Student Feedbacks

“To my mind, Dagar Bani Dhrupad constitutes one of the worlds’ great cultural treasures and I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to study it with such wonderful teachers as the Gundecha Brothers. The work they are doing in creating the Bhopal Dhrupad Sansthan is, as far as I know, unparalleled as far as creating an environment which brings the traditional Guru-Shishya-Parampara system into the twenty first century in a way which welcomes students from many different cultural backgrounds and without compromising the traditional rigour of this teaching method. I have found the Gundecha Brothers and their families to be at all times exceptionally generous, supportive and liberal with their teaching, their encouragement and their support. The physical environment of the Gurukul is beautiful and peaceful, and generously comfortable and the student community is welcoming and supportive.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Bhopal Dhrupad Sansthan to anyone who wishes to study this art form.”

- Mr. Chris Sprague from Australia <chris@melbournemusic.info>

“What impressed me the most at first was Gundecha Brothers insatiable desire of spreading and teaching Dhrupad, in it’s Pure form. To the point of you forgetting space and time. Your Passion and Love for Dhrupad could be felt through your teaching and has enliven for me that sense of wonder and sacredness for this amazing sacred divine form of Musical expression. And your sense of chhand, in the alap, is absolutely mind blowing, almost beyond this world. At last, but not least: You do not impose your stile to the students. You adapt your phrasing in accordance to their own self expression and teach us, that way, to be more aware of one own musical tendencies and talent so it can blossom freely. And thank you so much, for all that. I’m very impressed!”

- Ms. Florence Morfiosse (Shivala) from France <shivala@mail.com>

“My experience at Dhrupad Sansthan has exceeded all expectations. We are so fortunate that the Gundecha family is carrying on the traditional Gurukul method of teaching and preserving the art of Dhrupad for future generations. I highly recommend this school to anyone and everyone who is interested in exploring the music of India, and I feel certain that everyone can experience the joy and spiritual depth of this music here at Dhrupad Sansthan.”

- Ms. Jennifer Melmon from USA <jmelmon@yahoo.com>

“I have come to Dhruapad Sansthan to study music but I feel that around the music there are also many facets of the cultural environment that are transmitted through this intensive traditional teaching method. The Guru-Shishya-Parampara reveals to me the cultural ground from which the music springs thus giving me a much deeper and richer understanding of the music itself. The Gundecha Brothers are very generous in welcoming me and making me a part of their religious, cultural and social functions and celebrations, and for this I feel most fortunate.”

- Mr. Inoue So from Japan <sou_nd13@hotmail.co.jp>

“I’m very happy to be studying in Dhrupad Sansthan. I don’t know a better adapted place to learn Dhrupad, one of the oldest singing styles. Gundecha Bandhu is doing extremely important work to keep this ancient heritage alive.”

- Ms. Anna Bohini from Switzerland <potenziale@gmx.ch>

“Here at Dhrupad Sansthan I love following the rhythm of nature, getting up with the sun, sleeping near the stars, listening to the birds, and enjoying the colours of each season. This enviironment gives me inner peace for practice. Every morning, afternoon and evening I sing with the tamboura. It is my daily companion. When my voice and the tone of the tamboura meet, I feel myself flowing slowly in the depth of sound. Every day I experience the grace of being intimate with the notes, then external preoccupations and all kinds of thoughts become inconsequential. In the palm of Dhrupad, I feel myself blossoming day by day. We hear this music in the clear voices of our gurus. It is a continuous meditation, a meeting with true emotions, a journey of the soul. In this place the peaceful solitude is balanced with the moments I share with the other students. Everyone respects one another, and this helps us to rise in the field of music.”

- Ms. Deborah Ollevier from Belgium <deboll_7@hotmail.com>

“I am really grateful that I had a chance of studying Indian music and culture in Dhrupad Sansthan Bhopal. What impressed me most was the friendly atmosphere from Indian people in Gurukul. This was my first visit to India.

What I learned about Dhrupad is that it is so ancient, so deep and harmonic. It led me involving in the pure Indian music and I can’t help myself surviving without it. Actually I am living now with this kind of music in China and with all memory of my days and nights spent in Gurukul.”

- Mr. Xue Ting from China <digting3@hotmail.com>

- A loving thank you note from Tara Kini, Raje, Gita and Essmath of Sunaad Group, Bangalore. Please click here to see.

- A Feedback note from Georg Gratzer. Click here to see.