The AMC summer school offers 7 full days of expert tuition in the three principal vocal genres of dhrupad, khyal and thumri, and also on sitar. The summer school gives an opportunity for people to learn directly from the Indian masters, in the spirit of the traditional guru-shishya parampara (teacher-pupil relationship). Participants choose the genre in which they wish to specialise, and the relevant artist becomes their guru for the week. There are supporting seminars, illustrated lectures, concerts and open discussions with the summer school teachers. Special seminars will be presented by Manik Munde, Ramesh Misra and other leading artists from the AMC's festival called the 'The Little Chilli'. Optional yoga classes are also available. Vocal and instrumental classes are open to all takers, beginners and advanced (maximum class-size is 15).

The theme of this year's Indian Music Summer School is 'Shringar - the mood of romance'. At the core of the Indian expressive arts, is the concept of 'rasa', a term that refers to the 'essence' of a matter, its mood, emotional content, or feel. 'Shringar', the rasa of eroticism, love, joy, and romance is one of the nine rasas described in the two thousand year old treatise, the Natya Sastra. Shringar has been described as the original rasa, representing birth and creation. In music, Shringar rasa found a perfect vehicle for expression, and therefore, there are several rags that express the subtle shades of this rasa, as well as texts that depict the love between Radha and Krishna.

Uday Bhawalkar Artist-in-residence (dhrupad)
	Dhrupad is believed to be the oldest surviving form of North Indian classical vocal music, dating back to the 15th century. An austere and highly spiritual form, dhrupad has enjoyed a revival of popularity in recent years. Uday Bhawalkar hails from the long-standing Dagar Gharana, a highly respected dhrupad singer, he has performed at many prominent music festivals in India and around the world.
Rajan and Sajan Misra Artists-in-residence (khyal)
	Literally translated as 'fantasy', khyal is an elaborate and virtuosic style, incorporating many elements of dhrupad, whilst allowing more complex ornamentation and greater structural freedom. Rajan and Sajan Misra are among India's most celebrated exponents of khyal, from the esteemed lineage of the Benares Gharana. They are noted for their exquisite intonation and creativity.
Sunanda Sharma Artist-in-residence (thumri)
	Often described as a 'light' or 'semi-classical' style, thumri is nevertheless a demanding and highly refined genre. Thumri developed in Lucknow during the 19th century, and is now a popular art form. Much emphasis is placed on the subtle expression of emotions inherent in the song-texts. Sunanda is a disciple of the great Smt. Girija Devi and young star of the Benaras Gharana.
Purbayan Chatterjee Artist-in-residence (sitar)
	Purbayan is a talented sitarist who began his musical studies with his father, Shri Parthapratim Chatterjee. He belongs to the Senia Maihar Gharana founded by Ustad Allauddin Khan and carries the rich legacy of the great sitar maestro Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. Lyricism and compactness are hallmarks of this style.
Manik Munde (pakhawaj)
	Manik Munde is one of India's leading pakhawaj masters who has accompanied all of the major dhrupad artists in concerts all over India and around the world. He is known for his tremendous musicality and sensitive accompaniment. He returns this year to give seminars on pakhawaj.
Ramesh Misra (sarangi)
	Ramesh Misra is a world renowned sarangi (bowed lute) player from the Benaras Gharana. He is a fantastic accompanist as well as a solo performer. We are delighted to welcome Ramesh Misra to take part in this year's seminars and workshops.

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