UK Recognizes Kirtan as Part of National Music Exams
For the first time, Sikh sacred music will be included in the UK's graded music examination system, allowing students to earn UCAS points.
- 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.
Hindustan Times 
