The world’s first a cappella Hindi group, Penn Masala, taught
underprivileged students at a Saki Naka school how to jam.
Stating that music is used for the holistic development, the
band says it should be integrated into classroom teaching. Penn
Masala, an a cappella group formed in 1996 by students at the
University of Pennsylvania, visited the Shivner Vidya Mandir
school on Monday to teach the underprivileged children from
nearby slums studying there how to beat-box and play an air
guitar. The school is a part of the Teach for India programme.
“I love music, and this is the first time I realised that one
does not need instruments to make music. The group taught me to
make all the sounds made by a drum, guitar, and other
instruments. It was a fun session,” said 9-year-old Pranay
Kalokha, a student. “Since a cappella music does not require
instruments, it can actually be used in classroom teaching to
make lessons attractive to students and hold their attention.
Unfortunately, in India, children are not encour