A few days ago, I was creating a digital report on a music school established in Peshawar. This school offers music classes to people of all ages, teaching various musical skills, including composing lyrics. In addition to practical work, the school also provides instruction in music literature.
I was delighted to see that music is being given importance in our Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. People are eager to learn this art form. In other countries, taking music classes or learning music is commonplace. Not only is it common, but music is also considered a regular subject, complete with a syllabus. Unfortunately, this is not the case in our country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
While creating the report, I noticed something peculiar, which inspired today's blog title. All the music students requested not to show their faces on camera. They asked me to film from behind so their identities would remain hidden. I agreed to their request. After completing the report, I asked the students why they wanted to hide their faces. Their answer surprised me.
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Let me share what they said. The students explained that learning music is their hobby, but it is frowned upon in our society. They wanted to conceal their identities in the report because they feared being judged and ridiculed by others. They said people would mock them for holding high positions while learning to dance and sing.
The students further explained that while learning music is their passion, they are also involved in different professional fields. They did not want to be seen on camera to avoid negative gossip and damage to their reputations.
This raises an important question: Is it bad to learn music? There is nothing wrong with it. Just as people can have other hobbies, learning music is also a valid pursuit. I have met many people who love listening to music, but few who pursue learning it due to societal pressure. Musicians often cannot follow their passion because they fear societal judgment.
In our society, people with a passion for music are not viewed favorably. Music teachers also face stigma and are labeled with derogatory terms, such as "singers" or "idle people."
This mindset is entirely wrong. Just as individuals can choose various professions, they can also choose to pursue music. There is nothing inherently wrong with it, nor should society have the power to dictate what is right or wrong. It should be an individual decision.
