Download During the Taliban regime in Afghanistan playing music or listening to it was considered religious taboo.
But now the country has a National Institute of Music which has been operating for one year.
At the school women and men learn western and eastern music.
Our correspondent Malyar Sadeq Azad spent a day there.
This is one of the Afghan national anthems.
During the Taliban regime boys were only allowed to play it. But here girls and boys stand next to each other in the National Music Institute’s orchestra.
The Institute was set up last year with government and foreign aid money.
It now has more than 150 students who, as well as the normal school curriculum, learn music.
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarmast is the Institute’s President.
“The large number of students we have and their passionate enthusiasm to learn music shows that our societies is interested in music and believe that their children should have access to music to listen to it and express their feelings through music.”
12-year-old student, Ahmadullah, sits alone in a class room practicing the Sarod, a stringed musical instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music.
“I have been interested in music for a long time through learning music and playing it, I would like to help others who are poor and need assistance.”
Erfan Mohammad Khan from India is one of five foreign teachers at the Institute.
“People in Afghanistan have always been interested in eastern music, particularly instruments that are common to Afghanistan and India like the harmonium, viola, drum or sitar. But in recent years western music has been promoted and musicans in order to earn money play western music. But fortunately there is a resurgence of interest in folkloric music too.”
The tabla drum is one of the key instruments of Afghan folk music.
The table class has lots of students.
18-year-old Samiullah Rafiqzada is one of them.
“From very early on I always beat drum rhythms of my knees and the table. During the Taliban regime there was no chance to learn music. I moved to Pakistan and it was only when I returned and this Institute was established that I have been able to fulfil my dream. I practice four hours a day and am very happy we have such a music academy in our country.”
This Institute also provides training to orphans and street children.
Dr. Sarmast, the Director of the Afghan Music Institute explains:
“We have allocated fifty percent of seats annually to male and female orphans we collect from orphanages and streets. Many of these children are the breadwinners for their families so we have established a trust fund for them and pay them 27 USD a month to replace their earnings.”
8-year-old Sapna, who plays the piano, is one of the orphanage children at the institute.
“I don’t remember a lot about my parents. I was only told by my relatives that they were killed by a bomb. I came here from the orphanage a few months ago and have taken an interest in the piano. My teacher helps me a lot and I have now memorized six pages of music.”
“My name is Robin Ryczekand I am a teacher at the Institute of Afghan music. Originally, I am from the United States of America. Like everywhere in the world, there are amazing people who are kind and intelligent. These students are absolutely wonderful. So, I found a home here. As a music teacher, I find a bright future for a lot of students here. Playing music and having music is just a general part of their life. It has been very wonderful. So, there is always a second side to a coin.”
