A Collective Song: Music to Make Hearts Sing

Dear Friend,

The Collective Song music education program in Al Aqaba is going strong, and the students love to play their instruments. They recently performed a recital for their parents! 

The founder of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, Mohamad Fadel send photos regularly and links to press about the Conservatory students.  Our young musicians have gone on tour a number of times to join children from other schools to perform in group concerts at Palestinian universities - so exciting!

I am delighted to report that after 15 years of good work as a grantmaker and advocate, Rebuilding Alliance is in the process of open our branch office in Ramallah!  What this means is that our local team will be directly in touch with Al Aqaba as we launch the next phase of our Rebuilding to Remain program — and we'll be able to provide timely updates about our Collective Song Music Center program!  This Saturday, Rasha and Jamal, our Rebuilding Alliance branch office team will be visiting Al Aqaba.  They will ask Shady, one of the first students in the Collective Song program, if he can tell them his thoughts about what the music program means to him.  I hope Shady will offer to play for them.

May I ask your help?  This program got its start when Lina, then an intern at Rebuilding Alliance, envisioned Collective Song as an important way to bring music into the villager's lives.  Lina believed music would help overcome stress and ease trauma - and it does.

• I ask your help to organize a concert fundraiser for this project, there in your home town.  Lina is now entering her 2nd year at Stanford.  Some of you may remember that Lina's fundraising concert at Gunn High School was wonderfully inspiring, including both student and professional performers.  Might you organize a concert fundraiser there in your town?

Meanwhile, this Wednesday, July 12th, GlobalGiving will be matching all donations to this project by 50%! Bonus prizes will also be given out. However, the matching funds will run out quickly — in the first 20 minutes — so be sure to set an alarm.  The competition begins at 9:01am Eastern (6:01am Pacific). 

Thank you again for your wonderful support.   You made it possible for the children and their families in Al Aqaba to receive the gift of music.  Let's do all we can to keep this wonderful program going!

Links:

• Alghad TV: Palestinian children sparkle in the sky
• Palestine this morning / rehearsal for concert tour.

Rebuilding Alliance is so very proud to be partnering with the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music to bring music instruction to the children and community of Al Aqaba Village!

I recently learned that the visionary maestro who comes to Al Aqaba each week accompanied by the young cello teacher is a very famous man.  Mr. Mhammad Fadel is the founder of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music!   Let's find a way to bring the gifted teachers and children on tour -- maybe they can play for Congress on International Peace Day this year!

Today, Giving Tuesday actually starts at 9:01pm Pacific time Monday! GlobalGiving is matching 50% on each dollar donated up to $1000. If you can make a donation, large or small, please do!

The musice program is in full swing in Al Aqaba and they students have already travelled to Bethlehem to hold a concert in early November!  They spent the night there and attended workshops at the Athear Center!

Here's how the music teachers describe the outcome of the music program in Al Aqaba so far:

• 39 children were introduced to music education enhancing their music skills;
• Al Aqaba children participating in ESNCM music performances;
• Al Aqaba community more open to cultural life.

Maestro Mohammad Fadel writes,

"Through the outreach programs, there was a noticeable improvement in the psychosocial wellbeing of students, their personalities, attitude and behavior. They are happy to learn music. Moreover, students show a higher commitment towards music education and have developed the ability to perform to a diverse audience including their families and friends. Parents and families of students have more commitment towards music education of their children which is evident in their commitment to bring the children to music classes during the academic year as well as the summer program which often requires commuting from surrounding villages."

Here's the goal for the project going forward:

Relying on the cooperation with RA, ESNCM considers the outreach program at Al Aqaba, Tubas, very important in terms of targeting marginalized communities and expanding music education in Palestine facilitating access to music education and appreciation and positively impacting the subject community.

Phase two builds on the work done in the first year in Al Aqaba. It aims at sustaining and strengthening the music education program established during phase one of the project. The positive impact on the children of Al Aqaba and its community as well as the willingness of those children to be involved in music education is an opportunity that supports the continuity of the music education program.

The second phase focuses on enhancing the music education of the enrolled students and involves a weekly two-hour session The sessions will include full class work, ensemble work and small group technical study. The focus will remain on string instruments particularly violin and cello. Al Aqaba students will perform to their community and they will be involved in the other ESNCM activities particularly the annual showcase to present their work through the year which enables them to interact with other students from other areas and different levels enhancing their group performance skills as well as exposure to a different audience.

Tonight is a great time to donate!  Thank you again for your support!

• Progress report Edw. Said Nat. Music Conservatory (PDF)