Updated on Jun 15, 2023 12:04 IST
Radhika Sharma

Radhika SharmaAssociate Senior Executive

What's new in Music? CUET UG 2023 for fourth phase shall be conducted from June 5 to June 8. The admit card will be released on June 3.

Music is a form of art which can express any human emotion, blend with the rhythm and tune harmoniously to express the hidden talent. Since, the dawn of civilisation, music has been considered as an inborn talent of the man, which can be vocal and instrumental. Music is sung or played for self-expression, self-satisfaction, offering worship and entertaining others. The instrumental music refers to the music produced by instruments like guitar sarod, sitar, piano, keyboard, tabla, flute, violin etc. Students who wish to take up music as a career, can pursue a course in Fine Arts which can help an individual make their dreams come true. 

Music is a performing art which is widely used in drama, theatre, dancecinema etc. In India, there are several institutions which conduct undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in vocal and instrumental music. Here at Shiksha, we have tried to incorporate information about music courses in India.

Also Read: Popular Colleges for Music Courses

Table of Contents
  1. Music: Highlights
  2. Music Course Eligibility Criteria 
    • 2.1 Admission Procedure and Fees
  3. Popular Music Entrance Exams 2023
  4. Music Course Structure and Syllabus  
    • 4.1 Music Course Fees 
  5. Top Colleges for Music
    • 5.1 Top Government Colleges for Music
    • 5.2 Top Private Colleges for Music
  6. Music Career, Scope and Top Job Profiles
    • 6.1 Top Recruiters for Music
  7. Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) related to Music

Music: Highlights

Check key points related to various courses in Music in the table below which contains the highlights on course level, course duration, entrance exams, average salaries, course fees, top recruiters and top job profiles. Candidates can refer to highlights for a quick reference:

Highlights

Details

Course Level

Diploma (1 year- 4 years)

Undergraduate (3-4 years)

Postgraduate (2 years)

Popular Courses

Diploma: Diploma in Light Music, Diploma in Lalitha Sangeetham, Diploma in Mimicry

Undergraduate: B.A(Hons) in Music, B.A(Hons) in Hindustani Music- Percussion (Tabla/Pakhawaj), B.A(Hons) in Hindustani Music- Vocal/Instrumental(Sitar/Sarod/Guitar)

Postgraduate: M.A in Music(Hindustani Vocal and Instrumental)

Admission Process

Entrance Exam/Merit/Direct Admission

Examination Type

Semester-wise

Course Fee

INR 2-6 LPA

Average Starting Salary

INR 3-10 LPA

Job Positions

Music Director, Editor, Sound Engineer, Lyricist, Band Leader, Singer

 Top Recruiting Companies

T-Series, Tips, YRF Music, Saregama, Radio Channels, Zee Music

Latest Updates

Music Course Eligibility Criteria 

  • To be eligible to pursue Music Course, the candidates are required to complete the basic course in vocal or instrumental music.
  • There are three undergraduate programmes: BA (Hons in Music), BFA (Music) and B.PA (Music). Besides, to pursue three years’ undergraduate course, the candidate must have passed 10+2 board examination with minimum 50 per cent marks in aggregate (45% marks for reserved category candidates). Those who have appeared for 10+2 Board examination are also eligible for the course but have to submit their final mark sheet at the time of admission in the varsity. 
  • To pursue a postgraduate course, the candidate needs to have completed an undergraduate course in music (either vocal or instrumental). 

The eligible candidates would have to sit for a national level admission test for the purpose.

Admission Procedure and Fees

The admission to the undergraduate course in music is granted based on the score in the entrance test. Most of the universities grant admission on the basis of a common entrance test. However, candidates will have to follow a procedure starting by registering and applying. The admission process commences after the publication of common entrance test results. Candidates who clear the entrance exam, will have to produce all the required documents at the time of counselling. Final admission is granted based on merit. Once all the formalities have been completed, candidates will have to pay the fees and secure admission in their desired course.

