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{{Orphan|date=July 2019}}

{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Boss School of Music
| logo = BossSchoolLogo1998.png
| logo_size = 250px
| caption =
| fate =
| foundation = 1996
| founder =
| location_city =
| location_country = India
| area_served = [[Mumbai]], [[Thane]]
| key_people =
| industry = Music
| services = Music education
| homepage =
}}
The '''Boss School of Music''' was a [[Thane]]-based institution that conducted music classes in [[Mumbai]], India. The school conducted [[electronic keyboard]] music workshops in collaboration with the [[University of Mumbai]] from 1996 to 2005,<ref name="musnotes">{{cite news |title=Musical notes |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/17442707.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=29 July 2002}}</ref> until it came under controversy for allegations of [[witchcraft]] and [[black magic]], by parents of some students.<ref name="toiflee">{{cite news |title=Plot thickens: Music school owners flee|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-03-31/india/27850982_1_boss-school-music-school-parents|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103154240/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-03-31/india/27850982_1_boss-school-music-school-parents|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=31 March 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=He played exorcist every night|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2005/apr/107661.htm|newspaper=Mid-Day|date=18 April 2005}}</ref> Cases were filed in the [[Bombay High Court]] regarding the same, and were later dismissed by the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="outlooksc" /><ref name="middayblock" />

==Music education==
[[File:Boss School Mazagaon Batch 1996.jpg|thumb|250px|Students learn music in a course conducted by the Boss School in Mazagoan, Mumbai (1998)]]
[[File:Boss School Children Batch 2005.jpg|thumb|250px|School children learn music under the ''Music in Schools'' programme, conducted by the Boss School in Tardeo, Mumbai (2005)]]
The Boss School of Music was founded as a nonprofit organisation in 1996.<ref name="examinerfun">{{cite news |title=Music Learning, A Fun Experience|newspaper=The EXAMINER Magazine|date=25 October 2003|author=Nancy D'souza}}</ref> The school conducted short-term [[electronic keyboard]] [[Music lesson|music courses]] in suburban [[Mumbai]] for novices and professionals,<ref name="hitkey">{{cite news |title=Hitting the right key|newspaper=Andheri West|date=25 July 2003}}</ref><ref name="coastmiracle">{{cite news |title=The Miracle of Music|newspaper=The Coastal Observer|date=July 1997}}</ref><ref name="secmaking">{{cite news |title=Music in the making – THE BOSS|newspaper=The Secular Citizen|date=July 1997|author=Wilson Pinto}}</ref> after which students could reportedly perform certain [[Musical composition|pieces]] on the electronic keyboard, [[Sight reading|read music notation]] and write their own [[Musical composition|compositions]].<ref name="musnotes" /><ref name="coastmiracle" /><ref name="secmaking" />

During its tenure, musicians, [[educationist]]s, doctors, artists and engineers joined the school as staff, working on a non-salaried basis to design better methods of music education.<ref name="ontrack2">{{cite news |title=Making Andheri Musical!|newspaper=Ontrack Suburbs|date=June 2003}}</ref><ref name="mmusical" /> They ran centres in [[Bandra]], [[Colaba]], [[Dadar]], [[Vile Parle]] and [[Churchgate]].<ref name="musnotes" /><ref name="hitkey" /><ref name="mmusical" /><ref name="ontrack3" /> They prepared students for standardised graded examinations conducted by [[Trinity College London]] in Mumbai, requiring 3–6 months of training using their methods.<ref name="examinerfun" /><ref name="ontrack2" /><ref name="ontrack3" /><ref name="ontrack1">{{cite news |title=Fun shortcut to that college seat|newspaper=Ontrack Suburbs|date=July 2003}}</ref> Such examinations reportedly required up to 8 years of training using traditional methods.<ref name="ontrack2" /><ref name="ontrack3" />

Their education method utilised [[Audiovisual education|audio-visual technology]] and simplified concepts.<ref name="mmusical">{{cite news |title=Mumbai made Musical|newspaper=The Asian Age|date=2 June 2003}}</ref><ref name="asianmaster" /> Students were provided with keyboards during classes,<ref name="examinerfun" /> and were given supplementary books and CDs printed and published by the school.<ref name="examinerfun" /><ref name="hitkey" /><ref name="coastmiracle"/><ref name="asianmaster" />

They entered into a collaboration with the Department of Music, [[University of Mumbai]] in 2002,<ref name="hitkey" /><ref name="asianmaster">{{cite news |title=Master Music|newspaper=The Asian Age|date=23 September 2002}}</ref> and conducted classes that could reportedly train a novice student into becoming a music teacher in 6 months.<ref name="musnotes" /> Dr. [[Vidyadhar Vyas]], Head of the Music Department at the university claimed that they "revolutionized" music learning by teaching complex musical concepts in short periods of time.<ref name="examinerfun" /><ref name="ontrack2" /><ref name="ontrack3">{{cite news |title=Musical Bonanza this Diwali|newspaper=Ontrack Suburbs|date=Oct 2003}}</ref>

