The profile below is of some of our current and ex-students who have shown devotion and commitment to the music learning and have surpassed the expectations of the teacher and also the community at large by their learning performances.
- I have been at Sangeet Vidya Progression for thirteen years and started when I was just six years old. I started learning Harmonium and vocals, and later undertook Keyboard training. In my time at the school, I have been under the tutelage of our Guruji, who has continued to hone and advance my musical abilities since I started. As well as our Guruji, I along with many other students have been fortunate enough to also be educated my great music legends such as Ustad Naeem-u- Din Khan Sahib and Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan Sahib. I have also started learning Tabla with Puish Kumar Engineer to enhance my knowledge of rhythm. Growing up in Sangeet Vidya Progression has ensured that I am respectful of our Indian culture and music heritage. As well as English, I also speak Hindi and Gujarati and can understand Urdu. Learning music with discipline and acquiring certain skills has also enhanced my schooling, I have passed GCSEs and A-levels with great results, and I am currently studying in University.
- My name is Mayur Hingaladiya and am a student of the school since I was 7 years old. I have been learning tabla for over 7 years and it has been a tremendous journey. I am being taught by Guruji and his son Puishkumar Engineer. I have really enjoyed learning rhythm. When I started I didn’t know what the tabla was and how to play them but now I am able to perform in front of large audiences. I make time to do my Riyaaz daily. I am the senior rhythmist for the Amazing Little Stars, I enjoy performing and entertaining the public.
I attend secondary school and will soon be sitting my GCSE examinations, I feel confident of passing because learning music has trained my mind to pick up and retain information. I would describe Sangeet Vidya Progression as disciplined with a high work ethic, but in order to become anything, you will need to go through these tough times.
- I have been learning Tabla Vadan since February 2014. I have been fortunate enough to be taught by Puish kumar Engineer who is an exponent of the Benaras Gharana. He recently performed in front of many distinguished musicians at the Hanuman Temple, Tulsi Ghat in Benaras.
I am also a member of the Amazing Little Stars in which I play a range of percussion instruments such as Congos, Bongos and Dholak under the training of my Guruji Chandravadan. I have had the opportunity to perform all over the U.K in various prestigious venues such as The Nehru Centre.
I have received blessing from many people for my enthusiastic style of performing. By presenting my talent in front of large audiences, I have gained confidence and have achieved much more than I thought possible. Learning music and having a confident outlook has helped me in school where I am achieving a higher grade than my expected standard.
I am very passionate and enthusiastic about learning music and I wish to continue my training forever.
- My name is Pearl and I started learning Vocal with Harmonium at the age of 11. I started with Bhajans and slowly went on to learn light Indian classical songs. In initial months I found it very difficult but with constant riyaaz and practice I am now more comfortable and I understand songs/bhajans well. Guruji has taught me to arrange the harmonium notes without writing in a book. I have to practice a lot to get it right. I now have become part of Amazing Little Starts and I enjoy performing in live concerts. My other colleagues are very helpful and I learn a lot from them especially from Nirmal and Sanjaybhai. I can now sing songs in Hindi, Gujarati and Punjabi. I also play some Latin percussions. To learn music at SVP requires lot of commitment and practice.
- My name is Sanvi and I started learning to play Guitar when I was 7 years old. I joined because my sister Pearl was also joining. Guruji suggested I should learn Guitar and so I started this instrument. I can now understand all different chords and play ‘Sargams’ on each chord. I do riyaz every day and do my homework also. I am also part of Amazing Little Stars and I am lead guitarist for many songs. I like playing Guitar in front of live audience. This has given me confidence and self discipline. I like to practice in group with my other colleagues Nirmal, Mayur, Dhruv and they have become my good friends.
- My name is Hasmita Shah and I have been with SVP for 18 years now. When I first came I started learning Vocal and Harmonium. After 2 years of learning Guruji took me under his wing and started training me to teach other students.
These days I help Guruji with teaching students on day to day basis. We are open 7 days a week all year round. I am a trainee teacher and I am involved in running of the school. I have the responsibility of learning with music rules were Riyaaz is a must (7days a week) and these rules are passed to students who also are under obligation to obey these music rules in order to learn Indian music. This is a life long commitment which requires a lot of dedication and devotion which in my opinion is a way of life.
