Pakistan’s first violin school opens today
By Ali Usman
LAHORE: Where words fail, music speaks, and without music, life is just like a journey through a desert. It’s easy to play any musical instrument, as all one has to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself. However, as violin is considered one of the toughest instruments to play in Pakistan, not many people are interested in learning to play it.
Although basic courses on the instrument are taught at various institutes, both private and government ones, there is not a single exclusive violin school in Pakistan. With an aim to boost the art of violin playing, a violin school is set to open in a shopping mall on Gulberg’s Main Boulevard today (Saturday).
This violin school will be first of its kind in Pakistan, claims Ghulam Ali, the pioneer of the school. Ali, a National College of Arts (NCA) graduate who had done his thesis on violin playing, has been playing violin for years, and now has come up with an idea to pass on the art to the younger generation.
Talking to Daily Times, Ali said that he had been abroad and had observed that the westerners loved playing violin. “Even the elderly people there keenly learn playing the instrument,” he said. He said that he wanted to revive the art of playing violin in Pakistan, and would do his best for it. “I have dedicated my life to music and violin is my passion. I will impart all what I have to my students,” he said.
Three courses have initially been designed for students, which include a three-month basic course, a six-month short course and a one-year diploma. Eight students, including four girls, have got registered at the school.
Zafar Mehmood, one of the registered students, said that he was quite happy that someone had taken up the task to teach violin, his favourite instrument. He said that he was a graphic designer by profession, and had tried a lot to learn violin in the past, but had to burry his desire, as there was no specific institute for it.
Another student said that had been learning violin at Alhamra Arts Council, but only basics were being taught there. “I am happy because now I will be able to learn playing the instrument properly,” he said.
Besides violin classes, other traditional music instruments like flute and guitar will also be taught at the institute. Ali said that students would be taught with notations and practical performances. He said that he had kept the courses fee affordable to everyone to give a chance to more and more students to learn music. The formal inaugural ceremony of the school will be presided over by the Culture Minister Dr Tanveerul Islam.
Source: www.dailytimes.com.pk
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