Salil Sachdev has composed music for the orchestra, percussion, piano, theater, voice, and electronic music. At BSU, he teaches music theory, introduction to world music, introduction to music of Africa, and directs the West African drumming ensemble, Khakatay. Additionally, he organizes the annual World Music Festival at the university.

Salil's interest in world music has taken him to India, Ireland and Africa. He has studied hand percussion (including West African drumming), the Bodhrán (Irish drum), and Solkattu, the rhythmic system of south India.

Salil is currently working towards making a series of documentary films on Indian folk music. In 2008, he completed a film on the music of the Sidis, an ethnic group of East African ancestry living in India for the last 800-900 years. Presently, he is making a film on the folk music of Rajasthan, a state in the northwest part of the country.

In 2011, he also completed a film on the traditional music of Mali, West Africa.

Salil performs with The Lindsays (traditional Irish and popular music group), Caravan (BSU Faculty World Music Trio), and Gui^HANGtar (duo performing compositions inspired by traditional Vietnamese music and culture).