What catches your eye when you enter Jus Drums – School of Percussion, in Chennai’s busy Mylapore area, is the sheer number of Trinity College of Music certificates that hang on the walls. They have one singular purpose — to motivate students who take up those exams. Murali Krishnan, the 38-year-old percussionist has been running this school for almost fourteen years and has trained around eight hundred students to play the drums. But ever since he started the school in 2003, he admits that the one thing he always wanted to do was to help children who couldn’t afford the classes, to enjoy the magic of rhythm.
“I have had an amazing journey so far. It’s not often that you get to do something you love every day and change people’s lives positively in the bargain. I was fortunate enough to have supportive parents,” explains Murali, who has conducted many motivational rhythm workshops for several NGOs and corporation schools in Chennai like Little Flower Convent for Blind, Seva Samajam, Rainbow Homes and Vidya Sagar, on a regular basis. “Now it’s my responsibility to do my bit so that no child is deprived of learning this art just because they don’t have the money,” he adds, with a smile. He has even been teaching drums to the children at Karpaga Vidyalaya for two years now as a part of Chennai Volunteers. He also conducts annual workshops at Chirag School, Uttarakhand and trains the teachers to help students.
More than bringing them into the world of music, he says it builds their confidence noticeably and he’s seen how it helps them focus and improve their concentration.
“When I see kids who are enthusiastic to learn more, I offer them a scholarship to my school, but the problem I face often is that NGOs fear sending them out of their homes as it’s a huge responsibility. I am trying to figure out if Skype sessions might work is such cases,” explains Murali. He is also looking for some help to arrange it.
SPreading happiness
● He takes his students to perform at an NGO once a year
● Murali performs at Car-Free Sundays at Elliot’s beach and a number of marathons (Terry Fox Run, Dawn to Dusk and so on)
Reach Out: www.jusdrums.com