Art + Music + Kids = FUN!!!

Last Friday I had the privilege of helping to organize and participating in the first ever Children's Art and Music Day, week one of many to come. While not quite as organized as we may have planned, lack of organization is in no way connected to lack of fun.

The day went as follows. In the morning around 9am, Sasha and I began putting together art bags and boxes for the two different age groups that would be participating in the event, the first group four to seven and afterwards ages eight to twelve. These bags for the younger children and boxes for the older consisted of glue, scissors, crayons, and a small packet of watercolor paint. Each participant would write his or her name on the bag or box, in English or Arabic, that it would be easily identifiable at next week's session. To continue with the story, after putting together the art supplies for each child, organizing the musical instruments (recorders, drums harmonicas, etc.) so that each child could easily pick out one, and setting aside juice boxes and chips all 20 children attending, all our organization would be for nothing. What were we thinking? As soon as the children began arriving with their parents, they could barely sit still for more than 30 seconds let alone stay away from art and musical instruments.

The younger group of children went first. Sash, four other volunteers, Ghazwan, and I myself managed to keep an eye on kids, enough so that no one was stabbing someone else with a paintbrush or throwing crayons at each other. Although the children's hour was supposed to be split evenly into a half hour of art and the other half music, they seemed as if they could draw and paint and color forever. After we finally persuaded them with orange juice and chips, it was a bit to late to play any music because the older group had been waiting an entire our outside (playing with toys and reading books of course) just so they could have their turn. We decided about half way through the second group, that we would make the music time all inclusive, at least for this week. Who knows what will happen next week! While the older group decorated their boxes and draw some absolutely stunning pictures of people, places, etc., they also spent the last half of their art time painting small wooden fans. It was a nice opportunity for them to talk about some of their favorite colors, why they painted the drew with such colors, and just in general a chance to learn more about their lives. Although it was intended that the older group would have around 8 children, there ended up being only three, as some were not able to attend, and others accidentally made their way into the first group. Someone just couldn't wait to paint!

After the older group put their fans out to dry, there was about 15 minutes in the schedule left for music, and music it was. Approximately 15 minutes of children ages 4-12 playing every instrument available to them, at every pitch possible, and at every volume imaginable. Music at it's best. Maybe next week we'll be a bit more organized...maybe not!

It was quite interesting to see, although there was plenty of bickering over who got which instruments and who could hit the drum harder, an environment with no hesitation. With all the trauma that so many of these children and families have been through, it is truly inspiring to see them take on new activities. Playing an instrument, drawing a picture, or painting a fan without fear of judgement, that is something that I know myself and many others wouldn't dare to pick up and try.

Children put a non erasable smile on your face. The combination of art, and music, and little crazy 5-year-old creatures running and playing like there's no walls or doors to run into is just plain FUN. And maybe it's just cause they're funny silly little happy children, but it's those few funny silly little happy moments that help to transform the world's suffering. To make darkness into a bright sparkling room filled with balloons, and pictures of spider man, and hand-painted fans that guide the world towards peace.