An archive of News, Events, Teacher's Corner blog posts, and In The News notes that are tagged with the subject of "Music Instruction"

Fall 2009: Join Al-Bustan Arab Music Ensemble

August 24, 2009

Al-Bustan is pleased to form a new Arab Music Ensemble, led by violinist Hanna Khoury, with guest percussionist Hafez El Ali Kotain. The repertoire is classical Arab music, including original compositions by Simon Shaheen.

Violinist Hanna Khoury and Percussionist Hafez El Ali Kotain at Al-Bustan Camp

Violinist Hanna Khoury and Percussionist Hafez El Ali Kotain perform at Al-Bustan Camp 2009

  • Participation is open to SINGERS OF ALL LEVELS and INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED MUSICIANS playing strings, wind, or percussion, who are 3rd-12th graders and college students.  No prior experience in singing/playing Arab music required.
  • First demonstration workshop is held on September 23rd, 7-9 PM (bring your instrument)
  • Group instruction is held on Wednesday evenings at U-Penn campus beginning September 30th
  • Additional instrumental instruction on Tuesdays, starting September 29, 8-9:30 PM – open to all ages
  • Ensemble to perform in a Spring 2010 Concert with Simon Shaheen

Singers meet 6-7:30 PM,  Instrumentalists meet 7-9 PM

All sessions held at Parish Hall of St. Mary’s Church (on the U-Penn campus), 3916 Locust Walk, in West Philadelphia

Fee: $220 for the fall semester (11 sessions) from September 23 – December 9 (No session on November 25)

If interested in supplementing group instruction, or learning to play an Arab instrument, private instruction is available with experienced musicians on the ‘oud, nay, flute, violin, viola, and percussion.

To download registration form, click here: Ensemble Registration, or contact Al-Bustan at 267-809-3668.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Hanna Khoury at Al-Bustan Camp

Hanna Khoury at Al-Bustan Camp

Music Director HANNA KHOURY

Hanna, a Palestinian-Israeli, is a violinist trained in both Western classical and Arabic classical music styles. As the music director of the Arabesque Music Ensemble, Hanna has led nationwide tours performing traditional Arab music in major venues and universities, and he has recorded two traditional Arab music albums with the Arabesque Music Ensemble: The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of People, and Al Fursan Al-Talatha.  He is a violinist and Arab music advisor with Intercultural Journey, frequently performing with cellist Ohad Bar David. This fall, the two musicians will premiere a concerto by Kareem Roustom.  Hanna recently toured with Lebanese superstar Fairuz and played lead violin with Iraqi singer Kazem Al-Saher, and grammy winner Youssu NDour.  In addition, Hanna can be heard on several pop songs including Grammy nominated song Beautiful Liar (featuring Beyonce and Shakira), and Love and Compassion (featuring Paula Cole and Kazem Al Saher). Hanna recorded strings for Shakira’s grammy performance of Hips Don’t Lie, and he has collaborated with musician/composer Kareem Roustom on multiple projects including releasing an Arabic jazz album with Al-Zafeer Ensemble.  A recipient of the America-Israel Scholarship and Qattan Foundation Award, Hanna graduated Magna Cum-Laude with departmental honors from UCLA with Bachelors in Economics and Music Performance, and obtained his Masters degree in Music from Temple University. Hanna taught music at Al-Bustan Camp 2009.

Hafez El Ali Kotain at Al-Bustan Camp

Hafez El Ali Kotain at Al-Bustan Camp

Percussion Teacher HAFEZ EL ALI KOTAIN

Hafez is an accomplished master percussionist, fluent in both Arab and Latin rhythms. Born in Venezuela of Syrian heritage, he grew up in Syria until the age of 16 years.  He began playing the doumbek at the age of seven,  first performed on stage when he was nine, and went on to study with master Syrian percussionist Hady Jazan, winning the regional percussion competitions in Syria for five consecutive years. In Venezuela he studied percussion at the TMV Institute for Music in Valencia, where he also taught middle and high school students for several years, blending Arab and Latino music.  Since beginning his residency in Philadelphia, he continues  playing Arab percussion, singing maqam, and performing with a variety of musicians.  Hafez has taught percussion with Al-Bustan the past three years.

