Music classes at the school

Teen Tal with Pandit Ravi Kudalgi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42mntFbGRj8

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Taraana in Raag Malkauns with Pandit Mardur: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-iLu37n-M

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Sitar class with Hafeez Khan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAn_MujcthQ

What visitors have to say about the school!

In the photo: Mathieu and Agathe with people from Infosys, ANZ, SunGard, CDC Software, and Landmark Holidays

Sample of what people have to say, after visiting the school:

Reena, Bangalore: "The time I spent at the Kalkeri School goes on record as one of my best times, ever! I was moved to tears by the performance and I cherish every moment spent with the kids.

We sure know where to go when ones needs a little and peace and LOT of joy, in this rather distressed and trite city lives we lead!"

Photos of Kalkeri taken by Nitya and Reena:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paranoidandroid_/sets/72157601281058200/

Nitya, Bangalore: "Thank you so much for your hospitality and warmth. I was very overwhelmed with the children's performance. It has to be the most perfect rendition of Jaunpuri I've ever heard. I have half a mind to get one of them to teach me "Payal ki jhankaar".

Every child I interacted with, was passionate, talented and aware. And it is clear that your team has put in a lot of effort. It takes some courage to run the place. Especially considering that the mode of education is different from standard fare.

Wonderful wonderful job!"

Please add your comments! Use the Comments option below this post. Remember to mention your name. Thank you!

Come visit the school!

Dharwar is in North Karnataka, mid-way between Mumbai and Bangalore.
It is just an overnight journey from either city. 425 kms from Bangalore, 500 kms from Mumbai. Well-connected by rail and road. Nearest airports are Hubli [30 mins], and Belgaum [1 hour].

Kalkeri is 15 kms from Dharwar city. Accessible by government buses. You can also hire autos or taxis easily. Say that you want to go to Kalkeri. Anyone at the village will direct you to the school. You can walk to the school from the village entrance.

Travel to Dharwar from Bangalore:

Rani Chennamma Express [Train No: 6589]: Leaves Bangalore at 9.15 PM, reaches Dharwar at 6.15 A.M

Buses: KSRTC, VRL, Durgamba, Sugama Travels etc. Ask driver to drop you off at the Court.

Where to stay in Dharwar: There are many budget hotels at Dharwar.

Some options between District Court and Dharwar railway station, all within a range of 2 kilometres! :

Hotel Hoysala
Hotel Central Park
Hotel Dharwar
Hotel Brindavan
Hotel Mandar Residency [slightly more up-market than the others]

[Will provide phone numbers soon]

Contact for Information:

You can mail, call, or meet Vasant Mokashi, who is a very active volunteer at the school, if you need info about going to Kalkeri. He is a film maker, a native of Dharwar, and currently lives in Bangalore. If possible, he will accompany you to Kalkeri.

Mail: vasant.mokashi@gmail.com
Phone: 98457-19920

Contact Information

Bangalore Contact: Vasant Mokashi

You can mail, call, or meet Vasant Mokashi, a very active volunteer at the school, who can provide you all the information you need. He is a film maker, a native of Dharwar, and currently lives in Bangalore.

Mail: vasant.mokashi@gmail.com

Phone: 98457-19920

Mathieu Fortier, Co-Founder:

Mail: Mathieu@youngmusiciansoftheworld.org

Mathieu is currently in Quebec, Canada, and he can be contacted via e-mail.

School:

Mail: kalkeri_01@bsnl.in One of the staff at the school will answer your mails, if Mathieu is not in town.

Phone: (0091) 0836 2786 746

Address:
Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya
Kalkeri Village
Dharwad district
PIN: 580007
Karnataka
India

How you can contribute to the school

For information on any of the following, please contact Mathieu and Vasant. [mathieu@youngmusiciansoftheworld.org and vasant.mokashi@gmail.com. You can speak to Vasant at 98457-19920]

Contribute money towards monthly expenses of the school

The school, which has around 100 students staying on campus, needs a sizeable amount every month for food, clothing, medical care, teachers' salaries, educational equipment/music instruments and books, electricity, transport, and maintenance of buildings.

With increasing number of students, the school is struggling to raise this amount. Your contributions will go a long way to keep this ideal alive.

Contributions to the school are eligible for deduction under section 80G, of Income Tax act.

By direct transfer to their SBI account

Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya Account No: 30029977616
SBI Hosayellapur Branch. Dharwar. North Karnataka. India
Branch code: 7964 Branch Phone: 0836-221-1159

Payment by Check/DD

In the name of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya

Postal Address:

Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya
Kalkeri Village
Dharwad district
Karnataka India
PIN 580007

Tel: (0091) 0836 2786 746

Contribute in kind

You can contribute books, clothes, stationery, educational software.

Watch this video - SunGard Software Solutions contributed computers to the school a few years ago - and their arrival was a big event for the kids!

Computers arrive at the school! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDCNOwtu0_Q

Come stay!

Come stay at the school for short periods and teach the children in interactive ways - music, or any school subject. Young people from many parts of the world come and stay at Kalkeri, often on exchange programs.

Provide innovative ideas

Come up with innovative ideas for the development of the school. They have a few computers there, donated by SunGard Software Solutions - children have basic computer knowledge. Internet connection exists, but is slow, and depends on faulty telephone connections.

Tell the whole world!

Spread the word, and encourage others to visit/help/participate! If you have friends who are musicians, do let them know - they will relate to this in a special way.

And if you know of people abroad who want to do volunteer service in a foreign country, do let them know of this unique opportunity.

Thank you!

About Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyala

".........The time spent at KSV changed their vision of themselves and the scale of their dreams. They developed aspirations that were foreign to them before their arrival at the school."

These lines from the description of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya summarizes the profound life- changing effect of the school on children from backgrounds that did not permit them the luxury of dreaming.

Set amidst beautiful green rolling hills and idyllic village scenes, this unique school follows the Indian tradition of Gurukula. Rural children from poor and tribal families stay at the school and learn Hindustani Classical music, regular academic subjects, and yoga. And also the most important fact that they have as much right to happiness and progress as anyone else.

An initiative of the Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya Trust, the school sees volunteers from across the world come, stay, and teach music and academic subjects to the children.

A place full of pleasant surprises, you have to see it to believe it. Come visit us!

For details about the school click here. [http://www.jeunesmusiciensdumonde.org/]

For photos of the school, click here.