Published on 12:00 AM, April 10, 2018

The Sound Of Music

Melody is meant to take you to a mystical place of absolute peace and harmony. Audiences who attended the seasonal show of Sound of Music on 23 March, 2018 were momentarily transported to that place., 

Started by Fauzia Chowdhury in 2007, Sound of Music specialises in teaching music enthusiasts Western classical instruments such as the piano, the violin, and the guitar. Closely affiliated with the London College of Music, it is the only music school in Bangladesh which is a certified LCM exam centre. 

“Being a woman, overcoming gender barriers to establish Sound of Music was a long bumpy ride. I started out with only four students. It's our perseverance and dedication to music that has taken Sound of Music to this platform. Now, there are about 40 talented learners, and even more music lovers are willing to learn music,” said Fauzia Chowdhury, founder and principal of Sound of Music.

From French folk songs such as Au clair de la lune to German tunes like May Day, the evening was made of popular European classical melodies. Pieces such as Minuet and Scarborough Fair were played on the piano and the violin. The guitar students however went for contemporary favourites such as the theme song of Pirates of the Caribbean.

“The teachers are very dedicated. Quite often, children need to be pushed to practise regularly. The instructors not only constantly monitor them, but also let us know how we can be of help. This positive learning environment is what makes Sound of Music so great,” explained Runa, a happy parent whose children have been learning at Sound of Music for the past three years.

The music school also provides vocals training to enthusiasts. Vocalists are not just limited to western styles, and are encouraged to experiment and come up with medleys. Trending songs such as One Call Away by Charlie Puth and a Bangla medley made by the students were just a few of the performances by the vocalists that evening.

“The aim of hosting these events is to train our students to be better performers. Our dream now is to make it a big school.  The books and certificates already come from London. The next step is to make this affiliation even stronger,” explains Fauzia Chowdhury when asked about her future plans regarding her brainchild.