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Kiranpal grew up in a Namdhari Sikh family with a strong musical atmosphere. His first music study was the tabla, which he pursued under the guidance of Shree Ripdhaman Singh of Punjab Gharana from 1970 to 1977. His potential as an artiste of the highest caliber was recognized by His Holiness Sri Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji Maharaj, spiritual guide and leader of the Namdhari Sikhs, on a visit to the UK, and His Holiness bountifully arranged for Kiranpal to be sent to Bombay to study Santoor in the traditional way under Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. He completed twelve years of study as an outstanding student, mastering the subtleties and intricacies of the instrument.

Admired by both audiences and critics, with his mastery of the advanced techniques of the Santoor combined with a creative flair and spontaneous imagination, he has developed a recognizable individuality in his performances. He performs regularly in collaboration with musicians from other musical styles.

Santoor is an exquite 100 stringed unique to the Himalayan valley of Kashmir. It has been a folk instrument there for centuries but in the last 40 years it has risen to new prominence. It has the shape of a trapezoidal box, the sides of which form a 45° angle with the same. Strings are attached to the left side and tuned by turning metal pegs on the right with a key. Each group of strings is stretched over a movable hard wood bridge. Bridges are placed parallel to the sides of the trapezium. On the right, a line for the low strings, and on the left, one to support the top strings. The left strings can be sounded to either side of the bridges, giving in all three different string systems. With 72 strings disposed in two times 9 groups, 27 different sounds can be obtained, a rang of a little over three octaves. The many strings enable an immense variety of resonating sounds that fill the air like waves. Santoor is played with a pair of curved sticks made out of walnut wood. It produces variety of lively tonal effects reminiscent of the Piano or the Harp.