Popular Music Entrance Exams 2023

Most of the colleges offering courses in the field of music accept admissions based on the entrance test that is either conducted in-house or accept scores of the national level or state-level entrance examinations. Some of the popular entrance exams that an aspirant should consider appearing for admission to these courses are mentioned below:

Entrance Name Registration Details Exam Details
PUBDET 2023 Admit Card out in May 2023 3rd-4th June 2023
CUET 2023

Admit Card to release from 18th May-28th May 2023

21st-31st May 2023

NSD Entrance Exam

To be announced

To be announced

Calcutta University Entrance Exam

To be announced

To be announced

URATPG 2023 Admit Card out in June 2023 July 2023
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Music Course Structure and Syllabus  

Music being a performing art requires years of rigorous training and practice. To excel in music as well as to take up music as a profession, candidates are required to acquire in-depth knowledge and hands-on training. The syllabus for a full-time undergraduate course has been tailored to disseminate knowledge and training both. The three years’ curriculum covers all the concepts and nuances of music. Candidates are also provided chances to attend seminars and workshops to hone their skills further. Here, we have tabularised the syllabus content of music in the three consecutive years:

Year

Subjects

 

First Year

 

 

 

 

Appreciation of Music

Bada Khayal and Chhota Khayal

Brief history of Bharat Natya Shastra and Sangeet Ratnakar

Classification of Music

Concepts of Ragas and Tala in Indian Music

Classification of Ragas

Second Year

Concert Singing

Different Gharanas and their history

Evolution of Notation system

Forms of Light Music

History of Indian Music

Importance of Music Festivals/Seminars/Conferences

Third Year

Laws of Acoustics

Musical Sound, Wave Motion, Frequency, Pitch and Volume

Music & Literature

Place of Music in Fine Arts

Role of Music in Multi-Media

Taal Study

Music Course Fees 

Programme

Minimum Fees

Maximum Fees

 

Private

Government

Private

Government

UG

1.69 K

1.19 K

14.00 Lakhs

7.50 Lakhs

PG

1.13 K

2.35 K

14.08 Lakhs

73.96 K

DOCTORAL

1.05 Lakhs

8.22 K

3.83 Lakhs

60.60 K

DIPLOMA

8.00 K

2.58 K

3.84 Lakhs

3.50 Lakhs

Top Colleges for Music

India is home to many good institutes that have been offering quality learning opportunities in their Music programmes. Course Fees and placement opportunities are two important criteria to decide college for pursuing Music. There are many top government and private engineering colleges which offer Music courses.

Top Government Colleges for Music

Some of the top government colleges for pursuing Music course includes various central and state universities which are popularly known as temples of excellence. The government colleges are as follows:

Institute Total Fees in INR
Banaras Hindu University 6k-10k
College of Arts, Delhi University 4.2k- 38.2k
Bangalore University 10k-34k
Maharishi Dayanand University 20k
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda 2k-27k
Panjab University 11k-24k
Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University 1k-6k
University of Hyderabad 14k
Univerity of Madras 3k-30k
Nagpur University 4k
Visva Bharti University 3k

Top Private Colleges for Music

Some of the private colleges include Deemed to be Universities as well as other autonomous institutes run by famous musicians They provide excellent infrastructure and experts in the field of music training and sound engineering which makes these colleges popular for pursuing Music .The colleges are as follows:

Institute Total Fees in INR
Amity University 2-3 lakh
Asian Academy of Film and Television 40k- 5 lakh
Chandigarh University 4 lakh
Christ University 3 lakh
Lovely Professional University 1-4 lakh
NMIMS School of Performing Arts 6- 13 lakh
SASTRA Deemed to be University  1 lakh
Parul University 80k- 3 lakh
Vishwakarma University 4 lakh
The True School of Music 16 lakh
Whistling Woods International 12 lakh
World University of Design 1.36- 4.8 lakh

Music Career, Scope and Top Job Profiles

A degree in music course fetches a plethora of job opportunities to the candidates. Apart from being singers and instrumentalists, they can work as music composers, songwriters, music arrangers, transcriber, music sequencer, choir director, and producer etc. They may also begin a profession as music teachers and devote time in preparing young talents. As they accumulate experience, they may set up their own academy and train students. In an age of electronic media explosion, they may also take online classes to teach students.

