official. Srikanta Acharya also served as one of the judges of Zee Saregamapa, 2019. Apart from India he performs in among Bangla song audience across the globe.
Srikanta is the recipient of the Sangeet Samman (2012), Sangeet Mahasamman (2013) and Bangabhusan Awards (2014) of the Government of West Bengal and the Masud Karim Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), from Masud Karim foundation Bangladesh for his contribution to Bangla music.
Mentor and Guide
Shaonli Mukherjee
Shaonli Mukherjee is a faculty of Aroho since its inception. She holds an M.Mus (Khayal), B.Mus and B.Ed in Classical Music from Bengal Music College (Under University of Calccutta). Shaonli is Sangeet Visharad with distinction in Vocal Classical, NajrulGeeti and Rabindra Sangeet from Prachin Kala Kendra in Chandigarh and a Senior Diploma holder in Vocal Classical from Allahabad. She is a Grade B artist (Ghazal) of Radio Akash Bani (Prasar Bharati).
Coming from a musical family, Shaonli has been teaching music to children and adults over the past 10 years in reputed schools in Kolkata and is currently a Music faculty at Future Campus School.
Shaonli performs regularly on Television, live programs and as a playback artist. She is also the recipient of many awards including Dover Lane Music Conference (first position in Thumri, 2002), Ramakrishna Mission of Culture Scholarship 2005 and so on.
Shaonli takes both online and New Garia center classes at Aroho.
Pramith Ganguly
Pramith Gangulyis a receipient of the CCRT national scholarship award (2007). He trained in classical music under his mother Smt. Shyamosree Ganguly and then Sr. Rittwik Bhattacharya, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Sr. Anirban Chatterjee, Sr. Vishwajit Chakravarty and Smt. Swapna Chakrobarty, Mr. Kaushik Goswami and Sr. Shuvojit Banerjee. Pramith is a regular and acclaimed classical and fusion performer and his recordings are available across global websites like globally Jiosaavn, Gaana, Hungama, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Shazam, iTunes etc.
Pramith performs nationally and is the recipient of several prizes at Pune Mahotsav 2007, Yahavi, 2016 and felicitation by State Bank of India. Pramith also has his own Classical fusion band ‘Swara Taranga.’
Pramith takes both online and Serampore center classes at Aroho.
Jayashree Das
Jayashree Das holds a Master’s in Rabindra Sangeet from Rabindra Bharati University and is a B-High artist of Rabindra Sangeet at All India Radio (Prasar Bharati) where she performs regularly. Jayashree trained under the legendary Smt. Maya Sen, a doyen in the field of Rabindrasangeet with a National Scholarship accorded by the Ministry of Culture in 2005. Jayashree is also diploma holder of classical music from Prachin Kala Kendra Chandigarh.
Jayashree’s experience in teaching music spans more than 10 years and she has taught music in many reputed institutions and schools in Kolkata including Techno India Group of Schools and Srabani Sen Academy and Sarbabharatiya Sangeet-O-Sanskriti Parishad. She is a regular stage performer.
Jayashree takes both online, Srirampur and New Gariacenter classes at Aroho.
Amitabha Mukherjee, Aroho faculty - Taala and Laya
Amitabha who has been a faculy at Aroho since its inception, is a disciple of Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and a Sangeet Prabhakar diploma holder from “Prayag Sangeet Samiti (Allahabad) & Sangeet Bibhakar diploma holder from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad (West Bengal).
Amitabha is a regular performer and program curator as well as a Music instructor in reputed schools over the past 15 years. He is also attached to several prestigious musical institutions in Kolkata and takes online and offline. At present Amitabha also works as Tabla faculty for Amrita Vidyalayam, Kolkata.
Hindol Sarkar, Aroho faculty
Hindol holds a master's in Hindustani classical vocal music from Rabindra Bharati University (first class), he is also a B# graded musician in all india Radio, he has got a prestigious scholarship from sutanuti Parishad ...
Born in a musical family, he started learning music from his mother Rita Singha Roy Sarkar (a regular airtist of doordarshan and all india radio) when he was five years old, he has got senior deploma and sangeet bisharod degree from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad on multiple subjects of vocal music, later he went to Shri Jayanta Pandey, then Shri Anol Chatterjee (Senior instructor at Shrutinandan) for extensive classical taalim, Hindol is still under his tutelage, he is also taking classes from PT.Ajoy Chakraborty ji at Shrutinandan, he is a performing artist of Hindustani classical music and also has a taste for other forms of indian vocal music as well, like Ragprodhan, nazrulgeeti, Rabindra Sangeet, Bhajan etc..