Our students take grading every 6 months so that they can see how they are progressing which disciplines them to do riyaaz every day.
Students have to go through Intensive training with Guruji and Khan Sahib when we are away from home on our educational trips where project work is done. Group riyaaz is carried out by our Khan Sahib. This helps students to become mentally strong in their life.
Our Guruji knows many great Ustads, so students are very lucky as many Ustads such as Ust. Fida Hussain Khan Sahib, Kiranpalji on Santoor, Ust. Latafat Ali Khan Sahib and many more over the years have been in school to perform and share their experiences with us.
I am also involved in teaching Electronic pads to students after Guruji’s training. I am also getting trained by Guruji’s Daughter Bianca on the Sitar.
If anyone who wants to learn music, they should take it seriously and learn with discipline from our Guruji in Sangeet Vidya Progression.
- Namaste, my name is Sanjay Joshi and I have been a student of Sangeet Vidya Progression (SVP) for thirteen years. I actually started 1 month after my eldest son Nirmal joined, in order to understand and support him in his musical education. Prior to joining SVP in October 2005 I had a life threatening operation and was very lucky to survive. I initially started to learn vocals as part of my rehabilitation but soon found that music and the self-discipline it required empowered me to adopt a totally positive and an enlightened outlook on life.
I have been fortunate enough to have spent a lot of private time with Guruji which has helped me to understand his values and principles. He has shared many of his personal experiences with me and I am still in awe of his commitment to music. Receiving blessings and advice from Ustad Kadir Durvesh, Ustad Naeem-u- Din Khan Sahib and Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan Sahib, who have all taught Guruji, has greatly influenced my learning.
When I started on this journey I had minimal musical knowledge, I certainly could not play any instruments or sing professionally. My tanicity and an urge to learn has meant that I am now able to sing and play the Harmonium simultaneously, play the Electronic Drum Pad and other side percussion instruments. In June 2015 I started to learn the Sitar under the tutelage of Guruji and his daughter Bianca Engineer. Learning the Sitar has brought me much closer to the roots of Hindustani classical music.
I dedicate much of my time for serving the school and Guruji. I am actively involved with arranging concerts, liaising with our clients, managing the Amazing Little Stars and coaching fellow students which gives me a great deal of satisfaction. Both of my sons are students of Sangeet Vidya Progression and I would recommend this school to anyone wishing to learn from a dedicated and knowledgeable teacher.
- It’s never too late to learn a new skill. My name is Illa and I had always harboured a desire to play the harmonium. I had given up all hope until I met Guruji and since August 2014, both my husband and I have been with the school. The teaching style of SVP is based on the traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara(tradition) which follows a rigorous and intensive training programme.
My classes are one-to- one with Guruji and another teacher where I receive full attention for the duration of my class. My training programme is based on my individual needs and progress so it is very personal to me. The training is inspiring and encouraging and over the period of 3 years, my knowledge of light classical Hindustani Sangeet has increased considerably.
The school has ethos where hard work and dedication is rewarded and students are inspired to reach their full potential. I have progressed to become part of ‘The Amazing Little Stars’ and perform with them at concerts. SVP has given me an opportunity to not only learn music but join a family of like-minded individuals who are very supportive of each other.
- My name is Nilesh and I stumbled into music by accident. I joined SVP in August 2014 when my wife Illa wanted to learn to play the harmonium. I believed that it would be a hobby which would fill my spare time. However, over time, I have realised that learning music is not only demanding but it is also highly rewarding.
My training with SVP has benefitted me in many unexpected ways. It has immense health benefits and my level of fitness has increased greatly. When I started over 3 years ago, I was clueless about music and had never touched a musical instrument. Now, I am able to perform Bhajans whilst playing the harmonium in front of an audience. This is because of the intensive training programme provided by SVP. I am very grateful to Guruji and the senior students in the school who have all helped me to develop my musical skills.
- I wanted to sing and learn playing harmonium but working seven days a week in my business I had no time. After attending one of the Amazing Little Stars concert I was so impressed that I met Guruji. I started learning from August 2016, I can now sing and play Bhajans on harmonium. Guruji teaches according to music rules. So many students have learnt and are performing on stage.