Like any other profession, the salary of the musicians remains low at the beginning but with years it increases and may reach to INR 8-10 lakhs per annum. Here in the table, we have charted down the salary drawn by the musicians per annum at the initial stage of their career:  

Job Profile

Average Salary

Music Director

INR 9-10 lakhs (depends on project)

Professor

INR 8-9 lakhs

Music Composer

INR. 5-6 lakhs (depends on project)

Singer

INR 5-6 lakhs (depends on project)

Band Leader

INR 4-5 lakhs 

Lyricist

INR 4-5 lakhs  (depends on project)

Sound Engineer

INR 3-4 lakhs

Radio Jockey

INR 3-4 lakhs

Top Recruiters for Music

Candidates can apply to various companies that primarily deals with music. Some of the top companies/brands have been listed below:

  • T-Series
  • Sony Music India
  • Zee Music
  • Saregama
  • 94.3 RadioOne
  • Tips
  • Yash Raj Music

Read More: 

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) related to Music

Q. Is Music a good career option?

A. Yes, a course would give you an insight into the music industry and would help in starting career. Music has become an excellent career option for candidates wishing to enter the entertainment industry. They can work as recording artists, sound engineers and also work as lyricists. Many musicians earn up to INR 2-8 lakh for recordings and they also run their own music workshops and offer training courses to aspiring musicians. Candidates must be genuinely hardworking and interested in this field to make a career.

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for a bachelor's course in Music?

A. The candidate must have passed 10+2 board examination with minimum 50 per cent marks in aggregate (45% marks for reserved category candidates). Candidates who have also studied Music (Hindustani/Carnatic/Vocals/Instrumental) as a minor subject in Class 12th are encourage to pursue BA courses in Music. They can either choose to learn instruments or get vocal training in either of the disciplines. Therefore, this is an excellent career option after Class 12th.

Q. What are the concepts taught under Analytical study of Music?

A. When a candidate learns music either in BA or MA level, he is introduced to the various aspects of Carnatic and Hindustani Music such as Ragas, Talas, Rare Talas, Time theory of Ragas, Ragas used in ancient music (Devanagri and Tamil Languages), Khamas, Darbars, Sriranjini and various methods of analytical study of Music such as Theme and Sahitya through selected compositions. Candidates have to demonstrate their knowledge through practical which consists of demonstration of the various kirtis of musicians.

Q. What are the different jobs in the music industry?

A. There are many job profiles in the music industry and professionals are hired by famous recording studios and production houses in the following roles:

  • Radio Jockey
  • Music Composer
  • Singer
  • Music Director
  • Audio Technician

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for a masters' course in Music?

A. The candidate needs to have completed an undergraduate course in music (either vocal or instrumental). Candidates have to also appear for the various state-level or national-level entrance examinations in order to be eligible for the admission to MA course in Music. Those candidates who have also undergone honours in Music in BA Arts can also apply for MA Music. Therefore, it is extremely important for candidates to have a background in the field of Music in order to pursue a postgraduate course in the same field.

Q. What is the benefit of doing MA Music course?

A. Master of Arts in Music is a postgraduate course which is extremely beneficial for those who wish to upgrade their skills in the field of music and can themselves become music teachers. This course provides scientific knowledge in the field of Carnatic music, implementing creativity in the practice of Carnatic and Hindustani Music and to implement the skills for one's professional development. After completing this course, candidates can become lecturers or professors in the field of Music and work in renowned colleges.

