Pursuit of a Musical Dream
How the Arabic Music Program
convinced two graduates to
become students once again
There’s a moment that happens sometimes, a moment
when you look at yourself in the mirror knowing deep
down that this is not what you wanted to do with your
life. That moment divides us: between those who shrug
it off and carry on, and those who return to the drawing
board and commit themselves to making their dreams a
reality.
Change can be hard, and admitting that we’re not happy
with the results of our decisions is a difficult step for
anyone. Some would argue that some decisions are set in
stone. Things that you’ve spent years pursuing, like a four-
year degree, are not easily replaceable or undone.
Imagine, after graduating and working for a year, standing
in front of your parents, friends, and family and telling
them that you want to go to college a second time to study
something entierly different- the subject that you’ve always
wanted to study. If you were Henna Al Haj, and if you had
parents as supportive as she did, then this decision would not
be as difficult as you might imagine.
Henna graduated from Birzeit University in 2015 with a
bachelor’s degree in Media, focusing on Radio and TV
Broadcasting. But Henna was not content. After working for
more than a year in various positions, she realized that music
was what she really wanted to do with her life; she wanted to
perform and sing. Enrolling in the Arabic Music Program, she
began her second journey at Birzeit on her own terms.
The following is an interview with Henna, in which she discusses
her journey from graduation to a second try at college.
Q
So, most people fall into a regular cadence after
graduation. First comes work – even if it’s different
from the chosen field of study – then some more work,
then starting a family. What made you challenge the
status quo?
I’ve always wanted to study and work in music. I did try to
enroll in music programs abroad, but I didn’t find any programs
that focus on Arabic music, and there were no scholarships to
speak of. As happens to a lot of college students, I ended up
enrolling in a program I knew nothing about. The moment
when I realized that I really wanted to sign up for the music
program came after graduation [when Birzeit University added
the program to its offerings].
I worked for a year in a couple of jobs, such as project
coordinator. This job was not related to my field of study, but
I knew that my heart was not in media or journalism either. I
decided that if I wanted to work in music, I should attain the
proper education, and I enrolled in the Arabic Music Program
at Birzeit University, my alma mater.
Q
Now that you’re enrolled in the program, what do
you think of it?
This is still my first year in the program, but I believe I have
made the right choice. It’s a hybrid approach to teaching music,
really. In traditional music conservatories, you go through eight
stages, or phases, and each one takes a year. So, all in all, it’s
an eight-year training period, with a focus on the performative
aspects of music. The Arabic Music Program takes that
approach, cuts it down to four years, and amalgamates it with
the theoretical aspects of music, a process which culminates in
a unique, creative approach to music education.
Classes, for instance, are taught differently. Some courses are
taught in the form of a discussion, others are attended by only
a section of the program’s majors, and still others are given in
one-on-one sessions, such as the Instrumental Skills course.
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Al Ghadeer - Fall 2018
Birzeit University
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