Alberta School of Indian Music and Performing Arts (ASIMPA) is an Edmonton-based professional school for Indian music (primarily) and South Asian music (in general) and performing arts instruction. It provides systematic and rigorous instruction on Indian Voice (Hindustani classical, Bollywood, Ghazal, Bhajan, Kirtans, Chant, Sufi, Ginan), Harmonium, Tabla, Keyboard (Indian style), Guitar (Indian style), Sitar, Dholak, and Dance (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Bollywood) to all ages––children (from 4 years), youth, adult, and seniors, and skill levels––beginner, intermediate, and advance both in-person and online. The school is located in South Edmonton.
ASIMPA is serving the Edmonton community by sharing South Asian music and educating hundreds of Edmontonians, from diverse ethnicities and races, and contributing to cultivating Edmonton’s flourishing diverse arts community through teaching, performance, workshops, and music event organizing. We are blessed to create a lovely musical community in Edmonton. We are growing.
Our goal is two-fold. First, we aim to enhance the quality of student lives by promoting the love and understanding of music and to foster respectful, thoughtful, and collegial ways of learning. Second, we believe that music serves as a prime arena to link to the past, present, and future; trace multiple roots; and evoke history, myth, and memory of the homeland in diaspora. We also believe that music can be a powerful tool to transmit culture to a newer generation of youth and children, and connect them to their ethnic roots.
South Asian music has been actively contributing and flourishing in the mosaic of Edmonton’s arts community, playing an important role in cultivating the notion of diversity and multiculturalism in the Edmonton region. Through our teaching, we aim to promote, sustain, strengthen, and cultivate the music culture of South Asian heritage, pass its rich musical and cultural knowledge to newer generations, and connect its diaspora to maintain links to its ethnic roots, heritage, and homeland.
We share music and educate hundreds of Edmontonians, of diverse ethnicities and races, and creating well-being in their lives through music education. As a part of our teaching philosophy, we believe and aspire to be a compassionate school with the strength of treating students with respect regardless of their sexuality, socioeconomic status, circumstances, language, race, and cultural backgrounds; to listen to students; and to have a sensitivity to student differences based on students’ individual abilities and needs. We make every effort to teach students through a creative, inclusive, interactive, and effective approach. Through these attributes, we always aim to establish a very good rapport with students, express concerns about their success, offer extra time for advice and mentorship to the students who require additional help in music learning, and provide constant constructive feedback for students on their progress.
We commit to and take seriously equity, diversity, and inclusion, and anti-racism (EDI-AR), and see them as an affirmation of mutual respect that accommodates our relationship with people of diverse cultures, educational backgrounds, faith, genders, learning, races, and sexualities. We have practically implemented and upheld our EDI-AR commitment with our students, parents, and staff. As a music school, we encourage our students to recognize the power of collaborative performance and group practice to develop a cross-cultural sensibility and connection with their peers. Our students and staff reflect a cultural diversity that promotes inclusive representation regardless of students’ backgrounds. We believe that EDI-AR enriches learning environments, cultivates cultural humility, develops essential humanistic skills, and helps to achieve academic excellence.
Lesson Cancellation Policy: Private students will get a make-up lesson for a lesson cancelled before 48-hours (2 days). Students are charged for last minute cancellation or no-shows. There is no make-up class for group lesson students.
Lesson Withdrawal Policy: Students are required to provide one month of advance notice if they wish to withdraw from their lessons. This allows us time to “finish well” with you if you do leave us!
Auto Withdrawal Policy: Students are required to setup an auto payment system on the first day of their lessons. A monthly lesson fee will be automatically withdrawn from students’ credit/debit/master card on a recurring basis the first day of each month.
Anti-Harassment Policy: We are committed to fostering a harassment-free place where all students, parents, volunteers, contractors, visitors, and instructors are treated with respect and dignity. Harassment, including physical or verbal offence, threatening or intimidation, insult, and making unwelcome conduct at the ASIMPA is absolutely not tolerated.
No Refund Policy: Registration fee is nonrefundable.
Illness: If a student is ill, please let the school know as soon as possible. Please do not come to the school if you are ill.
Cell Phone Use: Please turn down your cell phone when you are sitting in the class. If you need to take a phone call, please go outside of the class.
Practice: The best way to achieve in music study is to practice intelligently. Students are expected to practice a minimum of five days per week for the same length of time as their lesson. The instructor will give hints and tips for practicing strategies throughout the year. Parental involvement at home is very important to students. Your positive feedback and encouragement will greatly help your child(ren).
Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in music learning.
Recording of Lessons: Audio or video recording of lessons by students is allowed only with the prior consent of the instructor. Recorded materials and teaching materials are to be used solely for personal study and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without written consent from the instructor.
