Paul Calvert spoke with Ahmad Al Azza from Sounds of Palestine.

Ahmad: So far not and so far it is very hard to travel. I don't recommend myself to take nine year olds to travel, because the oldest kids we have are 10 years old. It's a big responsibility to let them go on the aeroplane. What if someone gets sick? It is not an easy thing. Also, we never received an invitation to take them abroad, but I guess even if we received an invitation we cannot do it.

Paul: Do they get the chance to travel around Palestine?

Ahmad: Yes we did travel to different cities in Palestine. We went to Ramallah, we went to the north where we had a performance, and we went to different cities like Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.

Paul: And you are providing food for some of the kids as well, with nutrition, aren't you?

Ahmad: We provide food for everyone, because we bring them from schools, so we start with food. We give them a very good homemade food, healthy and warm. We also offer them fruit, like bananas. We don't offer them any artificial things with sugar, because this will affect their behaviour and will make them hyperactive, so we only use nutritious and natural food.

Paul: How do the kids feel about coming to Sounds of Palestine?

Ahmad: To tell you the truth, the commitment of children is amazing. They are committed to the time, because it is something they choose. It is not like the school where the parents send them, or force them to go, but the music lesson is something the child chooses himself.

Paul: What is the most favourite instrument that the kids like to play?

Ahmad: To tell you the truth we give the kids the chance to choose amongst all the instruments, by bringing our musicians and playing the same piece in front of them with cello, double bass, percussion, violin and clarinet. Then we distribute coloured papers with the shape of the instrument and each child will colour the instrument that he likes after he watches all the instruments. Mainly there is no favourite, they just evenly distribute themselves.

Paul: What is it like for you to sit and listen to them playing?

Ahmad: It is really beautiful and it gives you a motive in life. It is a positive approach, especially if you live in Palestine where the situation is not easy for anyone. So to see children playing music it is something you really enjoy.

Paul: What do you want to see for some of these kids in the future from Sounds of Palestine?

Ahmad: I would like to see successful kids in different aspects; those who will continue to choose music as a career, I believe they will be successful, but those who use it as a strong hobby, they will be doing something else. I am very much optimistic to see successful kids in their life with their music skills in their pocket as well.

Paul: Are you making a difference in the community?