Boss School of Music

Boss School of Music
Industry Music
Founded 1996
Headquarters India
Area served
 Mumbai, Thane
Services Music education
Website BossKingdom.com (defunct)

The Boss School of Music is a Thane-based institution that conducted music classes in Mumbai, India. The school conducted electronic keyboard music workshops in collaboration with the University of Mumbai from 1996 to 2005,[1] until it came under controversy for allegations of witchcraft and black magic, by parents of some students.[2][3] Cases were filed in the Bombay High Court regarding the same, and were later dismissed by the Supreme Court of India.[4][5]

Music education

The Boss School of Music was founded as a nonprofit organisation in 1996.[6] The school conducted short-term electronic keyboard music courses in suburban Mumbai for novices and professionals,[7][8][9] after which students could reportedly perform certain pieces on the electronic keyboard, read music notation and write their own compositions.[1][8][9]

During its tenure, musicians, educationists, doctors, artists and engineers joined the school as staff, working on a non-salaried basis to design better methods of music education.[10][11] They ran centres in Bandra, Colaba, Dadar, Vile Parle and Churchgate.[1][7][11][12] They prepared students for standardised graded examinations conducted by Trinity College London in Mumbai, requiring 3–6 months of training using their methods.[6][10][12][13] Such examinations reportedly required up to 8 years of training using traditional methods.[10][12]

Their education method utilised audio-visual technology and simplified concepts.[11][14] Students were provided with keyboards during classes,[6] and were given supplementary books and CDs printed and published by the school.[6][7][8][14]

They entered into a collaboration with the Department of Music, University of Mumbai in 2002,[7][14] and conducted classes that could reportedly train a novice student into becoming a music teacher in 6 months.[1] Dr. Vidyadhar Vyas, Head of the Music Department at the university claimed that they "revolutionized" music learning by teaching complex musical concepts in short periods of time.[6][10][12]

The school training the following children for graded examinations conducted by Trinity College London, who were considered child prodigies for their achievement.[1]

Student Examination Age Preparation Notes
Robin Fernandes[1][7][15][16] Grade 8 Electronic Keyboard[1][16] 7 years[1][16] 3–4 months[1][16] Stood first among the Indian candidates that year, many of whom were teachers and professionals.[1][7]
Sooraj Bishnoi[1][17] Grade 8 Electronic Keyboard[1] 6 years[17] 3 months[1] Youngest student to pass the grade under any student category.[1][17]
Kaustubh Kumar[18][19] Grade 8 Electronic Keyboard[19] 10 years[19] 3 months[19] Youngest student to pass the grade that year.[19]

Controversy

In 2005, parents of some students filed cases in the Bombay High Court accusing the school of practising witchcraft and black magic.[5][20] Investigations by the Mumbai Police found no evidence for such claims, and a local representative of Trinity College London confirmed that the examination certificates received by the students were authentic.[4][5] The police halted investigation awaiting evidence and witnesses for the allegations.[5] Due to attacks by local mobs and fearing their safety, the school staff and researchers subsequently left their Thane premises.[2]

In 2008, several staff members of the school proceeded to the Supreme Court of India with cases against individuals, government officials and High Court judges for shutting down the institution, defamation and "witch-hunting", an act they termed "genocide".[4][20][21] The Supreme Court dismissed their cases, reportedly because it contained allegations against high-ranking officials, judges and police.[22] The Supreme Court also arrested 4 of the staff members on grounds of contempt, after a staff member hurled a slipper at a Supreme Court judge.[23][24][25] The High Court cases regarding the allegations were dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Another three staff members filed cases in the Federal Court of Australia, accusing the Sydney-based Exclusive Brethren sect for committing a "genocide" by destroying their group, and bribing Indian officials and judges to do so.[26][27][28] Reportedly, they did not have the funding for proper legal representation, and appeared in court without lawyers.[26] The Federal Court questioned its ability to order the Australian Federal Police to investigate the matter, and the case was adjourned.[26] In 2009, a delegation of 12 Indian judges travelled to Sydney for an "exchange program" with the Australian Federal Court, which the Australian government offered to fund.[29][30]

While defending High Court cases that claimed she was "mentally unsound", one of the staff members received two gold medals from the Mumbai University for topping the board that year.[20][31]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Musical notes". The Times of India. 29 July 2002.
  2. 1 2 "Plot thickens: Music school owners flee". The Times of India. 31 March 2005.
  3. ↑ "He played exorcist every night". Mid-Day. 18 April 2005.
  4. 1 2 3 "SC orders inquiry into affairs of Boss School of Music". Outlook India. 4 November 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Music school investigations hit roadblock". Mid-Day. 10 April 2005.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Nancy D'souza (25 October 2003). "Music Learning, A Fun Experience". The EXAMINER Magazine.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hitting the right key". Andheri West. 25 July 2003.
  8. 1 2 3 "The Miracle of Music". The Coastal Observer. July 1997.
  9. 1 2 Wilson Pinto (July 1997). "Music in the making – THE BOSS". The Secular Citizen.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Making Andheri Musical!". Ontrack Suburbs. June 2003.
  11. 1 2 3 "Mumbai made Musical". The Asian Age. 2 June 2003.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Musical Bonanza this Diwali". Ontrack Suburbs. Oct 2003.
  13. ↑ "Fun shortcut to that college seat". Ontrack Suburbs. July 2003.
  14. 1 2 3 "Master Music". The Asian Age. 23 September 2002.
  15. ↑ "Keyboard to success". Mid-Day. 15 October 2000.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Subuhi Saiyed (1 December 2000). "Robin's Melody". FEMINA Magazine.
  17. 1 2 3 "Key to success". MID-DAY, Saturday Scene. 12 May 2001.
  18. ↑ Aliefya Vahanvaty (15 February 2003). "Malad boy's music wows Trinity College". Westside Plus, Malad.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Alex Fernandes (Feb 2003). "The key to Kaustubh Kumar". MID-DAY.
  20. 1 2 3 "'Mentally unsound' girl tops Mumbai University". DNA India. 2008-02-13.
  21. ↑ "Controversial Boss School women members produced in SC". Deccan Herald. 3 May 2011.
  22. ↑ "SC dismisses petition by Mumbai music school teachers". Outlook India. 26 May 2008.
  23. ↑ "Woman hurls slipper at judge". The Telegraph. 21 March 2009.
  24. ↑ "Contempt of court: 3-month jail for Boss School members". The Indian Express. 22 October 2009.
  25. ↑ "Boss Music School members face contempt music, SC sends 4 to jail". The Times of India. 22 October 2009.
  26. 1 2 3 "Ex-Brethren in arrests plea". National NZ. 3 December 2008.
  27. ↑ "Exclusive Brethren an evil, corrupt cult, court told". Herald Sun. 2 December 2008.
  28. ↑ "Exclusive Brethren 'guilty of genocide, slavery'". ABC Australia. 2 December 2008.
  29. ↑ "In austere mode, govt in a bind over CJI's Australia trip". The Indian Express. 14 September 2009.
  30. ↑ "Oz junket for judges proves costly for Govt". TopNews India. 10 April 2009.
  31. ↑ "Mentally unsound girl tops Mumbai University". India Edu News. 2008-02-13.
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