Videos
Please note: All videos are hosted by Youtube, by following the links, which will open in an new tab or window, you’ll switch to Youtube.
Qastina orchestra performs "Ping Pong"
Our Qastina Orchestra played "Ping Pong", a song written by Kathy and David Blackwell, in the concert at the end of the Music Summer School on August 24, 2023.
Lifta Orchestra performs "Hal Asmar El Lon"
At the final concert of their music summer school on July 18, 2023, the Lifta Orchestra performed the traditional Syrian song "Hal Asmar El Lon".
Qastina orchestra plays "Tinga Layo"
The Qastina orchestra performed the west Indian traditional song “Tinga Layo” at the festive closure of their Music Summer School 2022 on July 03, 2022.
Al Majdal orchestra and Baysamun choir send greetings with the song "Yamo" (يامو..يامو )
This video was recorded by the children as a greeting for Mother's Day on March 21, 2022.
Al-Majdal orchestra plays "Ya Usas"
The Al-Majdal orchestra performed the piece "Ya Usas" during the concert at the end of their music summmer school.
Qastina orchestra plays and sings "Neezef bil orchestra"
Our youngest children, the Qastina group, sing and play "Neezef bil orchestra" at the final concert of their music summer school.
Al-Majdal Orchestra Plays 'Adeesh Kan Fe Nas'
Al-Majdal Orchestra played the famous Fairuz song 'Adeesh kan fe nas' in the Nativity Church, Bethlehem.
Al-Majdal Orchestra at the Palestine Philharmonie Music Winter Academy
The participation of the Al-Majdal orchestra in the Palestine Philharmonie Music Winter Academy during the final performance.
Sounds of Palestine
Short introduction to the work and the goals of Sounds of Palestine, a community music project for children in Palestine
Al-Majdal Orchestra
The children of Al-Majdal orchestra sing and play Tingalayo, a traditional Caribbean children song arranged by K.&D. Blackwell and Alber Baasel.
Sounds of Palestine
Impressions of the summer camp 2014 and Information about the work of Sounds of Palestine, a community music project for the children of Aida and al-Azzeh refugee camps.
Photo Albums
Please note: All albums are hosted by Facebook, by following the links, which will open in an new tab or window, you'll switch to Facebook.
New Academic Year 2021 - 2022
After the summer holiday, on Saturday the 4th of September 2021, we started our new academic year and welcomed our students back at the Garden of Music.
Online Lessons
In the first months of 2021 we again had to teach online-lessons due to the actual pandemic situation.
Welcoming Students Back
We are happy to have the children back at the Garden of Music after the long online-teaching phase! They expressed how much they missed music and staff at Sounds of Palestine and engaged very well in all activities.
Start of the New School Year 2019/20
After a short break we started our music lessons again. Already in our first week we had a wonderful visit of the Karlsruher Konzert Duo.
Cello Biennale Amsterdam
The eight cellists of the Al-Majdal orchestra were invited to participate in the Hello Cello Orchestra at the Cello Biennale in Amsterdam.
First Day of the New Group Qastina
Each year, we start with a new group of young children and continue to teach the students already in our program. This week, we welcomed our new students who will play in the Qastina Orchestra and sing in the Qastina Choir.
End of the Year Concert 2017
On the 1st of July, more than 100 children performed for their families and friends. Each child sang in one of the choirs and played in one of the orchestras.
Last Days of Summer Camp 2016
During the last days of the summer camp everyone was very busy to prepare for the final concerts. But there was still time for lots of fun and - of course - for one day at the swimming pool.
Preparing the End of the Year Concert
This week, all children of Sounds of Palestine will perform in the End of the Year Concert. They have been preparing their orchestra pieces and practiced very hard. But preparing also means taking time to relax: the children worked in our garden, planted new tomato plants and played many different games with our social workers. Enjoy the pictures!
Preparation School Exams
The children of Sounds of Palestine have exams in school this month, so our social workers help the children to study together and prepare for their exams. Some relaxation and sport activities in our garden, as well as our dabke (folklore dancing) lessons, help the children to concentrate on their studies. At the same time, we continue our regular music lessons and orchestra rehearsals to prepare for the end of the year concert. We are proud of all our hard working students!
Orchestra Games
One of our favorite orchestra games is 'Police and Criminal': One child is the police and waits outside of the orchestra room. Another child is the criminal and makes a 'musical crime'. For example, the musical crime is to play a wrong note, to hold the instrument wrong, or the change instruments with another child. After the police returns to the orchestra room, he or she needs to find out who is the criminal and what the crime is!
Music, Theater and Garden Games
Spring arrived in Palestine and the children enjoy playing in our garden while they are waiting for their music lessons. After one afternoon of orchestra, instrument lessons, music theory and choir, we took the children to a theater show organized by Singer Cafe. When we walked back afterwards one of the young boys asked his music teacher: "Miss, will we continue to play music now?"
Happy Mother's Day!
Today is Mother's Day in the Middle East.
كل عام وانتو بالف خير!
