A Song of Service: My Journey as a Music Teacher in Shanti Bhavan

By: Manuela Restrepo

Three years ago, I flew across the world from my city, Medellín, in Colombia, unsure of what was waiting for me. I had signed up to volunteer at Shanti Bhavan a little bit after the pandemic hoping for an opportunity at more fulfilling work.  My plan was simple: stay for three months, offer what I could, and then move on. But life had other plans. What began as a short-term commitment turned into a full year of connection, transformation, and deep learning—both for me and, I hope, for the children I was lucky enough to teach.

I still remember that first car ride through the winding roads of the region. The landscape moved around me, each frame filled with energy, color, and stories waiting to unfold. I didn’t know it then, but I was being driven straight into a world that would come to feel like home.

Shanti Bhavan, where I began teaching music, is nestled in the South Indian countryside, rich with culture, tradition, and community. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the depth of the place—not just in its beauty, but in its way of life. The people I met, the festivals I witnessed, the languages and songs that surrounded me—everything felt vibrant and deeply rooted. The children at Shanti Bhavan had experienced formal music education before—but due to the pandemic, it had been months since a music fellow had been present on campus. So when we began our sessions together, there was a sense of rediscovery in the air. They were eager, open, and full of questions—ready to explore every sound and rhythm with joy. Every class felt like a collaboration, a reunion with creativity.

Over time, I began to witness something extraordinary: the quiet child who started singing with confidence, the group that composed their first original piece, the ones who took risks on stage and surprised even themselves. I watched them grow—not just as artists, but as individuals discovering their voice and their power.

This was early 2023. As time moves forward and I come back again and again to this Haven of Peace, I continue to explore, expand and nurture the talents of the children that I have come to adore. 

This year, when I came back to teach after not being on campus for over 4 months, I was very pleased to see that some of the children had fallen in love with a new instrument, or that their voices had changed and they had moved to the senior choir. In 2025, see music flourishing within their lives and their routines. More and more of them are finding the confidence to explore new sounds with fearless enthusiasm. They dive into unfamiliar exercises and songs without hesitation or judgment. They approach technique and expression with both curiosity and respect. Even when a genre is new, unexpected, or unconventional, they dive in, and try, even if they are not fully convinced. They write songs, compose melodies, and perform them proudly before others—expecting only appreciation, and receiving nothing less. I hope I can continue to come back into their world and witness their growth as artists and as people, because while I came to teach, it’s the children and Shanti Bhavan that have taught me the most. They’ve shown me what it means to be present, to be part of something bigger than yourself, and to trust the process of becoming. Service, I’ve realized, is not about giving what you think others need—it’s about listening, showing up, and being changed in the process.

Being a Music Fellow here has become one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. It started with three months. It turned into a year. And it continues still, with every visit, every message, every new song shared.

I carry their music with me always—a reminder that the most unexpected journeys are often the most transformative, and that when we offer our art as a way of service, the things that are offered in return are unimaginable.