Musiqa workshops about to start!
Hi and Salamat,
I hope you are all doing fine and you had a good start into the new year.
Three days ago I went to Betlehem and we discussed the details and set the starting point for the workshops at the Arab Educational Institute.
"Musiqa" is going to start at the 9th of February with 5-10 musicians covering instruments from drums and guitar to saxophone and maybe even bagpipe.
The last months I have been working on my Arabic music knowledge, language and my studies at university. The weeks here are a bit rainy right now with sunny days in between but unfortunately no central heating systems. As a foreigner in Ramallah you actually don't see or feel the impact of protests or struggles even when they occur. What you do feel, is that people are depressed sometimes and I hope the workshops will be of some help to lift the mood.
There are already some concerts to look for around Easter and some festival in June. The participants all know how to play their instrument a little, so we wont start from scratch like the last time. Chances are high that we will try to combine traditional Arabic and "Western" music to create some kind of cross-over.
From now on I will try to give you an update every month and write my mails in English since the project also has some international followers by now. If you got a problem with understanding what I write please tell me,
Below you find a picture of Tamer and me, the drummer of the band.
All the best, yours
Philipp
