The sound of #music from different instruments along with angelic vocals fills the corridors of the newly-built music section of the #SMBFatimaJinnah Government Girls School and College, which was adopted in 2007 by #ZindagiTrust, a non-profit organisation run by famous Pakistani singer-songwriter, guitarist and social worker #ShehzadRoy. There are big posters of famous Pakistani singers — #NaziaHasan, #JunaidJamshed, Reshma, Abida Parveen, Rahat Fateh Ali, etc. — on the walls of corridors leading to the various rooms where the students are practicing playing instruments such as the guitar, violin, electric keyboards, drums, etc. Conspicuous by the absence of his portrait on the walls, Shehzad feels it’s not necessary to have his poster there also. And rightly so. The entire educational institution already is reflective of his good work. Sir Imran Ali, who heads the music section which has been given an entire floor in the school building, escorts you to their drum room, which is completely soundproof otherwise listening to drums playing the entire day would surely give the rest of the students and staff throbbing headaches. You meet little drummers in blue and white uniforms playing rhythmic percussion music adding heavy metal sounds by hitting the cymbals every now and then. In another room, there is the piano class under way. You see a row of keyboards placed on either side of the room. Young Razeen Fatima there is busy playing a delightful tune on the keyboard as she carefully follows the notes placed before her under the supervision of her two teachers, who themselves don’t look much older than her. Sir Imran smiles at the observation. Sir Zeeshan Pervaiz, the guitar teacher, says he has only joined the school as a music teacher four months ago, and absolutely loves working with children. Farrukh Suleman, the violin teacher, says that natural and gifted children who have a good ear for music are quick to pick up the lessons. “Actually, all these children playing music appeared for proper auditions first. Music class is not compulsory. It is by choice,” he explains. In the singing class there is a coming together of all the instruments, the piano, organ, guitar, violin and drums along with the sweet voices of the young singers. The pleasant vocal coach Nisha Ali says that when the children sing she feels like they are little fairies singing. She also explains that all children selected for music classes get to learn singing as well as play all the instruments though they might prefer one instrument over another. “We do consider their choices also,” she says. Sir Imran Ali says that this music section is actually the vision of Kabir Roy, Shehzad Roy’s father, who has also provided encouragement to his son which turned him into the fine star that he is today. “It was just before the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic here that he thought of starting a music section in this school. Now after it all set up, we are in the process of building a similar section with proper studios and sound-proof rooms at Khatoon-i-Pakistan also,” says Sir Imran. Soon Shehzad Roy also arrives and plays music with the students. They all play and sing Nazia and Zoheb Hassan’s ‘Dosti’. Speaking to Dawn, Shehzad also says that he himself did not receive this kind of music training when he was in school. “When we were in school, music was also looked down upon by the masses,” he smiles remembering an incident. “Even after I left school and found success as a singer, I remember singing at a programme in a children’s school where I stopped for a bit for the azan. One little girl then came up to me to inquire why I had stopped. I told her because of the azan, and also that if I carried on God Almighty will send me to hell. Then she said that it didn’t matter really if I stopped singing for the azan as being a singer I was doomed anyway,” Shehzad shudders at the memory. “These children are lucky. They are being given all these facilities for free since we are running a government school,” Shehzad adds, also giving credit to his father. “He asked me why these schools and colleges we have adopted through Zindagi Trust, don’t offer music classes. His question made me realise that I of all people should also think on those lines,” he says. “I’m glad that the state has also accepted music training in schools. They are hiring 1,500 music teachers in schools in Sindh alone. We have also prepared a music curriculum for schools. “Music, among other things, also helps children build on their motor skills,” Shehzad points out. He also reminds how he had helped the students build on their analytical skills by introducing them to chess. #viral #viralvideo #shehzadroyviral