The Pandemic Has Led to New Delhi’s Online Tutorial Platform Pink Lotus Academia

In a bid to transplant the essence of traditional teaching of Indian classical music, dance and yoga to the online sphere, Pink Lotus Academia in New Delhi launched in February to offer classes twice a week over Zoom.

There’s also video tutorials that can be perused by students at any point. Spurred on specifically by the pandemic, there is a physical space from where the faculty and staff work, inviting occasional in-person classes with prior appointments in the Greater Kailash area. Founder and yoga faculty Kaavita Das told BW Education, “While the primary aim is to deliver online teaching in Indian classical music, dance and yoga, we also support and develop the Indian classical arts and culture sector and organizations in order to strengthen their enterprise to check how studying and learning these arts can bring economic, social and personal success on a long-term basis. Our lessons happen through video tutorials, personal coaching, group classes, skill development, advice, mentoring, workshops and concerts.” 

With three structures for classes based on knowledge level – Brinto for beginners, Koli for intermediate and Pushp for advanced – the website for Pink Lotus Academia also promises to customize learning experiences “so that the student can learn at their own pace.” One of the advantages, it notes, is that an open platform like the academia bypasses “the pressure of being surrounded by peers.”

Beginner classes for sitar, for example, is priced at ₹5,000 for two sessions per month, of 45 minutes to an hour among a maximum of five students. Koli and Pushp courses are currently being accepted on a case by case basis, after looking over previous learning experience of applicants.

Among the other initiatives launched so far in the music space is a masterclass on sitar practice by faculty member and sitarist Soumitra Thakur. “Students are often not taught to focus on certain basics of learning the sitar. The aim of this master class is to strengthen their base. Once you know the fundamentals, your learning in the later stages becomes easier and faster,” says Thakur.

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