New Video! A Musical Journey through the Arab World

Our new video highlights a recent S’Cool Sounds (SCS) residency at Khalil Gibran International Academy, an Arabic-English dual-language school in Brooklyn. SCS Teaching Artist Marwan Allam, joined by fellow SCS Teaching Artist Nezih Antakli, adapted the Ya Habibi: A Musical Journey through the Arab World curriculum to create a residency reflecting the goals and cultural backgrounds of the students. Through rhythms, melodies, and song, students explored Arab world traditions and celebrated the heritage that many of them share.

Through school-wide Ya Habibi assemblies, Marwan reaches an even broader group of students. During assemblies, students participate in musical games and discover traditions ranging from Moroccan and Tunisian trance music to Lebanese dabke and Andalusian melodies. They also explore instruments such as the oud, riq, and darbouka. 

Marwan also supports professional development for NYC public school teachers, including his workshop “Centering Culture Through Songwriting and Creative Expression,” which he co-presented last spring at a Professional Learning Day for music teachers. These sessions introduce approaches that help students explore creativity and cultural identity through the many musical traditions represented across the city. SCS’s free online resource, Ya Habibi: A Musical Journey through the Arab World, is shared with teachers to bring into their classrooms.

Please consider donating today and help us bring culturally diverse music assemblies and residencies to more schools across New York City!