Teachers from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music give music lessons on a range of instruments across Gaza
On 14 August, Reuters released an article detailing the work of teachers from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, who have been giving music lessons in Gaza. It included photos of Gaza residents being taught a range of instruments, including the violin, oud, guitar, reed flutes, percussion instruments and more.
In sessions during early August, over a dozen students gathered under tents to practise instruments that have been preserved through the war. One of the tutors is Ahmed Abu Amsha, 43, who teaches violin and guitar. He was among the first of the conservatory’s teachers to begin offering classes again since the outbreak of the war. He teaches in tents or at the heavily shelled Gaza College in Gaza City. Alongside colleagues, he also goes to kindergartens for sessions with small children.
Another violin instructor is Hamada Al-Kharoubi, 25, who can be seen below giving classes at Gaza College on 9 August. The lessons are accompanied by music theory instruction, which includes teaching students musical notation.
The conservatory said that teachers were also offering music lessons in southern and central Gaza, with twelve musicians and three singing tutors instructing nearly 600 students in June.
According to Fouad Khader, who coordinates the classes, few instruments have survived the fighting. In order for students to have instruments to play, some teachers have bought them from other displaced people.
The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music was founded in the West Bank and opened a branch in Gaza 13 years ago. It teaches classical music alongside popular genres.
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