Examples of Al-Bustan’s Music Instruction

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged | Comments (1)

Musical Nostalgia

August 2, 2009

July 2009

Layal singing Toba to music by violinist Hanna Khoury and accompaniment of campers

Layal singing Toba to music by violinist Hanna Khoury and accompaniment of campers

Arabic music reminds me of summer. Ever since I was little, I can remember my mother putting on her favorite cassettes in the car while she drove me to summer camp. I become nostalgic for summers in Lebanon when I would lie on the beach, toes in the soft sand, while music wafted to my ears from a sound system. People talk about having a comfort food that they eat to remind them of home and beautiful memories. For me, Arabic music is my comfort that I listen to cheer me up or if I find myself longing for the warm summers …which is basically all the time. The music is romantic with a soft side in it but also has a joy and vivacity that makes you get up and dance.

In my first year as a counselor at Al-Bustan Camp, I was introduced to singing classical Arabic music. My first shot at a legitimate classical Arabic piece was Um Koulthum’s Alf Layla Wa Layla…hefty shoes to fill. Her songs are complicated simply because her voice is so powerful that a singer with any less force would simply not be able make the song come to life. Um Koulthum made everything she sang drip with such life and emotion that it was intimidating to perform her song in a foreign language to native listeners.

This year I learned to sing Abdel Halim Hafez’s Toba for Al-Bustan’s music performance. This was more of a challenge because I had to learn the lyrics and be able to sing them to the song’s fast tempo. I only had a week to practice Toba and again I was imitating a singer who was famous for being the “Elvis of the Middle East”. When I first practiced the song, my voice was too operatic, too smooth, and too thin. I had to sing from my chest and give the song gusto. I learned to let go of the smooth legato soprano that I was so used to.

For a week I listened to Abdel Halim repeatedly, taking note of his intonation, the tenderness in his voice, and how he seemed to meld each lyric into the melody. With the campers and music teachers, I practiced the song over and over till it came time for the performance.

It’s funny how even if you don’t understand the language, Arabic music is so unique and expressive that it becomes easy to understand the song’s message. The melodies are so intricate, with effervescent beats that can completely alter the mood of a song and uplift you with each riff of the voice or change of tempo. Um Koulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez had such powerful, expressive voices that I wanted to bring out the beauty and emotions of the music just as much as they had. Although I’m not fluent in Arabic, I could not only hear the music but truly feel it. I could let myself become entangled within the music’s striking harmonies and addicting beats. And so I hoped to do the songs justice and sing them in a way in which the audience could feel the same love as I did for the music.

After the music performance last week a parent came up to me and told me about how hearing Toba brought him back to his childhood. The song reminded him of how he and his friends would get together to watch Abdel Halim’s films and listen to the songs. When he said this, I knew that I had achieved my goal and that the music had reached the audience.

Al-Bustan has exposed me to classical Arabic music and given me the opportunity to expand my repertoire beyond Western classical and contemporary. But not only that, the Camp taught me so much about the Arab world. Most importantly, it helped me establish a tighter bond with my culture through music.

- Layal Brown, Camp Counselor

By Hazami Sayed | Posted in Camp, From Our Teachers | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

July 10: Arab Music Recital at Al-Bustan Camp

July 9, 2009

A Recital of Arab Music
Springside School – Lower School Auditorium
Chestnut Hill, 8000 Cherokee Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19118
4:30 – 5:30pm
Free/Open to the Public

Children and youth at Al-Bustan Camp are having lots of fun this week with music teacher Hanna Khoury and guest percussionist Hafez El Ali Kotain. Join us for an afternoon of delightful Arab music and songs. Performance will be led by violinist Hanna Khoury and percussionist Hafez El Ali Kotain, with accompaniment by cellist Sara Gabalawi and singer Layal Brown.

Have a look at some photos of campers singing and playing music in the first week. . .

By Hazami Sayed | Posted in Events | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Video Overview of Al-Bustan’s Music Education Program

June 3, 2009

Al-Bustan had an eventful year of music! From developing Al-Bustan Percussion Ensemble to include direction by Hafez El-Ali Kotain; offering percussion instruction at 7 Philadelphia public schools; piloting a music ensemble led by master violinist Hanna Khoury, inviting master musician, composer and educator Simon Shaheen to work with teachers and youth; to a culminating performance on May 19th that brought together a diversity of talents and ages under the roof of GAMP School’s beautiful new auditorium.  Please take a look at this 6-minute video edited by Joslyn Duncan.   It shows highlights of our musical accomplishments from September 2008 through May 2009.

