Overview

• The Music Teachers' Board (MTB) in the UK has introduced Kirtan, a form of Sikh sacred music, into its eight-grade examination system.
• Students can now earn UCAS points for higher grades in Sikh sacred music, which can be used for university admissions.
• The new curriculum includes traditional South Asian string instruments such as the dilruba, taus, esraj, sarangi, and saranda.
• Dr. Harjinder Lallie, a Birmingham-based musician and academic, spearheaded the initiative to include Kirtan in the formal music curriculum.
• The initiative aims to diversify music education and preserve Sikh musical heritage, moving away from a predominantly Western classical focus.