Everything ready for Monday

We are all ready for Monday

Over the last two days we have been working with hugely talented musicians from Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Greece and Sweden. We have been curating a huge list of musical material we have shared. There are some songs that are very familiar: Head Shoulders Knees and Toes and "Tommy THumb" are the simplest. There are also some African songs, rhythm and warm up exercises and popular songs from Syria. The Syrian musicians also shared a couple of dances. We must include these!


Among our musicians we have drummers, guitarists, an accordion player and violinist. I want to ensure they are able to share their instruments so this will inspire the children's interest and also be a solo spot for each of them.


I should mention that there were a couple of participants who had never really got involved in music before, but they have been converted (YAY) and value the power of music in people's lives. A lot of these children will have seen and experienced terrible things before leaving their home of birth and also getting to Greece. We hope that the musical experiences they have on Monday will give them great joy and for them to start the healing process.

There will also be art stations; some of the children will want to do some art work either during the musical activities or after an activity. We recognise that art is a way of the children expressing their emotions.

We are expecting 20 children, who currently live in squats, assisted housing and the camps. Also volunteers and some mothers. One problem though: the weather forecast is for heat of 40 c!!! EEK. The wonderful Maria from the Cube has offered another room where the children can have their lunch, so they aren't outside.

And back to the music; as musicians we are very excited about some of the musical content. The power of collaboration and harmonising to make different versions of the music is very powerful for us. But we know in the end "Tommy Thumb" and "Heads Shoulders" will become the hits of the day for the children!

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