Terrorist or Pianist?

By: Jehan Alfarra

I remember “the story within a story” from my literature classes, but being in this place, I felt a world within a world. It did not feel by any means that I was in fact in Gaza! Instead of distressing explosions, I heard piano pieces. Instead of the agonizing power generator noise, I heard the zither.

I could not but think, “These children are incredibly fortunate.” Their fingers were dancing so beautifully on the instruments constructing the most striking and lurching tunes.

“How different are those children from the rest of mankind? Or from the talented American children that I met a few years ago?” I was wondering. “They are all learning the same language- music.”

Westerners and Israelis look at Palestinians as though violence was an inherent part of them. What they don’t realize is that the environment in which we live in is what construct and shape our personalities, our identities, and our dreams. Have they never watched Tarazan?!

Although I hate it that my mom is a doctor and although am not a big fan of the UN, I do love the fact that she works for them! You might ask me why? Well, she has privileges in terms of travel and movement!

Usually, if the Rafah border is open, you have to have a remarkably good reason as to why you need to travel; like medical treatment, university scholarships, you are not Palestinian,  or you have vitamin w (for wasta- that’s when you have “connections” ). And even then, you might not be allowed to leave the strip simply because other people have higher priority or better reasons, (or obviously a better dose of vitamin waw)!

My point is: my mom can get in and out of the strip more effortlessly, thanks to… the UN! She was able to bring in a keyboard for us using the VIP UN bus! She’s always loved music, and so have I. We used to have one that  my dad bought from Ramallah long time ago when Gazan Palestinians were allowed to go to the West Bank, but it got old and stopped working and we haven’t been able to get another ever since.

So, mama brings a keyboard, and YouTube kicks in! My siblings started downloading videos from YouTube on how to play certain pieces of music, but my sister still wanted to learn how to really read notes and such. My cousin told us that there was someone who teaches the piano in the Red Crescent!

One evening, the electricity was out and Nour, my sister, and I were intolerably bored. She suggested that we go to the Red Crescent and see if that was true. She wanted to apply so terribly.

The Red Crescent is right across the street from our house. We walked up there and found a couple of guards sat outside, next to the parked Ambulances. I was quite hesitant whether to ask them about the ‘music’ place or not. I mean, since when do they teach music in Gaza, let alone at the Red Crescent!? The only music they have would probably be moans of pain, or ambulance sirens. How embarrassing would it be if I was fooled!

We walked up to the guards, looking at each other, dragging our legs forward, and counting our steps. I muttered, tentatively, “They told me there was a … someone who teaches piano inside. Do you anything about this?” I was forcing my eyes open; almost going all like ><

“You mean the music school? Go that way and you’ll find a room on your right; it is there” he responded. “Whew,” I thought, “thank you!”

I grabbed Nour’s hand and hurried inside. As I opened the door, I saw Ban! A girl that I know. Apparently, she’s the admin assistant there. I did not realize it was a SCHOOL! That little tiny place which seems to be no more than a couple of rooms inside the building! Ban directed me to Mr. Ibrahim, the Academic Director and manager of the school. It turned out that the school is a project funded by Al-Qattan foundation for kids less than 12 years of age; in other words, Nour is ineligible. Disappointed, yet taken by amazement, I asked him if I could interview him and video-tape those kids whose performance stunned me! He welcomed it 🙂

I remember “the story within a story” from my literature classes, but being in this place, I felt a world within a world. It did not feel by any means that I was in fact in Gaza! Instead of distressing explosions, I heard piano pieces. Instead of the agonizing power generator noise, I heard the zither.

I could not but think, “These children are incredibly fortunate.” Their fingers were dancing so beautifully on the instruments constructing the most striking and lurching tunes.

“How different are those children from the rest of mankind? Or from the talented American children that I met a few years ago?” I was wondering. “They are all learning the same language- music.”

Westerners and Israelis look at Palestinians as though violence was an inherent part of them. What they don’t realize is that the environment in which we live in is what construct and shape our personalities, our identities, and our dreams. Have they never watched Tarazan?!

Enjoy

Photos by Shareef Sarhan