Q. Which are the popular institutes in Mumbai to pursue Music courses?

A. Some of the popular colleges/institutes to pursue Music in Mumbai include top private and government colleges. Some of these colleges are as follows:

Q. What are the skills required to pursue Music courses?

A. To pursue a course in music, candidates must incline towards music. Moreover, they must have a basic knowledge of music. Interested candidates should be creative, innovative and willing to work for hours. Here, we have listed down the skills required to pursue a course in music:

Knowledge of music

Must have completed the basic course in music

Inclination for Music

Should have a special inclination towards music and can devote hours to pursue music

Creative and Innovative

Must have a creative frame of mind and can come up with new tunes

Rhythmic Sense

Should possess a sense of rhythm

Hard worker

Ability to work for hours

Team worker

Ability to work in a team

Discipline and punctuality

Should be disciplined and punctual in the professional field

Q. Is Music production a good career?

A. To establish a sound career in the field of Music production, Candidates must not only be able to understand tempo and rhythm but also must be aware of the various devices used in this exercise. They must be able to produce effective results for their clients in short period of time. They must also be aware of the process of recording and dubbing in a studio in order to be effective sound production engineers. After completing the course, candidates must definitely intern under music companies and recording studios in order to establish a successful career in this field.

Q. What is the difference between MA Music and Post Graduate Diploma course in Music?

A. The difference between MA Music and Post Graduate Diploma course in Music is that MA Music is completed in 2 years whereas PGD in Music is completed within 6 months to 1 year. Furthermore, many private music training institutes which are run by professional musicians or music directors offer the short-term PGD course whereas top universities and private colleges offer MA course which is longer in duration and students are admitted to it through entrance examination.

Q. What are the top specialisations offered in MA Music?

A. Many colleges and universities which run MA course in Music offer various electives in order to allow students to specialise in one of these areas. This provides the candidates with streamlined expertise in the different fields of music. The specialisations are as follows:

  • Carnatic Music
  • Hindustani Music
  • Vocal Music
  • Instrumental Music
  • Music Production
  • Music Management

Popular Music Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Music Colleges in India. Learn more about these Music colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
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₹5 - 15.5 LPA
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₹2.4 L - 2.52 L
₹5.5 LPA
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Music Applications open. Apply Now

₹1.2 K - 6 K
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11 Courses
₹6.25 K - 9.53 K
₹8 LPA
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12 Courses
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₹1.8 K - 27.18 K
₹2.8 - 3 LPA
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₹80 K - 2.8 L
─
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Music Applications open. Apply Now

Popular Private Music Colleges in India

₹16 L
5.0
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10 Courses
₹40 K - 4.76 L
1.0
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₹2.4 L - 2.52 L
₹5.5 LPA
─
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Music Applications open. Apply Now

6 Courses
₹1.06 L - 4 L
₹4 - 7.25 LPA
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2 Courses
₹3 L - 4.05 L
₹4 LPA
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₹18 K - 34.5 K
₹2.2 - 3 LPA
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Popular Music UG Courses in India

Following are the most popular Music UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Music PG Courses in India

Following are the most popular Music PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Music Specializations in India

Following are the most popular Music Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, you may use any type of music; all you need are the necessary talents for the type of music you wish to pursue. Furthermore, you must be qualified and have the necessary abilities if you want to pursue instruments. Best wishes.

P

Preeti verma

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, as Candidates who have completed intermediate or Diploma in elementary education and graduation are eligible to apply for CTET.

In case of candidates applying for the post of KVS PRT Music,  a valid CTET certificate issued by the CBSE on or before the last date of application is an essential eli

...more

42717953
Uday Pratap Singh

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a month ago

Mr. Bhushan P. Parchure,  Mr. Shreepad Ramesh Parkhe, Mr. Goswami Prashant Kumar these faculty member teaches instrumental music which is tabla, flute, Mridang & Pakhawaj in HSNC University.

 

K

Kishan Sah

Contributor-Level 8

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