Suman Mukherjee, Aroho faculty
Suman Mukherjee, an Indian classical vocalist of 29 years has a classical training of 12 years. In his years of training, he got stalwarts like Shri Utpal Roy, Parthasarathi Desikan and Shri Anol Chatterjee as his Gurus. Among some of his major achievements, is the first position in national music competition, Classical Voice of India 2020. Besides, he also got the first position and the title of the winner in Hindustani Vocal in national level singing competition by Purvai Sannskreetikala Vikash Kendra in 2021, the third position in Chetla Murari All India Music Competition in 2019, first position in National Level Singing Competition by Antardhwani and first position in national level singing competition by Shaila Kala Sangam. Among his international achievements are his selection in quarter final in world wide singing competition , I Am the Next Superstar 2021 presented by Shri Suresh Wadkar Ji's Ajivasan Music Academy, his selection in two rounds of International Competition by University of Technology and Science Meghalaya, Swami Vivekananda Award by International Wac Book of Record.
He won the recognition of Best Singer from the Magic Book of Records Registered by Government of India. Some of his other recognitions include Shailashree Samman by Hill Art and Rural Development Society, Most Talented Singer Award from Senjuti Art and Culture, Kalki Gaurav Samman, Ustad Bismillah Khan Award from Dumraon Gharana Dhrupad Tradition, Goonje Tarana Aradhya Samman Award etc. He has performed both internationally and nationally in various concerts like California TV America, Rashtriya Sangeet Sammelan, Dumraon Dhrupad Gharana Tradition Concert, Goonje Tarana Artist Series, Express News Channel, Prokriti TV Bangladesh, International Culture Centre, Bhindi Bazar Gharana Concert, Pt. Saryug Pathak Sangeet Sammelan, Laya Taal Manthan Foundation Concert, Radhamadhab Music College, Surtaal Sangeet Mahotsav, Art amd Soul Foundation etc.
Purab Seal Acharya, Aroho faculty
Purab Seal Acharya is a budding musician (composer, singer and arranger). He performs both individually and as part of his band ‘Naiyor’ and duo band ‘Abol Tabol’ with Deepraj Choudhury. Purab has been awarded the ‘Composer of the Year’ Mirchi Music Award in 2017. He trains in both Indian vocals and classical & rock and pop guitar playing.
Dr. Arna Seal ( Secretary )
Arna Seal is a Gender, Child Rights and Education activist, mentor, culture builder, evaluator and researcher and author. She is also a lyricist, Children’s writer and publisher and story-teller. With a Ph.D in Sociology from Tulane University, Louisiana, USA, she has 30 years of combined professional experience in gender and development research, individual & organizational capacity, leadership and gender-resilience development, knowledge management, pre-school to post-graduate level activation & teaching, school project management and scaling in urban, peri-urban and rural geographies and curating art-for-change digital domains. Her core domains include Gender, Education, Child, Adolescent and Youth Activation and Advocacy and Culture and the Arts. She works/collaborates extensively with Academic and Government organizations, INGOs, NGOS, and international funding organizations both independently and as part of a team of experts. Dr. Seal has worked across India as well in assignments in the United States. Dr. Seal is a SHRM and HRCI Certified (2022) Gender Sensitization, Diversity and Inclusion and POSH Trainer.
Dr. Seal’s directorial, trainer and program management role in both online and offline education across India and the globe spans almost 12 years through work with Usha Martin and Techno India Group of Schools, Loreto House Teacher Center, Oxford University Press, Government Departments and rural and urban NGOs across West Bengal and NGOs in India like Antaranga Society, Santiniketan, IIPER, Sanlaap, Sahay Children’s International, Going to School, Disha – Rajasthan, NGOs in Orissa and International organizations like Oxfam and UNICEF. She is also the Secretary of Aroho Academy that runs a Music Institution of 200 students (www.arohoacademy.org) and an online storytelling and creative learning platform, and her own online education start-up Kelaza as well as a co-partnered arts-based creative learning and life-skills organization Bondhu (spanning 19 years).
Currently, Dr. Seal’s core activities in the above domains primarily involve program development, setting up monitoring, supervision and evaluation frameworks both vis-à-vis process and program outcomes, mentoring and team-building, developing pedagogies and conducting program evaluation across domains of Gender and Leadership building and School Education.
1. All selected students/guardians are required to fill up and sign the admission form prior to start of class.
2. With the exception of workshops Aroho fee has two components: a) one-time admission fee and b) monthly fee.
3. Students are required to pay a ONE-TIME NON-REFUNDABLE ADMISSION FEE upon joining Aroho. Every time a student leaves Aroho to rejoin, the admission fee needs to be paid.
4. All fees are to be paid online at the bank account of Aroho Academy (details of which will be provided by the Aroho Admin team) by the 10th of each month. A fine of INR 100/- and USD 20 (for overseas students) will be levied upon delay.
5. The one-time and monthly fee are subject to yearly increase by order of the management.
6. Students from Bangladesh can pay in BDT through a BIKASH number provided by our Admin Team. Students residing overseas are required to pay in USD only through relevant link provided by our Admin Team.
7. For details on fee send email to arohoacademy@gmail.com or Whatsapp +91 9804470910.