Training
Pt. Avaneendra had his initial training under his father at the age of five. Later he trained under the guidance of the illustrious Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee, a doyen of the Imdadkhani Gharana of sitar. From Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee’s tutelage, he learned the intricacies of sitar and his inborn talent thrusted him forward to achieve greatness. To further develop his skills and broaden his understanding of Indian classical music, Pt. Avaneendra pursued formal education in Indian classical music by enrolling for Master’s Degree in Music in Khairagarh University, where he ranked 1 st in 1993. Notably, Sitar and many other instruments within the domain of Indian Classical music have remained dominated by Gharanas within certain communities, but Pt. Avaneendra, along with brothers and sisters such as Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee and Anupama Bhagwat, have given sitar and Indian classical music a new identity- a Gharana that may be called Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee Gharana.
Inspiration
Pt. Avaneendra continues to inspire many young artists from around the world and some of his students are now the professional musicians doing their own Sitar recitals at international stage. He believes that music came to him naturally through Guru-Shishya Parampara never requiring of him to make payments towards learning of Indian Classical Music; therefore, whether Indians or students from abroad, he believes in spreading the art of music wherever he can. He says that those who are capable (With yogyta) will pick it effortlessly once provided the opportunity of learning.