We can help you run a successful music program
At Tāla, we know educators understand the importance of music education and want to run a successful music program. In order to do that, you need the right approach and resources for a child-centric music pedagogy.
Quality music teacher training and resources in child-centric pedagogy is scarce in India. Most teachers have huge class and rely on traditional methods, focusing on teaching songs, theory, and traditional instruments like the piano or guitar. This approach doesn’t work well in a group setting for little children. It can be monotonous and repetitive, and attract only musically inclined children, leaving most children disinterested in music.
Children are naturally playful, and every child should be taught music through immersive play and experiential activities. This way, you will ensure they learn in the way that suits them best! At Tāla, we specialize in music education for children from K to grade 5. (2 to 10 year olds)) With decades of experience, our team of international and local educators understand the unique challenges schools and music teachers face in India.
We equip you with relevant training, practical child-centric resources, and affordable educational instruments so you can run an engaging and successful program. Schedule a call with us today and empower your schools to run a successful music program!
Our Vision & Mission
Empowering teachers and schools because every child deserves to learn music!
Vision
Easy, Accessible and Affordable Music Education for All
Mission
Tāla Will Train 3000 teachers, Equip 25 schools and Establish 5 centres with our play-based programs by 2026 because India deserves quality music education
Global Goals
Aligning with UNICEF's global goals, Tāla strives to equip schools with economically viable instruments, take free online and in-person courses, assist local schools, and mentor young teachers improving quality education in India
Meet Our Team
Kevin Wilson is the Founder and Director of Tāla Education and Tāla Music Academy. He is a seasoned facilitator, musician, and artist based in Bangalore, India. Kevin lives with his wife, Carol, and their two children, Izzy and Levi.
“Picking up music at 18 transformed my life. It gave me purpose and helped me connect with people. Music brought out the teacher in me, and as I pursued better ways of connecting and teaching, I traveled and discovered pedagogies that worked well and changed how I taught forever! Seeing the lack of resources and training in India, he is on a mission to make a paradigm shift in music education and make it accessible and affordable to all.”
Kevin has studied at the Bangalore Conservatory, completed several Orff levels of courses at ONZA (Orff New Zealand Aotearoa) in the UK, engaged with The Association For Music in International Schools, and traveled to observe and share teaching practices in several schools.
He was the head of the Performing Arts department at Bangalore International School and has been teaching for 20 years in different schools and organizations.
Completing an engineering degree in Biotechnology was a big feat however, following her heart was most important and she did exactly that. Carol’s love for teaching children convinced her to pursue that path and answer her calling.
She completed her post graduation in International Education at ITARI in 2012. Moving to the United Kingdom, she qualified as an educator from Birmingham University, England in 2015. After acquiring her Qualified Teacher Status in the UK and having taught in several public and private schools in the UK, she moved back to India and worked with Stonehill International School as a Home room teacher in the Primary Year Program.
Carols emphasises the importance of circle time and other fun activities that include music and movement ensuring teachers add a holistic dimension to a child’s early learning process. Realising this vital role of integrating with performing arts, she brings the academic perspective and develops content that helps the homeroom teacher with dynamic, creative and fun filled activities that transform classroom learning. She also helps the homeroom teacher include music and movement in their lessons. Carol is a fabulous cook and a dancer that also loves playing the ukulele and singing.
A gifted musician and a multi talented instrumentalist with a good ear for music, whether he is performing, composing or conducting; any band, ensemble or choir sounds good when James is involved. This transformative and creative skill is just the extension of his personality.
He picked up the guitar at the age of 7 and later pursued formal training on the piano. James followed his call to study music at St. Anthony’s college, Shillong, Meghalaya to pursue a career in music education. The uniqueness of James is his versatility of knowing and performing various genres of Western, Hindustani and Carnatic music. James has also composed for music theatre production companies in England and India. As good as a performer and composer he is, his love for music and ability to connect with people make his music lessons a treat to be in. He has worked as an international school music educator for over 5 years in India and Korea. Working in diverse communities alongside experienced colleagues has helped hone his skills as a music educator and also understand the importance of holistic elementary education. James composes and arranges content at Tāla. He is also one of our facilitators.
James lives with his wife Nare and two sons, Asher and Ezra on the Eastern coast of China. James loves to cook and play sports and has recently started to learn carpentry.
Advisory Board
Manju Durairaj was born and raised in India. She was involved in graduate research projects on comparative pedagogical practices of Indian (Carnatic) and Western Music at Middlesex University, London, UK. She graduated with her second master’s degree and K-12 certification from VanderCook College of Music, Chicago.
She is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Manju is the Lower School Music Teacher at the Latin School of Chicago. She is president for Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) elementary general music division, vice president DEI of American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA), past president of the Greater Chicago Orff Chapter and is a certified Orff Schulwerk Levels Teacher Educator. She is a certified Arts Integration specialist. She is an adjunct professor at VanderCook College of Music, Chicago where she teaches curriculum design and elementary methods graduate, undergraduate and continuing teacher education courses.Her teaching education courses cover Culturally Sustaining Music Education, Technology, Arts Integration, Curriculum Development, Responsive Classroom, and Redesigning Teaching and Learning for the 21st Century, both on campus and online. She is a frequent clinician at state, national, and international conferences. She has been published in the Orff Echo, Reverberations, Illinois Music Educators Journal, General Music Today, and the Journal of the Council for Research in Music Education. Her publications with Hal Leonard include InterAct with Music Assessment Levels 1 and 2, InterAct Levels 1&2 Student Activities for Devices and Print, Technology in Today’s Music Classroom and Dancing Around the World with Music Express Magazine.
Audrey Klein is a well-respected educator and musician based in Melbourne, Australia. She has a long and varied history in the area of Music and Dance education for Primary School children, starting with her involvement in the formation of the seminal multicultural dance band Shenanigans in 1980, together with 2 other friends. Her songs have been sung by thousands of Australians children growing up from the 80’s and 90’s. Hits like, “High way number one” are famous all over the country and even sung today.
Other than her long career as a performer and educator, she is a certified Orff levels instructor and delivers muttiple teacher training programs. She is a music producer having recorded a number of folk dance albums and supporting schools with her Education start-up that creates a variety of resources for the Performing Arts classroom based on world music and original music and dances. She has been the president, treasure and a committee member of many education boards such as, Victorian Orff Schulwerk Association board from 2013 to 2019, National Orff Schulwerk Association Conference and New South Wales Orff Schulwerk Association.
Audrey is a multi instrumentalist, loves folk dancing and loves to travel.
We are here to help you!
Give us a call, tell us your needs and we will help you set up a successful music porgram