Renowned music composer A R Rahman announced here on Wednesday that he was starting a music school to pave the way for India’s own symphony orchestra.

Mr Rahman told reporters here that the school, K M Music Conservatory, started in collaboration with Audio Media Education, an Apple authorised training centre, would begin functioning from June.
The school will offer, at the entry level, a preparatory programme for students with interest in music. It will also offer a foundation course and a two-year diploma course.

The foundation course is for students who want to take up music as a profession and it will offer music technology and sound design. The diploma course is for students with sufficient talent, dedication and skill to undertake advanced study.

Discussions are underway with the Madras University to get deemed university status for K M Music Conservatory so that it can offer degree courses in music and music-related technology.

To be principal

Mr Rahman said he would be the founder and principal of the school and added that since he was doing only two films a year, he would be able to find time for the school.

While Indian classical music, be it Carnatic or Hindustani, “is extraordinary in its own way”, there was need for western notations to make it compatible with western orchestra. The school would fill this need, the music composer said.

He said the fee would be kept low. Besides the Foundation would offer 50 per cent scholarship for deserving students who could not afford the courses.