The Dream Model Street School children recording at Emu’s studio
Nations have transformed themselves through the promotion of music and arts. Standing out among the many music training initiatives in Karachi is The Dream Model Street School in Mowach Goth, its construction understandably advocated by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and supported by none other than superstar Madonna by way of raising funds. The school has been a model of experimentation and excellence since.
Music has always been a key component in the school. Now with its formal music education programme conducted by guitar virtuoso Asif Sinan, it aims for an even higher challenge. “You have probably heard of New Orleans. We know it as the birthplace of Jazz. But do you know that New Orleans also has one of the highest crime and homicidal rates in the US? The more challenging the circumstances, the more original and beautiful will be the art form emerging from it. Recently, the crime and homicidal rates are reversing in New Orleans. How? The state’s economic well-being now depends on music which brings in tourism and inflow of money. Hence, everyone makes a concentrated effort to push for peace and harmony. Hence, the second takeaway is that music makes a concrete difference in societies.
“The Dream Model Street School is open to innovative ideas. Inspired by various education models in the US, they have had music classes and related activities in the past, but nothing sustainable. My plan is to teach music as a formal subject. I still remember my first board meeting with them. I had gone armed with studies, successes and scientific insights into the importance of music but the board simply said, ‘You are trying to convince the already convinced’.
Music and the arts are all about disseminating peace and harmony
“My programme is special because it is tailored to the challenges of Mowach Goth. Given time and education, the potential for serious music to emerge from there does exist. Plus, through the programme I have not created ‘students’ but ‘music mentors’ who can disseminate knowledge, and teach others.
“We concentrate on the history of music, its adaab, the theory of Eastern classical music, the connection of music with nature and the role of rhythm and melody in everyday lives.”
Challenges in music
“I realise that I am not there only to teach music. I am there to give them a lesson for life. To enable them to think for themselves and not just accept things at face value. Some have resisted while others have opened up. There was an incident where a student sneaked in after school hours and broke a table, all because his teacher told him so.”
The upside to teaching music