The Mahavidyalaya (school) came into being to perpetuate the memory of Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, the great reviver of Hindustani classical music, and to keep up the ideals set down by him.
Today it is the oldest music school in Delhi and is headed by his son and a noted Hindustani classical singer, Pandit Madhup Mudgal.
The following Certificates / Diplomas of ABGMM are awarded to the successful students: i.e., equivalent to senior secondary Admission to Gandharva Mahavidyalaya is open to persons of all ages, castes, creeds and religions.
Praveshika (first year): Knowledge of Shudha and Vikrit Swaras, Alankar, Nad, Saptak, Mela, Raga, Jati, Alap, Tan and Pakar.
Additional Ragas: Alhaiya Bilawal, Kedar, Bihag, Bhairav, Malkauns, Bageshri, Khamaj Tala: Ektal Vilambit, Chautal, Dhamar, Rupak, Dugun of all Tals.
Knowledge of systems of Hindustani and Carnatic music; specialities of Nad, Varna, Swaralipi of Vishnu Digambar and Bhatkhande paddhati.
Tanas: Saral, Kut, Mishra, Sapat, Zamzama, Gamak, Uthav, Chalan, Nad and Shruti; writing Dugun and Chaugun of Dhrupad and Dhamar; detailed knowledge of Swaralipi of Vishnu Digambar and Bhatkhande paddhati.
Madhyama (Fourth year): Madhyam Laya Khayals with improvisations in Chhayanat, Kamod, Gaud Sarang, Jaijaoiwanti, Pooriya dhanashree, Shankara; Vilambit and Drut Khayals with improvisations in Alhaiya Bilawal, Bhairav, Bhimpalasi, Brindavani Sarang and Kedar, appropriate knowledge of Dhvani, Kampan, Andolan; comparison between Hindustani and Karnatak systems of music; Guna (merits) and Dosha (demerits) in a musician.
Definition of Alpatva, Bahutva, Avirbhav, Tirobhav, Prabandh, Chaturang and Trivat; Anulom, Vilom, Veend, Zamzama, Chikari, Jhala, Dillibaaj, Poorabbaaj and knowledge of Vyankatamakhis 80 melakartas.
Visharad (Fifth year): Madhya Laya Khayals with improvisations Vilambit and Drut Khayals with improvisations in ragas Todi, shudha sarang, multani, yaman, bihag, puriadhanashri, rageshri, jog, shankara knowledge of singing from written Swaralipi; knowledge of Ada Chautal, Adha, Punjabi Dhumali, Chacher and Sul.
Styles of Alap; detailed description of varieties of Tanas; Vidari, Ragalakashan, Jatigayan, Vinyas, Apanyas, Gayaki, Nayaki, Ladant.
Visharad Tritiya (as per syllabus changes in April/May 2013)- ragas are Lalit, Bilaskhani Todi, Jaunpuri, Marubihag, Nand, Miyanmalhar, Hansdhwahni, Darabari, Basant, Tilakkamod.