Unveil Your True Musical Potential — Upper Bhagsu, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
Most people believe they cannot sing. They are wrong.
In 10 days in the Himalayas, you will discover a voice you never knew you had — and a practice that stays with you for life.
Krishna Music School — teaching authentic Indian music to seekers from over 50 countries since 2007
Picture this: mountain mist rolling over Upper Bhagsu at dawn, the deep green of Himalayan forests all around, the sound of a waterfall in the distance, and your own voice — finally — finding notes it has never found before.
That moment happens here. Every year. For students who arrived convinced they had no musical talent whatsoever.
This is Krishna Music School’s Summer Retreat — running for 12 consecutive years in the Himalayas, now open for 2026 with three batch options. It is a genuine, structured 10-day transformation for people who want to go deep into Indian music, their own voice, and themselves.
📅 Choose Your Batch — 2026 Upcoming Dates
2026 10 Days
2026 10 Days
2026 10 Days
▶ Watch: A glimpse into the Krishna Music School retreat experience in Dharamshala
Retreat at a Glance
| Batch Dates | April 15–25 | May 5–15 | June 5–15, 2026 |
| Duration | 10 Days per batch |
| Location | Upper Bhagsu, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh |
| Daily Schedule | Morning 9:00–10:00 AM & Evening 5:00–6:00 PM (2 hours total) |
| Total Training | 10 sessions — 20 hours of live instruction |
| Investment | ₹25,000 per person | ₹22,000 for groups of 10–15 |
| Who It Is For | Beginners to Intermediate — no strict experience needed |
| What You Learn | Singing, Harmonium, Mantra Chanting, Kirtan, Bhajan & Raga |
| Group Size | Maximum 10 students — intimate and personal |
Real Students. Real Transformations.
Before we tell you what happens day by day, hear from the people who were exactly where you are right now:
“I came as a complete beginner and left leading kirtan confidently. By Day 3, I understood my voice in a way I never had in 35 years. The combination of Himalayan stillness and authentic teaching created something I cannot fully explain — only feel. I still practice every morning. It has become my meditation.”
“I traveled India for months — yoga retreats, ashrams, temples. This was the most meaningful experience of everything. I still play harmonium daily. Worth every rupee, every day.”
“Solo female traveler. I felt safe, seen, and welcomed from the very first class. We were eight nationalities in one room, all struggling with the same notes, all laughing and growing together. The friendships I found here were as precious as the music itself.”
▶ Hear from our past students — their own words, their own journeys
Why the Himalayas Change Everything
You could learn these techniques anywhere. But you would not learn them the same way.
Upper Bhagsu sits above the bustle of McLeod Ganj, cradled in a valley of deep pine forests and cascading streams. The greenery here is extraordinary — terraced hillsides, the Bhagsu waterfall roaring through cedar trees, birds calling from the ridges at dawn. This is the setting in which your voice opens up. It is not coincidence. It is the Himalayas doing what they have always done.
With three batch options — April, May, and June — you can choose the dates that fit your travel. Each batch offers the same full 10-day curriculum with fresh mountain air and lush greenery as your backdrop. April arrives with spring blossoms, May brings the forests to their richest green, and June offers warm Himalayan days before the full monsoon settles in.
What We Teach — and Why It Works
Your Voice Is Not Broken. It Is Untrained.
The single most important thing we do in the first session: we stop you from singing the way you think you should sing, and we show you how your voice actually works. Most people have spent their whole lives either avoiding their voice or forcing it. Neither produces music. Neither produces joy.
At Krishna Music School, we have spent 17 years developing techniques — what we call god-gifted methods — that cannot be written in a book or watched in a video. They require a teacher in the room, listening to you specifically, adjusting for your voice specifically. That is what makes this retreat irreplaceable.
Real teaching, real connection — no screens, no algorithms, just voice and presence
In 10 days you will learn to consciously use:
- Your belly, chest, and throat for natural, effortless breath support
- Your jaw, mouth, and tongue to place each of the seven notes precisely
- Your hands, head, and eyes for genuine musical expression and feeling
- Your harmonium — playing and singing together, in rhythm and in tune
Your 10 Days — What Actually Happens
Days 1–2: Finding Your Foundation
Everything in Indian music begins with Sa — the root note, your anchor in the scale. For the first two days we focus here completely. Not because it is simple, but because without a stable Sa, nothing else holds.
You will learn Sargam (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa), correct breath placement, and where tension hides in your voice. By Day 2, your own voice will sound different to you. Cleaner. More yours.
Day 3: Your Body Is the Instrument
Your voice does not live in your throat. It lives in your entire body. On Day 3 we teach you exactly how to coordinate belly, chest, hands, head, and eyes while you sing. This is where technique becomes feeling — where sound becomes music. Until this coordination is correct, true emotional expression cannot come.
Days 4–5: Mouth Positions + Harmonium
Inside your mouth are seven distinct resonance points — one for each note. Knowing where to place each note transforms voice quality overnight. These adjustments are small. Their impact is enormous.
Then the harmonium enters. Playing the scale with your hands while singing it with your voice. Challenging at first, profoundly satisfying when it clicks.
Day 6: Palta — From Notes to Music
Advanced note patterns that build coordination, clarity, and musical flow. This is the day students feel the shift from practicing exercises to actually making music. You are no longer learning rules. You are beginning to speak a language.
