education

Solhi al-Wadi Institute for Music, Damascus

Reem gave masterclasses for teachers and pupils at the Institute, August 2009
Honorary teaching certificate Damascus

Adult Learner’s Week, Burngreave, Sheffield

As part of Adult Learner’s Week provision, May 2009, Reem also led a workshop just for women on the following morning at Sorby House on Spital Hill. This surpassed even the excellence of the previous evening’s performance. Women from a dozen different nationalities were supported into learning and performing each others songs. Language didn’t matter! It was a very emotional morning.

“It was a very special day for me. She carried me back to Palestine, making me sing our own songs. I appreciated the common feelings we shared.” Arwa

“Reem Kelani made everyone special and everyone sang without music in their own languages. We felt sad, happy and emotional. People who even weren’t Arabic sang in Arabic language. It was incredible event. She reminded people of their past and what they learned from their mothers when they were young.” Amal

“Reem asked me to sing in my language. I did’t have any idea how to sing but she pushed and encouraged me. And I sang and every body got happy. We were all from different countries and had different languages but we were singing all together.” Azeb

“Listening to Reem I felt so proud to live in such a diverse community. I wish I could do more to bring Burngreave people together to celebrate and share things like music, stories, customs and recipes.” Rashida Hassanali

Sound Festival, North East Scotland

As part of Sound Festival, Reem conducted school and community workshops and gave a concert, November 2008. The Banchory Academy Parents' Newsletter of January 2009 wrote of the school workshop as follows:

"Reem Kelani is a Palestinian jazz singer who fuses the two musical styles of jazz and music from her native country into one. She came to Banchory to deliver a workshop in November to some pupils studying music. This was one of the most inspiring and creative sessions we have ever had.

Reem based a lot of her techniques on vocal styles but used a few ethnic instruments to create sounds and atmosphere. The pupils taking part were excited and found improvising jazz much more accessible than they ever thought possible through Reem's encouragement and vibrant personality. The pupils certainly gained a broader understanding and quality experience of several different kinds of music in both Palestinian and jazz. They also found the fusion of the two styles good fun and inspiring in their own music development."

You can also download the detailed evaluation of Reem's workshop at Banchory Academy

Sing Up

As part of the Music Manifesto's National Singing programme, Reem conducted a series of workshops on Arabic and Palestinian singing across Lincolnshire (organised by Serious in conjunction with Soundlincs), March 2008.

"A musician, raconteur and workshop leader of international standing, Kelani explores and performs Arabic music, with her rich knowledge and vibrant personality ensuring an engaging and rewarding vocal experience for everyone who participates". Jill O'Sullivan

Download her full review, published in Sounding Board magazine, 2008:
Reem gives an open workshop

Sheffield PSC workshop

Sample I

Visiting the Prophet's Shrine
(Ya Raayhin en-Nabi)
Traditional Palestinian
Source: In'aam al-Khadra, Palestinian woman originally from Safad, now resident in Damascus.
Arr. Reem Kelani

Sample II

The Fortune Teller
(Bassaarah Barraajeh)
Lyrics: Muhammad Younis al-Qadhi (1888-1969)
Music: Sayyid Darwish (1892-1923)
Arr. Reem Kelani

Listen to the above samples of Reem's workshop organised by Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign, October 2007.[Download 2 files: 1.1MB & 1MB mp3 file]

Heart of the World

Reem Kelani’s festival programme
Artist-in-residence 2007
Download a summary of the report prepared by Serious:
Heart of the World - an evaluation
(the document will open in PDF format in new browser window)

Creative Partnerships from the Arts Council of England Multi-Cultural World Music Project in Norfolk

The project involved professional artists, teachers and students in developing an integrated multi-cultural learning process across the fields of music, dance and language.

This included four world regions: Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean / Latin America.

Reem Kelani taught Arabic and Palestinian music, both sacred and secular. She also taught Palestinian folk dance, music appreciation and offered insights into the cultural principles of the Middle East.

For further details, contact Gary Newland, Project Director and Co-ordinator at: gary@musicworldwide.org

Millfield School, Norwich, November 2003

Photographs courtesy of Gary Newland

Bawburgh School, Norfolk, 21 January 2004

Photographs courtesy of Creative Partnerships

See Reem in action with the children of Bawburgh School
(opens 8.18MB MOV movie file in a new browser window)

Sketches and artwork done by students from Bawburgh School, Norwich under the direction of Mrs. Ginny Stanners.

Photo courtesy of Creative Partnerships

TASSIS School, Athens, Greece, February 2000

Workshop on Arabic and Palestinian Music for children, and sketches kindly painted and provided by the class of music teacher, Ms. Coreen Morsink:

Reem with her trusted teaching assistant Elmo.	Reem playing her shabbabeh.
Reem playing her shabbabeh.	Reem talking to Elmo about Arabic music.
Reem teaching the children Palestinian folk dance dabkeh. The red fluffy mascot on the table is Elmo, the 2 1/2 year-old monster from Sesame Street.	Reem with her embroidered dress thob, playing her fipple-style flute shabbabeh.

Workshops at the Museum of Mankind, British Museum, 1990 - 92

Photograph courtesy of Shelagh Weir

Photograph courtesy of Jak Kilby