Musicology Dept launched at PILAAC

* PILAAC director hopes the department will help revive classical oriental music

By Ali Usman

LAHORE: The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAAC) is ready with full steam to launch its Musicology Department to revive traditional music.

The department will teach how to play musical instruments including harmonium, sitar, flute, tabla and violin. Classes for vocal will also be held separately. Funds and a building have been allocated in this regard and the department’s first function Competition of Folk Music will be held on February 25.

Giving details about the department, PILAAC Director Dr Shaista Nuzhat said both morning and evening classes six days a week would be held. “The timings of the classes will vary so that students can enroll for more than one class, if they want. The course outline has been prepared and teachers have been hired. One of the teachers, Muhammad Jawad, teaches music at the National College of Arts. Students will be charged only Rs 500 for one course that will last for four months,” she said and added that with the opening of the department, music lovers would have more learning opportunities.

Nuzhat said, “A wave of extremism has taken the country in its grip and that can only be countered through the message of love. Music is the best way to convey peace and the department will help in achieving this uphill task”.

A spacious hall has been allotted for the department and the location chosen for it fully offers a haven of peace and serenity required for learning music. The presence of the Punjab Art and Craft Museum and the Punjab government’s permanent Art Gallery, Amphitheatre in the department’s neighbour, lets it soak in art and culture.

Nuzhat said, “The students’ response has been superb regarding the opening of the department. More than 15 students enrolled for the courses even before the opening of the department.

She said schools and colleges would be sent an invitation to participate in the upcoming

folk music competition. “Anyone between the ages of 10 and 40 can participate in the competition. Notable singers will be judges of the programme,” she said and added registrations should be received before February 20.

Nuzhat hoped that with the opening of the department, the dying music tradition of classical music would be revived. “We will focus on traditional music and encourage students to learn classical music instead of pop,” she added.

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