In 1964, he took a two year leave to teach at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he began a systematic study of Indian and Western classical music, concentrating on achieving mastery of different Indian classical vocal genres.
In 1964, he took a two year leave from the Hartford Seminary and taught at University of Wisconsin-Madison. During his Madison days, he gained greater appreciation for Urdu ghazals and Indian classical music, Dr. Rahbar began a systematic study of Indian & Western classical music, concentrating on achieving mastery of different Indian classical vocal genres.