==Controversy==
In 2005, parents of some students filed cases in the [[Bombay High Court]] accusing the school of practising [[witchcraft]] and [[black magic]].<ref name="middayblock" /><ref name="dna" /> Investigations by the [[Mumbai Police]] found no evidence for such claims, and a local representative of [[Trinity College London]] confirmed that the examination certificates received by the students were authentic.<ref name="outlooksc" /><ref name="middayblock">{{cite news |title=Music school investigations hit roadblock|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2005/apr/107182.htm|newspaper=Mid-Day|date=10 April 2005}}</ref> The police halted investigation awaiting evidence and witnesses for the allegations.<ref name="middayblock" /> Due to attacks by local mobs and fearing their safety, the school staff and researchers subsequently left their Thane premises.<ref name="toiflee" />

In 2008, several staff members of the school proceeded to the [[Supreme Court of India]] with cases against individuals, government officials and High Court judges for shutting down the institution, defamation and "[[witch-hunt]]ing", an act they termed "[[genocide]]".<ref name="outlooksc">{{cite news|title=SC orders inquiry into affairs of Boss School of Music|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=628740|newspaper=Outlook India|date=4 November 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325102521/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=628740|archivedate=25 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="dna" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Controversial Boss School women members produced in SC|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/158922/content/219141/secret-my-longevity.html|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=3 May 2011}}</ref> The Supreme Court dismissed their cases, reportedly because it contained allegations against high-ranking officials, judges and police.<ref>{{cite news|title=SC dismisses petition by Mumbai music school teachers|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=574818|newspaper=Outlook India|date=26 May 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325102437/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=574818|archivedate=25 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Supreme Court also arrested 4 of the staff members on grounds of contempt, after a staff member hurled a slipper at a Supreme Court judge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woman hurls slipper at judge|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090321/jsp/frontpage/story_10702272.jsp|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=21 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Contempt of court: 3-month jail for Boss School members|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/contempt-of-court-3month-jail-for-boss-school-members/531636/|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=22 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Boss Music School members face contempt music, SC sends 4 to jail|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-22/india/28088817_1_boss-school-justice-kabir-criminal-contempt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103070111/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-22/india/28088817_1_boss-school-justice-kabir-criminal-contempt|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=22 October 2009}}</ref> The High Court cases regarding the allegations were dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Another three staff members filed cases in the [[Federal Court of Australia]], accusing the Sydney-based [[Exclusive Brethren]] sect for committing a "genocide" by destroying their group, and bribing Indian officials and judges to do so.<ref name="nzplea">{{cite news |title=Ex-Brethren in arrests plea|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/744543/Ex-Brethren-in-arrests-plea|newspaper=National NZ|date=3 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive Brethren an evil, corrupt cult, court told|url=http://www.culteducation.com/reference/exclusive_brethren/exclusive_brethren105.html|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=2 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive Brethren 'guilty of genocide, slavery'|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-12-02/exclusive-brethren-guilty-of-genocide-slavery/226320|newspaper=ABC Australia|date=2 December 2008}}</ref> Reportedly, they did not have the funding for proper legal representation, and appeared in court without lawyers.<ref name="nzplea" /> The Federal Court questioned its ability to order the [[Australian Federal Police]] to investigate the matter, and the case was adjourned.<ref name="nzplea" />

While defending High Court cases that claimed she was "mentally unsound", one of the staff members received two gold medals from the [[Mumbai University]] for topping the board that year.<ref name="dna">{{cite news |title='Mentally unsound' girl tops Mumbai University|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-mentally-unsound-girl-tops-mumbai-university-1150684|date=2008-02-13|newspaper=[[DNA India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mentally unsound girl tops Mumbai University|url=http://indiaedunews.net/In-Focus/February_2008/%27Mentally_unsound%27_girl_tops_Mumbai_University_3422/|newspaper=India Edu News|date=2008-02-13}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Performing arts]]
*[[Music education]]
*[[Trinity College London]]
*[[University of Mumbai]]
*[[Supreme Court of India]]
*[[Bombay High Court]]
*[[Exclusive Brethren]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Music schools in India]]
[[Category:Schools in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1996]]
[[Category:Arts organizations established in 1996]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Maharashtra]]

Boss School of Music - Revision history

>GreenC bot: Rescued 2 archive links; reformat 2 links. Wayback Medic 2.5