Rhapsody Music

Rhapsody Music Education operates as a pioneering force in the Indian education sector, specializing in art-integrated learning for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Founded in 2012 by classical pianist and education entrepreneur Anil Srinivasan, the company was born from his vision to embed music and the arts directly into the core academic curriculum, moving it beyond an extracurricular status. Srinivasan's background, which combines an M.Phil from Columbia University with deep training in both Western classical and Carnatic music, provided the foundation for Rhapsody's pedagogical approach. His unhappiness with the competitive nature of children's reality shows fueled his desire to create a collaborative educational platform.

The company's core service is an in-curriculum program that uses music and the arts as a tool to teach STEM, languages, and social sciences concepts. This methodology is designed to enhance cognitive abilities, improve academic performance, and foster holistic child development by making learning more engaging than traditional rote methods. For example, a concept like the water cycle is taught through a song, or physics principles are demonstrated via memorable crafts and tunes. Rhapsody has developed over 460 proprietary lesson plans that are age-graded, multi-disciplinary, and aligned with various school curricula, including the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).

Rhapsody's business model primarily involves partnerships with schools. As of 2013, private schools were charged a monthly fee of approximately ₹10,000, while services were provided free to government schools, reflecting the organization's social mission. The company operates through two arms: Rhapsody Music Education and the non-profit Rhapsody Music Foundation, ensuring access across different economic strata. It serves a diverse client base, from affluent private schools to underprivileged schools in remote areas, primarily across South India. Revenue is also generated through after-school programs and corporate workshops that use music for problem-solving exercises. Initially self-funded, the venture broke even within its first year of operation.

Significant milestones include reaching over 400,000 children and receiving the prestigious Reimagine Education Award, often called the 'Oscar of Education', where it was ranked No. 1 globally in the Arts and Humanities category. Rhapsody also secured funding from the McNulty Global Impact Fund for its work in grassroots education. In response to the pandemic, the company expanded its offerings online, creating digital content with notable artists to maintain its reach.

Keywords: music education, art integration, STEM learning, K-12 education, curriculum development, Anil Srinivasan, pediatric pedagogy, holistic development, cognitive neuroscience in education, creative intelligence, NEP 2020 alignment, in-curriculum arts, South India education, ed-tech, social-emotional learning, educational innovation, performing arts education, project-based learning, teacher empowerment, accessible education