Soumik Datta Arts in partnership with Trinity Laban launches ‘Masterclass’, a new digital course led by sarod maestro Pt Prattyush Banerjee

Designed to help instrumentalists and singers, this series breaks down the complex systems of Indian classical music into practical, follow-along exercises for musicians to polish their improvisational skills

May 2026 – Widespread adoption of EdTech and high smartphone penetration rates have meant that online music education is easily accessible and growing rapidly world-wide. Formal recognition of online certifications by educational bodies has also given a fillip to a market that is expected to grow from $4.61 billion in 2026 to $9.36 billion by 2031.

Joining the league of educational bodies who offer online courses is UK organisation Soumik Datta Arts in partnership with London’s prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. But while most music courses teach theory, the newly-launched ‘Masterclass’, a digital course, promises fluency.

Led by world-renowned sarod master Pandit Prattyush Banerjee and conceived and directed by his student, Aga Khan Music Award winner and sarod player Soumik Datta, this digital course is designed as a high-intensity follow along “musical workout”.

Whether one plays violin, guitar, flute, or piano, this series breaks down the complex systems of Indian Classical music into practical, follow-along exercises that one can apply to any instrument.

Pandit Banerjee is one of the premier sarod players of his generation. Known for his technical precision and innovative teaching style, he has designed this course to be an ‘open door” for musicians worldwide. No prior knowledge of Indian Classical music is required — just an open ear and a willingness to practice.

Learners increasingly expect lessons to adjust in real time to pace, genre preference, and skill deficiencies, and this ‘Masterclass’ aims to meet this gap. The sessions in the course focus on using “call and response” techniques that build muscle memory and melodic intuition, and to help students understand emotional architecture of ragas and how to navigate them with confidence, among other things.

“In Indian classical music, the transition from theory to fluency happens through rigorous, repetitive practice, what we call riyaz,” explains Pt Banerjee, adding. “With ‘Masterclass’, we have distilled these ancient pedagogical techniques into a modern, high-intensity format. My goal was to create a ‘musical workout’ that empowers any instrumentalist, regardless of their background, to internalize our rhythmic and melodic systems and find their own voice within them.”

Alongside the sarod master, also a part of the video series are young masters like violinist Preetha Narayanan, guitarist Giuliano Modarelli, violinist Fra Rustumji and tabla virtuoso Gurdain Rayatt.

Online education democratises high-quality instruction and removes long-standing access barriers. It’s a vision Datta harboured for years and for the last two he has been filming and recording lessons with Banerjee, a man he calls his mentor and guru bhai.

“This isn’t just a series of lectures – it’s a digital apprenticeship,” Datta says, adding, “You will sit “across” from a master, mirroring his phrases, internalizing his rhythms, and building your improvisational muscles in real-time. A rare opportunity to ‘play along’ and immerse yourself in the language of Indian classical music.”

‘Masterclass’ is directed by Soumik Datta, produced by Soumik Datta Arts in partnership with Trinity Laban and supported by Aga Khan Foundation and Arts Council England.

This initiative is part of a larger effort to bring traditional Indian classical training to a global audience through digital mediums and builds on the cultural alliance between India and the United Kingdom.

‘Masterclass’ will be available with free access for student and professional musicians alike on thinkific.