How To Teach Music

- A response to Nitoo Das's 'How to Cut Fish'. This stems from my experience of working with a NGO called 'Music Basti' where I taught music to 6th and 7th graders (boys). The school's name is Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Qutub, and it is right opposite

 the Qutub Minar. The students of this class mostly lived in nearby bastis in Saidulajab and Mehrauli. 

It’s Wednesday

Wake up

Wear no make-up 

Make sure

You’re not wearing jeans 

only salwar-kameez

Make sure 

your car is out of sight

Rehearse your lesson plan

twice, if you have to

Walk into class

They’re all waiting

“Didi, which song today?"

with twinkling eyes

and sweat-laden smiles 

Start with “Sa” 

Ask them all to open 

Their mouths 

And pitch 

your favorite interval

"hold that note...
...and keep time" - 

you say, just so you can 
momentarily condition 

Them into your conditioning. 

Tell them all that

Honey Singh is a bad guy 

Ask them to write

About their dreams 

About peace

love

birds 

butterflies

friendship 

the Earth 

you

me

about flying 

soaring quite high

Make them listen 

To Coldplay

Harry Bellafonte,

Michael Jackson 

Ask them to learn 

The lyrics to 

“Heal the world”

and "Fix You"

for the next class.

End the class 

With another round of 

“Sa” followed by 

A performance by 

‘The Qutub Knights’ 

And the ‘Saidulajab Sahibs’

Every time 

The same song

"Parinde ud ke choomenge 

Aasman

Aasman

Aasman" - 

This classroom 

Has a soggy ceiling.

It’s 3:15 

Pack your instrument 

As they gape

At the curves of your 

Perfectly carved 

Ukelele

With a smile, say, 

“See you Friday"

Walk out of class

Walk to your car

Lock your door 

You can wear your dress

and your make-up now

Your friend is waiting for you

At Blue Tokai

You have to look nice.

It’s Friday 

Wake up

Welcome to another day 

of trying to teach kids

who sell cigarettes for a living 

How to breathe.