This article was originally published by This Week in Palestine and is republished with permission.

A Palestinian musician performs at a cultural event in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Mushir Abdelrahman, Maan Images)

The Palestinian musical group Sabreen was established in 1980 with the vision of focusing on the development of the Palestinian modern song that reflects the humanitarian and cultural reality in general, and the suffering emanating from the political situation in particular. Sabreen's music is derived from local sources (folklore, traditional music) as well as from international sources (jazz, rock, etc.). This unique blend of musical genres and cultures continues to distinguish Sabreen's music, making it a recognized sound locally and internationally.

Sabreen has continuously suffered from the inadequate infrastructure available and a shortage in human resources. This deficiency prompted Sabreen, together with other interested parties, to cooperate in order to fill this gap and seek alternatives. One alternative was to establish the Sabreen Association for Artistic Development, a musical centre that provides training and capacity building needed for a broad range of target groups, including local musicians and groups. This not-for-profit organization strives to reach a wider range of the society, including its most underprivileged members, in an effort to enhance the understanding of music and its role in the development of a society's culture. This project was made possible through cooperation and coordination with local and international organizations that share Sabreen's vision. Sabreen is currently developing and supervising the implementation of teacher/student workshops and programmes in the field of music.

Bidayat is another initiative put forward by Sabreen. The idea of "music for everyone" encapsulates Bidayat's approach to musical development, education and training. It seeks not only to bring music to, but also bring music out of, the Palestinian community. It is based on the belief that, be it an elaborate arrangement or the rhythmic pattern of a single drumbeat, everyone has the capacity to make music. Before written or recorded music, it was impossible to refer to music as anything other than the subjective participation in, or appreciation of, a specific musical context. We have gradually alienated ourselves from this essential, internal experience. Bidayat renews this natural approach of looking at the musical experience, and taps into the potential for musical creativity found in us all.

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Bidayat seeks to develop and strengthen the musical environment in Palestinian society and contribute to a holistic, cultural development of the people and of the youth in particular. It focuses on providing quality musical education to schools, promoting musical programmes in the community, making available a resource centre to musicians and artists, and creating a network of musicians amongst local and international organizations and individuals.

While Bidayat's musical projects are varied, sensitive to the age of the musician, his/her previous musical training and familiarity with musical theory, all share a common vision. Its programmes strive to employ an active, not passive, learning process in enhancing musical creativity and understanding. This hands-on approach allows for the interaction with ideas and sounds and encourages experimentation and play according to intuition. It draws upon and nurtures the playful creativity found in all of us.

Bidayat is a three-year programme funded by the Norwegian government in cooperation with Rikskconsertene - the Norwegian concert institute in Oslo and the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Culture and is executed in cooperation with a number of educational institutions, community organization, clubs, cultural centres and individuals.

Bidayat is run from Sabreen's centre in Jerusalem as well as from its Bethlehem centre and it is planned to grow with programmes and projects into other cities in Palestine as part of a nationwide programme within the coming three years.

Julie Touma is the Events Coordinator for the Sabreen Association for Artistic Development.