Industry-Based Popular Music Education: India, College Rock Festivals, and Real-World Learning

Until recently, opportunities for formal music education in India were few. Music education at large universities concentrated exclusively on Indian classical music. Western popular music was largely the domain of Bollywood. With the rise of the Indian middle-classes in the 1990s, more Indian families began sending their children to school to study a range of disciplines. These students joined rock bands and major Indian colleges began to host rock festivals for student rock bands. Today, nearly every significant rock band in India originated in these festivals. Our research investigates the development, cultural significance, and educational importance of college rock festivals. Interviews were undertaken with established and emerging independent musicians, educators, and music industry professionals. Given the importance of learning within the informal communities of universities and college rock festivals, we adopted a communities of practice theoretical framework informed by grounded theory methodology. We find that, despite the emergence of popular music education in India, college rock festivals continue to educate young Indian musicians on technique, performance, songwriting, and music business.