Formal degrees in music are offered right up to the doctorate level at most leading universities. Also, various local music schools impart musical training and some of them even prepare you for the requisite qualifying exams. Of course, if you can afford the luxury, there's nothing like private training under a good teacher. Many established performers run their own schools of music and even take on private students.

As far as classical music is concerned, the time-tested `gurushishya parampara' is irreplaceable. It is the guru who helps the student internalise all the formal rules and nuances of the raga so that they become flawlessly integrated into your performance. Each `gharana' (school) embodies the historic and cultural vitality of a region with its subtle, yet distinctive characteristics that simply cannot be taught in a classroom through a formal academic syllabus. You may be interested to know that most of the current crop of singers - be it playback, ghazal or pop are trained in classical music. If you think you have it in you, take a voice test at a music institute to determine whether you can sing like a superstar.