The Music Technology Research Group (MTG) of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) at UPF, in collaboration with RagaSphere and the online educational platform Kadenze, is, as of March 27, offering the first course of the first edition of the programme North Indian Classical Music, a set of courses on the classical music of northern India with the aim of introducing this musical tradition to any student who is inspired by music, combining theoretical and practical teaching approaches.

One highlight of this edition is the incorporation of new technology for assessing learning: MusicCritic, created by the MTG research group, to help instructors to evaluate students’ progress in the context of the Massive Online Open Course (MOOC). By using this new technology incorporated into MOOCs, instructors will be able to assess and qualify the students’ performances.

North Indian Classical Music incorporates a series of videos with a variety of audiovisual media and practical demonstrations by guest musicians. The first course, which starts on 27 March, Fundamental Elements, consists of three sessions in which students study the fundamental elements of the classical music of northern India, from Swara (note) and Laya (tempo) to the concepts of Raga (melodic framework) and Tala (rhythmic framework).

There are plans for a second course: Raga: The Concept with a more detailed look at the concept and structure of Raga, that explains the language of the Tabla and how it is used to aesthetically structure the Awartan of the Tala. Finally, a third course: Performance Practice, will explain the structure and the concept of the two current most basic shapes, Khayal performance for vocal interpretation, and Alaap, Jod, Jhala and Gat for some instruments.

This programme is a collaboration between the Music Technology Research Group, of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DTIC) coordinated by professor Xavier Serra at Pompeu Fabra University, who in recent years has been studying the music of India, and RagaSphere, a group of Indian musicians and educators dedicated to disseminating Indian classical music of northern India.