Today, we had a new challenge to tackle during filming. We met with a group of Syrian musicians who did not speak English. Luckily, we had our Arabic lesson a few days ago, so we were able to greet them in their own language!

The group played 4 instruments that are often used in Middle Eastern music: the oud, the qanun, the violin, and a drum called the tabla. The tabla was a lot like the djembe drum I played when I visited South Africa.

Each instrument was played alone. This way, we were able to hear the unique sound of each. My favorite was the oud, which produces a beautiful sound.

What makes Jordanian folk music different than other Middle Eastern music is the use of a traditional Bedouin instrument called the rababa. I bought a rababa, but it’s a tricky instrument to play.

What’s Next: Visit a Refugee Camp.

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