Days 7–10: Mantra, Kirtan, Bhajan & Raga
Everything converges. You will chant mantras for Shiva, Krishna, Hanuman, Ganesh, Rama, Kali, Radha, Guru, and the Gayatri — each with its own energy and feeling. You will sing bhajans, lead kirtan with proper melody, rhythm, and devotion, and discover how raga — the emotional architecture of Indian classical music — creates different states of being. On the final day, a full group temple tour through Dharamshala’s sacred sites.
What You Leave With
- Voice control and breath stability — sustain notes without effort or wavering
- The 7-note mouth placement system — transform your tone from the inside
- Harmonium fluency — play melodies and accompany your own singing
- Palta and Alankar technique — the building blocks of classical Indian voice training
- Mantra chanting with feeling — correct pronunciation, melody, and devotion
- Kirtan and Bhajan skills — lead chanting, build energy in a group
- An introduction to Raga — understand how melody creates emotion
- A daily practice — something to return to every morning for the rest of your life
Only 10 Spots Per Batch — 3 Batches Available
April 15–25 • May 5–15 • June 5–15, 2026
We keep groups small by design. 10 students maximum, every batch. Spots fill fast.
📱 WhatsApp: +91 99286 58520
📧 Email: krishnamusicschoolpushkar@gmail.com
50% advance confirms your spot — balance due on Day 1. Full refund if cancelled 30+ days before.
Investment & What Is Included
₹25,000 per person — Standard rate for the complete 10-day retreat
₹22,000 per person — Group rate for 10–15 students traveling together (save ₹3,000 each)
Your fee covers all 10 sessions (20 hours of live instruction across morning and evening classes), teaching materials, harmonium use during classes, evening mantra chanting sessions every second day, the group temple tour on the final day, practice recordings to continue at home, a certificate of completion, and lifetime access to the alumni WhatsApp community.
Not included: Accommodation (₹300–1,500/night in Upper Bhagsu — we recommend guesthouses near the venue), meals (₹150–400 at local restaurants), and optional group dinners or transport for the temple tour.
Daily Schedule — 2 Hours Total Per Day:
- Morning Session — 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Start the day with voice and harmonium practice
- Evening Session — 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Deepen the morning’s learning with mantra, kirtan, and raga
The split schedule gives you the full day for trekking, exploring the forests, visiting the Bhagsu waterfall, or simply resting in the Himalayan quiet.
Private Instrument Classes Also Available
Alongside the retreat, private one-on-one classes are available for Tabla, Dholak, and Violin. Whether you want to explore rhythm alongside your singing or take up a new instrument entirely, our teachers are here. Contact us to schedule private sessions during your stay in Dharamshala.
Common Questions
I genuinely cannot sing. Will this work for me?
That is exactly who this is designed for. 90% of our students arrive with no musical experience at all. Our techniques are built around the absolute beginner — not because we have lowered the standard, but because we have spent 17 years learning how to unlock voices that have never been properly taught. You will feel the difference from Day 1.
Which batch should I choose — April, May, or June?
All three batches run the same full curriculum. April offers spring freshness and lighter crowds. May brings the forests to their most lush and vivid. June is warm and vibrant though early monsoon showers may arrive toward the end. Choose based on your travel dates — all three are excellent.
I am traveling solo. Will I feel out of place?
Solo travelers are the majority at every retreat. The small group format (maximum 10 students) makes connection natural and fast. Past retreats have seen students from 8 countries in a single group stay in touch for years afterward. You will leave with friendships, not just skills.
Why two sessions per day instead of one longer class?
A morning session followed by a full day of rest, exploration, and natural absorption — then an evening session to consolidate — is far more effective than one long class. Your brain and voice need space between learning and practicing. The split schedule is deliberate and it works.
Can I join for fewer than 10 days?
The retreat is a progressive journey — each day builds directly on the last. Partial attendance weakens the experience significantly. If your travel window is shorter, we run private classes year-round at our main campus in Pushkar, Rajasthan.
Are private instrument classes available during the retreat?
Yes. Private classes for Tabla, Dholak, and Violin are available alongside the retreat. Contact us to arrange a schedule that fits your afternoons in Dharamshala.
What language are classes in?
All instruction is in English. Our teachers have 12 years of experience teaching international students from over 50 countries. They know exactly how to make ancient techniques clear to every kind of learner.
About Krishna Music School
Founded in 2007 near Rangji Temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan, Krishna Music School has taught authentic Indian classical music to students from over 50 countries for 17 years. The Upper Bhagsu Summer Retreat has run continuously for 12 of those years. Our teachers work in the traditional guru-shishya lineage — patient, precise, and deeply committed to every learner’s journey.
Beyond the summer retreat, we offer tabla, dholak, violin, and guitar at our Pushkar campus, plus intensive programs of 30, 60, and 90 days for students who want to go deeper. Many retreat alumni return the following year — not because they need to, but because they want to.
Your Voice Has Been Waiting Long Enough
The forests are green. The mountains are calling. Three batches. Only 10 seats each.
📅 April 15–25 • May 5–15 • June 5–15, 2026
📱 WhatsApp: +91 99286 58520
📧 Email: krishnamusicschoolpushkar@gmail.com
🌎 Website: krishnamusicschool.com
📍 Upper Bhagsu, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
Main Campus: Near Rangji Temple, Pushkar, Rajasthan 305001