Gharanas in Madhya Pradesh :

Madhya Pradesh is noted for its classical and folk music. Some of the noted Hindustani classical music gharanas in Madhya Pradesh include the Maihar gharana, the Gwalior gharana and Senia gharana. Two of the medieval India's most noted singers, Tansen and Baiju Bawra, were born near Gwalior in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Noted Dhrupad exponents Aminuddin Dagar (Indore), Gundecha Brothers (Ujjain) and Uday Bhawalkar (Ujjain) were also born in present-day Madhya Pradesh.The birthplaces of noted playback singers Kishore Kumar (Khandwa) and Lata Mangeshkar (Indore) and singer and composer Aadesh Shrivastava (Jabalpur) are also located in MP. The local styles of folk singing include Faga, Bhartahari, Sanja geet, Bhopa, Kalbelia, Bhat/Bhand/Charan, Vasdeva, Videsia, Kalgi Turra, Nirgunia, Alha, Pandwani Gayan and Garba Garbi Govalan. Main Gharanas in Madhya Pradesh are :

1. Maihar gharana :

The Maihar gharana is a gharana or school of Hindustani classical music, a style of Indian classical music originating in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. The school was formed by Allaudin Khan in the princely state of Maihar, now lying in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, and hence the name. Allauddin Khan learnt music from Wazir Khan, an exponent of the Senia gharana. The Maihar gharana is therefore sometimes referred to as the Maihar-Senia gharana

It is one of the most prominent gharanas of the 20th century; much of the fame of Hindustani classical music in the west stems from this gharana. Prominent musicians belonging to the Maihar gharana include prominent sitar players Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Allauddin Khan's son sarod player Ali Akbar Khan, daughter Annapurna Devi and grandson Aashish Khan.

Musicians belonging to the gharana adhere to a dhrupad aesthetic in their approach to playing the alap and jor portions in a raga. Variations in tempo are used to demarcate sections while playing the jor, with a short rhythmic figure indicating closure of a section. Therefore, rhythmic figures within the jor assume structural importance. Alap-jor is followed by a khayal style vilambit gat with taan improvisations, and the performance ends with a jhala.

2. Gwalior Gharana :

The Gwalior Gharana (Gwalior school of classical music) is the oldest Khyal Gharana in Indian classical music. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar (1542–1605). The favourite singers of this patron of the arts, such as Miyan Tansen, who was the most famous vocalist at the court, came from the town of Gwalior.

Singing style : A distinguishing feature of the gharana is its simplicity: well known ragas (melodic modes) rather than obscure ones are selected and sapaat (straight) taans (fast melodic sequences) is emphasized. While there is some limited raga vistar (melodic expansion) and alankar (melodic ornamentation) to enhance the beauty and meaning of the raga, there is no slow-tempo alap as in Kirana and there is no attempt to include tirobhava or melodic phrases to obscure the identity of the raga or add complexity. When the gharana is performed, the bandish (composition) is key as it provides the melody of the raga and indications on its performance. While doing bol-baant (rhythmic play using the words of the bandish) the Gwalior style uses all the words of sthayi or antara in proper sequence, without disturbing their meaning.

The sapat taan is important to the Gwalior style. It is the singing of notes in a straight sequence and at a vilambit pace. Both Dhrupad and Khyal singing evolved in Gwalior and there are many overlaps. In the khyal style there is one form, Mundi Dhrupad, that incorporates all the features of dhrupad singing but without the Mukhda. Common ragas include Alhaiya Bilawal, Yaman, Bhairav, Sarang, Shree, Hameer, Gaud Malhar, and Miya Ki Malhar.

3. Senia Gharana :

Tansen's lineage tradition is called 'Senia Gharana'. Senia Gharana belongs to Dhrupad Gayaki. Tansen Swayam was an excellent Dhrupada singer and Dhrupad creator. He was a disciple of the famous saint singer Swami Haridas of Bindraban. Tansen's three sons: Bilas Khan, Surat Sen, Sharat Sen and a daughter Saraswati, through them, captured the Sena family. This gharana was later divided into several branches like Jaipur Senia Gharana, Rampur Senia Gharana, Maihar Senia Gharana etc. Apart from Dhrupad singing in this Gharana, there is also the practice of tata instruments like Sur Bahar, Sur Singar, Sitar, Rabab, Sarod, Violin etc. Amir Khan, the father of Ustad Wazir Khan of Rampur, was well versed in singing arts, being a skilled player of his time. His disciple Ustad Allauddin Khan settled in Maihar and expanded his gharana from there, hence his tradition 'Maihar Senia gharana' It is said. Allauddin Khan's life was similar to that of a musical Maharshi. He donated musicology to many artists during his lifetime. Music gems like world famous sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan have been provided to the music world by this house.