Since the inception of this project, the aim of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya has been to help children from humble backgrounds to create a brighter future, groom high quality musicians and contribute to the conservation and diffusion of the India’s vast musical heritage.
Today, the school provides food, shelter, health care, clothing, as well as musical and academic education to about a hundred children, all free of cost. The organization has been more than greatly encouraged by the high level of interest, enthusiasm and talent for music and other skills demonstrated by these keen young students.
Founded in November 2002, Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya is located in a quiet valley near the city of Dharwad in Karnataka State, South India. Established on five acres of land a short distance from Kalkeri village, the school consists of simple buildings made from traditional materials such as bamboo, timber and earth (bricks and tiles). The climate is temperate and drinking-water resources are plentiful. In this peaceful setting, about one hundred children enjoy the tranquillity necessary for musical practice and study. A professional and dedicated team sees to their physical and psychological welfare and development.
More than a school, Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya is a living and working ideal, where the students can blossom and realize their full potential. KSV endeavours to combine the better parts of two worlds; on the one hand, tradition is taught through the ancient disciplines of Indian classical music and Hatha yoga, whilst on the other, the students are engaged in a modern educational program with English as its main means of communication. Computer studies is also taught which will prepare the children to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving world.
In its early development, only limited resources were available to the school. This situation made it difficult to earn the trust of local people, in particular that of the parents. The simple conditions at the school, as well as the presence of Westerners at the heart of the project, aroused suspicions. However, the school gradually built an excellent reputation. The children attended their classes regularly and gave highly praised musical performances. Now perfectly integrated with its environment, the school provides food, accommodation and clothing as well as musical and academic education to approximately one hundred boys and girls. The same number of names are on the school’s waiting list.
Our students, aged between six and eighteen years old, come from some of the many different communities that exist in Northern Karnataka, thus creating a real cultural mosaic: Lingayats, Marathas, Sunni and Shiites Muslims, Gowlies and Lambanis are but a few examples. This multi-cultural group of students, together with the staff and volunteers use a variety of languages, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Lambani, Urdu, Irani, English and French are all spoken at KSV. These courageous and ambitious youngsters all come from rural and urban areas of Karnataka where access to holistic education is limited.
Initially, the students for KSV were chosen regarding their backgrounds. This was done so as to maintain one of the fundamental goals of the project: diminishing social inequalities. A second selection spontaneously occurred between the students possessing the will to undertake nine hours of music and academic studies on a daily basis, and the others. The students residing at KSV are therefore all genuinely motivated and passionate about music and understand the value of education. It is important that cooperation is maintained with the parents; this is crucial in maintaining the children’s motivation as they progress through their studies. The rapidly increasing demand for admission means that we have to use new and more precise criteria for admission.
The children who have been with the project for more than two years all possess a good knowledge of written and spoken English. The presence of volunteers from many parts of the world certainly contributes to this. With regard to their music studies, the children study a large musical repertoire and the results of these hours of hard work are manifested in highly-praised performances at concerts throughout the region.
On the academic level, examinations before the 7th grade are conducted internally. From the 7th grade onwards, children sit the government examinations, and all those who did were successful.
Healthy nutritious food together with physical exercise is of paramount importance when children are growing up. Some children did exhibit some health deficiencies on arrival at KSV but the healthy diet and exercise regime at the school has greatly improved their physical condition.
The school organizes educational and cultural visits for the students and of course there are trips to various places to give concerts, this gives the students yet more worldly experience. All the activities at KSV go towards broadening their minds and widening their interests, and this is further enhanced by the fact that at the school the students are living with the staff, volunteers and visitors from different countries.
To our great pleasure, the eldest students now consider themselves musicians. Their time spent at KSV has changed their self-perception and the scale of their dreams. They have developed aspirations that were foreign to them before. Through the faith we have in them and the inspiration they find in their teachers, many students have wholeheartedly adopted the hopes and ambitions that we had for them. We are immensely proud to see them set out upon a path in life that will undoubtedly give them more freedom as adults.
Educational Approach
At Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya, three different methods of instruction are employed, the first of these being concerned with music. It is inspired by the Indian tradition of the Gurukul. The Gurukul is a place where one comes to live with a reputed master, in order to acquire traditional knowledge. The aspirant is thus integrated into a lineage of masters and disciples, who will become his second family .
The second method of instruction is concerned with academic studies. It is based on the Karnataka State government educational program, whilst acknowledging the diverse academic backgrounds of our students and putting a particular stress on the acquisition of communication tools (English and Computer Studies) and openness towards the world.
The last method of instruction is concerned with the personal and social development of the children. It seeks the integration of healthy habits, as well as relationships with oneself and with others that are positive and respectful.
The idea of KSV sprung from a dream that it was possible to take children from the grass-roots, where formal education is inaccessible due to various factors, to isolate them in a highly favourable learning environment and guide them on a path where they will become creative and resourceful citizens who can stand on their own two feet without the burdens of their economic and social backgrounds.
In view of the pace at which our students have been progressing since the opening of the school, and with the support and involvement of our benefactors, we are confident that this dream will come true.
Since the inception of this project, the aim of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya has been to help children from humble backgrounds to create a brighter future, groom high quality musicians and contribute to the conservation and diffusion of the India’s vast musical heritage. 
Our students, aged between six and eighteen years old, come from some of the many different communities that exist in Northern Karnataka, thus creating a real cultural mosaic: Lingayats, Marathas, Sunni and Shiites Muslims, Gowlies and Lambanis are but a few examples. This multi-cultural group of students, together with the staff and volunteers use a variety of languages, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Lambani, Urdu, Irani, English and French are all spoken at KSV. These courageous and ambitious youngsters all come from rural and urban areas of Karnataka where access to holistic education is limited. 
The idea of KSV sprung from a dream that it was possible to take children from the grass-roots, where formal education is inaccessible due to various factors, to isolate them in a highly favourable learning environment and guide them on a path where they will become creative and resourceful citizens who can stand on their own two feet without the burdens of their economic and social backgrounds. 
