Piano Kids, Assam’s premiere musical institute, marked its 15th anniversary on 10th October with a vibrant celebration at ‘Jibakrishna’, an intimate in-campus stage.
The milestone event united current students, proud parents, and accomplished alumni alongside the institute’s founder, the renowned piano maestro Kushal Krishna Dev Goswami. The gathering honoured fifteen years dedicated to cultivating exceptional musical talent.
The highlight of the evening was the ceremonial cutting of a beautifully decorated, music-themed anniversary cake. Surrounded by Goswami, his students, and enthusiastic well-wishers, the moment was celebrated with a chorus of cheers and warm applause. The evening’s celebratory programme was anchored by the noted novelist and writer, Munmi Mahanta.
Every journey begins with a small dream, and the story of Piano Kids is no exception. What started as a vision in 2008 was officially launched on October 10, 2011. The primary objective of this institution was to introduce children to the world of music, nurture their inherent talents, and provide them with opportunities to excel in the musical arena.
What began as a modest academy with just four students has grown over the past 15 years into a widely respected cornerstone of the cultural community, now serving over 250 enrolled students. Furthermore, more than 400 students have successfully completed their education from the institute, and over 45 students are pursuing advanced-level music education.
This music institution follows John Thompson’s School Syllabus, which is approved by the Trinity College of Music. The medium of instruction is Staff Notation. At Piano Kids, efforts are being made to teach and preserve indigenous Assamese songs for future generations by documenting them through Staff Notation. The curriculum incorporates a diverse range of traditional music, including Borgeet, prayers, Bihu songs, Biya Naam (wedding songs), Holi songs, Jhumur songs, lullabies, Bhupendra Sangeet, Bishnu Sangeet, Jyoti Sangeet, Parvati Sangeet, and Zubeen Sangeet.
Over the past years, Piano Kids has successfully hosted nine major events in Guwahati. Hundreds of students, who learned music through staff notation, have performed these compositions in the form of musical symphonies across various prestigious stages, including the Machkhowa ITA Centre, Rabindra Bhawan, Kalakshetra’s Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium, and Shilpagram.
Among these performances, traditional Assamese folk songs have held a special place. The core mission of these initiatives is to popularise piano education, nurture the innate talents of young learners, transcribe Assamese music using western staff notation, and preserve indigenous melodies for generations to come.
The 15th anniversary of Piano Kids offered a wonderful opportunity to honour the dedication, success, and vision of its founder and mentor, Kushal Krishna Dev Goswami.
—Prantik Deka