You can also view short video clips of Simon Shaheen leading several youth ensembles in master workshops in January 2009, go to this page.

By Hazami Sayed | Posted in Music Instruction, News, School Programs | Also tagged | Comments (0)

May 21: Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration

May 20, 2009
Celebration in May 2008

Celebration in May 2008

Please Join Us For the Second Annual
Arab Arts and Heritage Celebration

Thursday, May 21, 2009
Atrium, School District of Philadelphia

440 N. Broad Street
metered street parking available, some parking lots nearby

Performances 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Activities/Demonstrations 12:30-1:15 pm
Arabic coffee and tea will be served

Join Al-Bustan’s staff of fantastic teaching artists as we celebrate the inspiration they have given to students and teachers through the Arab Arts and Heritage program in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia.

The poetry of Arab-American author Naomi Shihab Nye was our theme this year and served as a framework for students to explore their lives and heritage and express themselves through the arts.  The celebration on May 21st is a culminating showcase of Al-Bustan’s Arab arts programming in various Philadelphia public schools this academic year.

The event will showcase the hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm of students as they present a performance of music, dance, art, and poetry from the following schools:

•    John Moffet Elementary School
•    Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences
•    Penn Alexander School
•    Motivation High School
•    Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds
•    Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson
•    Benjamin Franklin High School

We hope that you will attend to see the beautiful work of these young people and to show your support for Al-Bustan’s partnership with the School District to bring quality Arab arts education for Philadelphia students!

For more info, call 267-809-3668 or email ctucker@albustanseeds.org

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

March 30: Arab Music Master Class with Hanna Khoury

March 23, 2009

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Al-Bustan is excited to co-sponsor Settlement Music School’s Master Class presentation on Arab music with violin virtuoso Hanna Khoury.

  • March 30, 2009:  6 – 8:00 PM
  • Free / Open to Public / All Ages
  • Settlement Music School – Mary Louise Curtis Branch, Field Hall
    416 Queen Street, Philadelphia

Khoury will present a Master Class on Arabic music to interested violinists of all ages. The class will provide an overview of Arabic music instruments, modes, and rhythms. Participants will experience tuning their violins for playing an Arabic music composition with sheet music provided.

Khoury is trained in both Western classical and Arabic classical music styles and serves as music director of the Arabesque Ensemble.

Al-Bustan will offer group instruction for youth and adults in Arab violin taught by Hanna Khoury starting April 15th, for 4 sessions ending with a mini-performance on May 13.  For more info, please contact Al-Bustan at 267-809-3668.

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged , | Comments (1)

Youth Workshops with Simon Shaheen

January 30, 2009

Youth Workshops January 24, 25, 31, 2009
Concert February 1, 2009

Shaheen with Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble

Shaheen with Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble

I’m a relative newcomer to Arab music. Growing up, I studied Western Classical music, but before I started working at Al-Bustan in January, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you the difference between a maqam and a takht.

And I certainly wouldn’t have known who Simon Shaheen is. Over the past few weekends, I was lucky enough to observe this acclaimed performer and composer in the surprisingly intimate role of teacher.

When I was more serious about music, I was directed by a number of conductors in both casual and intense workshop settings. Simon Shaheen, a consummate teacher and wonderful musician, bowled me over with his ability to lead a wide range of groups. Imparting his own love of Arab music to each musician in the room, he opened students’ minds to new forms, rhythms, and sounds.

Whether teaching Arabic pronunciation to the Pennsylvania Girl Choir or encouraging soloists from the Kimmel Center’s Jazz Ensemble to reach new heights on their instruments, his infectious desire to teach was apparent in every workshop. I witnessed him teach students to hear and play tones that they had never played before; he opened their ears and minds to the beauty of sounds found outside the Western canon.

No matter the instrument, no matter the skill of the group, Mr. Shaheen imparted an appreciation for a new and different style of music. In doing so, he used the arts to bridge the gap between two musical cultures, and it’s that sense that connection between disparate worlds that excites me most about the programming and cultural offerings provided by Al-Bustan.

-Chloe Tucker, Program Assistant

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in From Our Teachers | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Simon Shaheen leads Master Workshops with Philadelphia Youth Ensembles

January 25, 2009

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture has facilitated an opportunity for youth of diverse backgrounds to learn about Arab music and culture.

