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Arabic Melodies in Harmony
“Arabic Melodies in Harmony" is an exciting and culturally enriching project that aims to promote Arabic music and foster cultural exchange among Middle School and High School choirs worldwide. It is a collaborative effort between afikra Academy and Beirut Vocal Point, with the primary goal of creating and distributing 10 choral SATB arrangements of classic Arabic songs for educational purposes.
This project was supported by the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, Violet Jabara Trust, Barjeel Art Foundation, and The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies.
What do these lesson plans include?
Vocal Arrangements Sheet Music
10 choral SATB arrangements of classic Arabic songs
Video Performances by BVP
10 high-quality video performances showcasing the cultural and musical aspects of each song
Research & Instructional Material
Comprehensive educational content for each song, including historical context, cultural significance, translations, and explanations of Arabic lyrics
Zoom Workshops
10 interactive workshops for educators to introduce songs and discuss classroom integration
Get the Lessons
The first lesson will be released in January 2025. Sign up now to receive email notifications when the plans drop!
Project Goals & Outcomes:
Increased Awareness & Appreciation
of Arabic music and culture among students and educators worldwide.
Accessible Music Resources
for teachers to incorporate Arabic music into their curricula.
Enhanced Cross-cultural Understanding
through the beauty of Arabic music.
Accessible educational resources
for teachers to incorporate Arabic music into their curricula.
Supporting Educators
to effectively teach and share Arabic music with their students
afikra Academy is a leading educational platform dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Arabic culture and heritage. Through a range of innovative programs, Afikra Academy has been successful in bridging the gap between Arabic-speaking and non-Arabic-speaking communities.
Our organization is committed to promoting cultural exchange, and the "Arabic Melodies in Harmony" project is an extension of our mission.
Beirut Vocal Point is a renowned vocal ensemble based in Beirut known for its exceptional musical performances and contributions to the preservation of Arabic musical traditions. Their dedication to promoting Arabic music and culture aligns perfectly with our project's goals.
Beirut Vocal Point will play a pivotal role in recording and producing video performances of each arranged song, offering valuable insights into the songs' cultural significance and musical nuances.
Meet the Instructors
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Vartan Agopian
Pianist, Composer, Orchestrator and Arranger
Vartan Agopian is Lebanese pianist of Armenian origin, who has started taking piano lessons at the age of 5. He is an alumnus of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music in Beirut, Haigazian University, and Charles University in Prague, holding a double master’s degree in piano performance and music education, in addition to a doctoral degree in piano pedagogy.
Vartan is also known as a composer and arranger for different singers, ensembles, and orchestras, including the famous close-harmony vocal group, Beirut Vocal Point.
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Janmarie Haggar
Director of @beirutvocalpoint
Janmarie Haggar is the founder of Beirut Vocal Point (BVP), a close harmony a-cappella group established in 2010. With over a decade of harmonizing, BVP is known for its signature sound and catchy arrangements across various musical styles and genres. Janmarie holds a degree in Education from the University of Michigan and has a PhD from the Department of Hard Knocks, Faculty of Fun, University of Life, specializing in making everything look easy by transforming the dull and dowdy into something spectacular.
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Nisrine Shehadeh
Early Childhood Educator
Nisrine is an early childhood educator and educational instructor with over 15 years of experience at both the classroom and leadership levels. Nisrine's areas of expertise include inquiry-based learning, curriculum development, teacher training, and parent engagement. She is a graduate of the Teachers college at Columbia University and Hunter College.
Nisrine was the afikra Learning Lead for the years 2021-2022 and helped develop the afikra Global Connect Program and lead the first Cohort of the program.