Description

This interactive 45-minute assembly introduces students to the music, traditional instruments and cultural traditions of the Silk Road and Anatolia through live performance and storytelling.

Using instruments such as oud, qanun, tambour, guitar, and percussion, students experience how music connects different cultures, languages, and histories across Turkey, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. The program features live musical selections, short stories about composers and poets such as Rumi, and guided listening activities that help students understand rhythm, melody, and cultural meaning.

Students actively participate by clapping rhythms, singing short refrains, asking questions, and reflecting on how music expresses emotion, identity, and community. The program is designed to be engaging, inclusive, and age-appropriate, encouraging curiosity and respect for diverse cultures.

By the end of the program, students will understand how music travels across cultures, how instruments create different sounds, and how art can connect people across time and geography.