Projects

Academy and school projects

We support learners of all levels through meaningful, inclusive experiences.

About Darbar Academy

The Darbar Academy is a premier online learning platform and app dedicated to nurturing a new generation of Indian classical musicians who will sustain this art form with pride and passion. We bring lessons to the comfort of your home, offering focused online LIVE classes led by some of the world’s most distinguished musicians.

Our curriculum caters to all levels — from beginners to advanced students — and includes Hindustani vocals, harmonium, tabla and sitar. Each class is designed to help students master their musical skills while also developing a deep appreciation for Indian classical music. All live sessions are archived, allowing students to revisit and get on with their riyaz (practice) anytime.

Beyond live classes, we offer on-demand learning options, such as our Indian Classical Music Appreciation course, allowing students to explore its history, theory, and beauty at their own pace.

We are also at the forefront of transforming how Indian classical music is taught in schools in the UK, with our comprehensive course aimed at learning Indian music on the keyboard.

Our mission is to provide a robust platform for students of Indian classical music to learn from world-class teachers. We aim to cultivate a new generation of musicians, creating a vibrant community where the love for Indian classical music flourishes.

About Darbar Schools Project

The Darbar Academy Schools Project was a bold step towards reimagining how Indian classical music is experienced in classrooms across England. Rooted in our belief that every child deserves access to the very best of Indian music education, the project brought our rich heritage to life through engaging and age-appropriate digital learning.

This initiative was about widening access — reaching children who might otherwise never encounter this music — through a unique, intuitive methodology developed by our educator–artist collaborator Jesse Bannister and the Darbar Academy team. More than just delivering ‘instruction,’ the aim was to nurture students’ imagination, cultivate discipline, build skills and celebrate the sheer joy of learning music!

This work is a vital part of our long-term vision: to seed Indian classical music into the cultural fabric of the next generation — in ways that are inclusive, accessible and with artistic excellence at its heart.

Leicester Audience Development Plan

Where it all started. Darbar was set up in memory of Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee, a revolutionary tabla teacher in Leicester, one of the UK’s most diverse cities, where he taught and enriched the lives of hundreds of students.

Darbar Festival

The life blood of Darbar is our annual Darbar Festival. It is what we are known for by audiences and artists alike. Held in London every autumn reaching about 10,000 people, the festival is a celebration of some of the best musicians of Indian classical music from across the world.

SkyArts Series

As part of our corporate partnership with Sky Arts TV, since 2008 we have been producing television programmes, showcasing a diverse selection of full-length concerts from the Darbar Festival. Reaching audiences across Europe these are usually broadcast between November and January.

Darbar Player

The Netflix of Indian Classical Music, this is our subscription-based app for on-demand content featuring full length concerts; special Director Cuts; Sky TV programmes; interviews and in-conversation sessions; fly-on-the wall shorts; yoga and much more. This is Darbar quality on your devices on the go. Sign up here.

Player

Social Media

Our social media channels are a way to engage with you – our audiences – to listen to your feedback and great ideas and to share our mutual passion for this truly glorious art form.