Al-Bustan’s Arab Arts After-School Program at John Moffet School and Juniata Park Academy, like much of the world, experienced an unprecedented Spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19. The semester that shifted from in-person learning to virtual learning which necessitated new ways of thinking and making.
During January and February students continued their exploration of Arab Percussion led by Director of Percussion Hafez Kotain, preparing for community performances at the end of the year and for their school communities during “Music In Schools” month in March. All planned performances were, of course, cancelled due to the pandemic but students were able to continue their percussion practice virtually, by watching recorded videos from Hafez. These videos were also shared by school principals at Moffet and Juniata on google classroom, making them available to not only students who were enrolled in Al-Bustan Programs, but also to any student in the school who wanted to learn to drum during their period of remote learning. Aided by Alaha Manassra, a Moffet School graduate and alumna of Al-Bustan After-School Programs, who recorded a video for students on How to practice at home if you don’t own a drum, students were able to continue with their practice or even start drumming for the first time––whether they owned a drum or not.
Choir/Music Skills Teacher Serge El Helou was also in the process of preparing his students for end-of-year performances when the pandemic shut down schools. On February 25, Serge led three in-school classes at Juniata with music workshops for students in grades 2, 3, and 6, introducing them to the oud and teaching them to sing the Arabic song “Ya Leil!”. Juniata Music Teacher Mike Greco later shared recorded videos from Serge with all of his music classes so that students could continue with their practice of “Ya Leil” and begin learning several other Arabic language songs. Students at Moffet also received recorded videos from Serge, which instructed them in practicing songs they had been working on before school closures. Moffet Music Teacher and Al-Bustan Partner Irene Pelech also shared these videos with all of her music classes at Moffet–again, widening access to not just those enrolled in Al-Bustan programs but to all Moffet students.
In January and February, Art Class led by Teaching Artist Lisa Volta introduced students to two new contemporary Arab artists: Annabel Daou of Lebanon and Abbas Yousif of Bahrain. Students created embroidery and paper collage projects inspired by their work. Mid-March, when schools closed, program staff began creating mailable art kits that students could use to continue to explore art-making through the lens of contemporary Arab art. For the remainder of the school year, students at Juniata and Moffet enrolled in after-school art class received bi-monthly art kits in the mail, which included art supplies, project directions, and personal messages to students. Do-It-Yourself art projects were inspired by Syrian Shadow Puppeteer Shadi Al-Hallaq, Palestinian Artist Nabil Anani, Iraqi Artist Naziha Salim, and Saudi Artist Ghada Al-Rabea.
While continuing to email and mail resources for students to continue their learning from home, Al-Bustan was simultaneously developing Al-Bustan Fil Bayt or “At Home” — a platform for learning about and engaging with Arab arts and culture from home. Fil Bayt includes videos from artists and teachers presenting music demos and lessons, art therapy sessions and activities, poetry, cooking, and much more. These resources were shared with students in Al-Bustan programs as well as their entire school communities.
The pandemic necessitated the cancellation of Al-Bustan’s usual end-of-year festivities, including several planned performances in-and-out of school and a final celebration in the Moffet School garden. Still, students and teachers rose to meet the moment, finding ways to continue to make music, art, and connect with each other–even while at home.