Shaheen gives autograph for students after workshop

Shaheen gives autograph for students after workshop

With funding largely from the National Endowment for the Arts, Al-Bustan invited Simon Shaheen to conduct two-hour master workshops with six youth ensembles that are school and community-based in Philadelphia.  Students are learning a repertoire of traditional Arab music and original compositions of Arab/Jazz fusion by Mr. Shaheen.   Each ensemble will practice and perform this repertoire at their respective spring concerts, with the possibility of performing collectively at one venue this spring. The students will also have the opportunity to see Shaheen perform live with his ensemble on February 1st.

In partnership with the Kimmel Center where the workshops are held in the Merck Education Room, four master classes took place with great success on January 24 and 25. . . stay tuned for some video clips to be uploaded soon.

PENNSYLVANIA GIRLCHOIR
Mr. Shaheen worked with thirty girls in the Trouvere group of the PA Girlchoir and their music director Mark Anderson.  They learned the song “Nassam Alayna Al-hawa” by the Rahbani Brothers and a traditional muwashah/poem “Ya Dahl Qawam.”

AL-BUSTAN PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Mr. Shaheenn worked with six drummers in Al-Bustan Percussion Ensemble and their percussion director Joseph Tayoun, to play “Ethos,” an all-percussion composition by Shaheen.

SETTLEMENT MUSIC SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
Members of SMS’s Jazz Band and their music director Kris Rudzinski, worked with Mr. Shaheen to learn “Al-Qantara,” an original composition by Shaheen.

WILLIAM PENN CHARTER JAZZ BAND
Members of Penn Charter’s 18-person Jazz Band, led by  music director Hayley Varhol, worked with Mr. Shaheen to play “Aziza” a composition by Mohammad Abdel Wahab, as well as “Waving Sands,” Shaheen’s original compostion.

Upcoming Workshops on January 31 with:
KIMMEL CENTER YOUTH JAZZ ENSEMBLE
and
GAMP HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
(Girard Academic Music Program)

In November 2008, Al-Bustan invited Mr. Shaheen to conduct a two-hour workshop at the Kimmel Center for an audience of 100 people, including School District of Philadelphia music teachers and local musicians.
Al-Bustan’s partnership with the Kimmel Center and School District of Philadelphia demonstrates the integration of arts education and performance, as a master artist plants the seeds of Arab music and culture: teaching educators and students and performing for the public.

SIMON SHAHEEN
Internationally acclaimed Palestinian-American  performer, composer, and instructor, Simon Shaheen tours worldwide as a soloist and with his ensemble  His recordings have won him an international reputation as a leading Arab musician of his generation, receiving the prestigious NEA National Heritage Award in 1994.  A master instructor in performance and theory, Shaheen is dedicated to teaching about Arabic music and passing on his knowledge to a younger generation.  He is founder/director of the annual summer Arabic Music Retreat, and has taught at promiment American institutions such as Julliard, Columbia, Harvard, and Cornell, among others, as well as in Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan.

See article by Shaheen:  Beyond the Minor Second

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

February 1: Simon Shaheen in Philadelphia: Concert & Reception

January 1, 2009

February 1st:  Simon Shaheen in Philadelphia
Concert: 3-5pm
Reception: 5-6:30pm

Simon Shaheen playing the 'oud

Simon Shaheen playing the oud

Please join us for an afternoon of amazing Arab culture with Palestinian-American master musician Simon Shaheen, and stay for an artists’ reception following the concert.  With the troubling events in the Middle East, this is an opportunity for music, friendship, and community to strengthen us during difficult times.

For Concert & Reception, $100 ticket provides you the best seat in the Concert Hall, followed by a reception serving hors d’oeuvres and dessert (cash bar available) in the Kimmel’s restaurant.  This Meet The Artists Reception is also an opportunity to support the only Arab arts and culture non-profit organization in Philadelphia.

To purchase tickets by check, mail your check (payable to “Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture”), with number of attendees, names, address, daytime phone number and email, to the address below.

For Concert only, click here: kimmelcenter.org
$35 and $45 tickets.  Please purchase tickets from Kimmel Center and use Promo Code:  SEEDS.

For questions: 267-809-3668

By Chloe Tucker | Posted in Events | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)