The children played music for their mothers, gave them a flower and expressed one by one why they love their mom. The last piece of the performance was 'Eidek ya mama', and the piece 'School is Out!' was conducted by one of the mothers! After the concert there was time to talk together, while enjoying delicious home made snacks. Congratulations to all the wonderful children, teachers and social workers for such a beautiful concert!
Music Smiles
No words are needed to describe the music lessons from last week: the smiles of the children say enough!
Sounds of Palestine is Planting Seeds
Weather has changed, and it's time to plant seeds: not only in our garden, but also musical seeds in our students! In a couple of weeks, the children can bring home the lettuce, cauliflower, mint and cabbage they planted. While gardening, the children hear their friends playing music in the music lessons, dancing dabke, studying music theory and singing in the choir. During orchestra time, the children not only study their pieces, they also practice conducting the orchestra, developing their leadership skills.
Winter Music
During the winter months, we stay warm by playing music! Enjoy the pictures taken during the last months in our after school program and our kindergarten program.
Empathy and sorrow for the loss of our friend
Giving condolences to the bereaved family in Aida camp
First Lessons of the New Academic Year
After creating their own instruments from carton, foam and buckets, our new first graders learned all about their instrument, how to hold the instrument, how to sit or stand, and how to breath. They sang songs about their instrument and played musical games while learning about the sound of their instrument. Next week they will play on the real instruments for the first time. Our 2nd and 3rd graders started their lessons as well, and after the success during the Summer School, we decided to continue offering these two new activities: dabke (Palestinian Folklore dancing) and playing with Lego, donated by our dear supporter Marijke. Thank you Akram for making the pictures!
Welcome to the New Children!
This academic year Sounds of Palestine will continue the music lessons in the kindergartens in Aida and al-Azzeh refugee camp. The 55 children in the after school program continue with us as well. In addition to them, we welcome the 40 new first-graders who joined us last week in a fun morning of choosing and decorating an instrument. Welcome to our youngest violinists, cellists, clarinetists, percussionists and double bass players!
Music Summer School - PART 3
Enjoy the pictures of the last days from Sounds of Palestine Summer Music School: final rehearsal day in Aida Youth Center, a performance with choir, dabke (folklore dance) and orchestra for the parents, and a relaxing day in the swimming pool!
Music Summer School PART 2
More pictures from our music lessons, orchestra, choir, music theory and art during the hot summer days!
Our Music Summer School has Started!
The temperature reached 40 degrees today, but our little heros from Aida and al-Azzeh refugee camp came nevertheless to our summer school. 14 days of playing the violin, tablah, cello, double bass and clarinet, playing in the orchestra, singing in the traditional choir, dancing dabke (Palestinian folklore), learning music theory and crafting art in classrooms without airconditioning. Even a broken arm didn't kept one of the boys to play the cello for more than an hour a day. We are proud of our children and the music teachers, social workers and volunteers. Enjoy the pictures of the first two days of the music camp!
Music Lessons in the Kindergartens
We look back at a succesful year in the kindergartens in Aida and al-Azzeh refugee camp: Bara'em al-Mustaqbal, Amal al-Mustaqbal, and al-Awdah. We are excited to welcome new first-graders who graduated from their kindergartens in the coming school year in our afternoon intrument program!
End of the Year Performance (1st & 2nd graders)
Today more than 60 children age 6-8 performed in our end of the year concert! It was a long day: at 9.30 the children gathered in Aida refugee camp, from where they travelled to the Peace Center in Bethlehem. They practiced their pieces on stage, ate delicious 'waraq dawali' made by women of the camp and visited the Nativity Church. Then, they were ready to perform. We are proud of all the children from al-Azzeh and Aida refugee camp for making beautiful music! And a big thank you for all the mothers and fathers who came to the concert.
Sounds of Music and Smell of Tear Gas
On Friday our second graders performed for the wonderful people of Tree of Life. Some of them even joined the young children during the concert, playing the violin, flute and Indian drum. But before the performance started, tears were running down the cheeks of the children. Not because they were sad...but because of the tear gas that was shot at the Aida Youth Center where the concert was held. Nevertheless, the smell of tear gas and sewage did not stop the Sounds of Palestine children of giving a wonderful performance! Thank you Jiries and all the people from Tree of Life for this special visit!
Pictures of the Mid Year Concert
On the 1st of March, the 1st and 2nd graders from our after school program performed in the Aida Youth Center for their families. We are so proud of the children! Congratulations for all the children, teachers and Sounds of Palestine staff! And a big thanks for all the mothers, grandmothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who came to listen. These beautiful pictures were made by our friend Sara.
Stay Warm!
Snow in Bethlehem! Stay warm with the latest pictures from the Sounds of Palestine children. As soon as the weather permits we will continue the music lessons and prepare for the mid year concert which will take place next week.
Sunday Songs (2nd grade)
For six weeks we were privileged to have volunteer violin trainer Kristin joining the team. The day she left Palestine back home to Iceland, we experienced heavy rainfall, the first time since the long hot summer. The day of her departure was a sad day but at the same time full of new opportunities: like the rain lets crops grow on the land, Kristin let our team grow!