MUMBAI: One of the oldest active rock bands in the country - Thermal And A Quarter - turned 20 this year, an effort not many can manage. Continuing in its tradition of achieving unique feats, the band narrowed down on possibly the noblest of ways to celebrate the milestone. Three Bengaluru-based schools have associated with Thermal And A Quarter to chase a larger cause in the field of music through a joint initiative.

The band’s current line-up and the students of its neatly developed music academy ‘Taaqademy’ will teach underprivileged kids from three Bengaluru city based schools – Nakshatra Trust’s Sri Aiyappan School, Drishya Learning Center and Sri Vidyanikethan School – through a year-long academic course that would become the part of the schools’ syllabus.

“The campaign ‘No Wall Too High’ will not only provide these students much needed music education, but will also introduce the kids to the concept of proper music education course where they would learn from the best of Taaqademy. In all, we will offer free music education to at least 1500 students, and beginning as early as January 2017. Through the exercise, we would teach them to compose, record and learn instruments. At the end of the course, the most promising bunch from the three schools will earn an opportunity to visit the academy and seek personal training and record their music in our studio,” informed the band. The band also added that the focus will not restrict only for the upcoming academic, but it would extend beyond a one-year affair.

The entire initiative would cost a certain amount to see the light of day, and to cover that aspect, TAAQ has collaborated with fundraiser organisation Fuel A Dream to crowdfund money. The project has already witnessed an impressive 67 per cent target completion so far, and with 32 days to go, ‘No Wall Too High’ falls short of 3,24,500 rupees. Donors can contribute on www.fueladream.com and to put things in perspective, every 5600 rupees donated would change the lives of 100 underprivileged kids. The website also provides details on the cost break up and objective and a transparent and detailed summary of the entire project.

The Bengaluru-based rock band has been part of the live music scene for two decades now, and has once again set another example to emerging bands in the country.