According to our shastras (holy scriptures) sangeetha (music), nada (divine sound) and nritya (dance) enlighten one’s soul and pave a way to merge the jeevatma with the paramatma followed by mukti. Learning Indian arts nowadays has become a hobby and passion to many people around the world. Indian arts provide a sanctum, a relief from daily bustle of life. So as to encourage the interested people and to propagate these arts, the government of Andhra Pradesh (united) has established colleges and schools for music and dance, where no other state has provided their people with so much opportunity.
On the whole there are 7 colleges and 5 schools that were established in the combined state. Now, these institutions are being developed and nurtured by the respective state governments. There are 4 music and dance colleges and 2 schools that come under the Department of Language and Culture of Telangana. In schools, up to certificate course is taught by the assistant lecturers, whereas, in colleges, certificate is followed by diploma course (equal to a graduate course), which is taught by senior lecturers. Every year, these colleges and schools conduct half yearly and annual examinations in the month of December and April respectively. Certificate and Diploma examination is conducted by the Telugu University in the month of May every year.
Many prominent vidwans are appointed as lecturers and assistant lecturers who ensure the structure of teaching of music is well preserved and in turn prepare students to be good teachers and vidwans. One can choose to be a guru or a performing artist. The government had contributed to the aspirants who established a college inthe old city region of Hyderabad, for a very nominal admission fee so that everybody gains an opportunity and affords to learn these divine art forms.
Every year many students apply for admissions in these institutions, in the months of June and July. Nearly, 10 to 15 students appear for the certificate and diploma course examination from each faculty annually.
Smt. L. Vijayalakshmi garu was the first principal of the music college at Old City, Hyderabad in the year 1996. She was followed by many great and eminent vidwans working as principals of the college.
