The Norwegian Academy of Music and the Lebanon Project: The challenges of establishing a community music project when working with Palestinian refugees in South Lebanon

Abstract

Abstract The Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) has been involved in a community music project for children in the Palestinian refugee camp, Rashedieh, in South Lebanon since 2003. This has grown into a larger music project where local instructors now run music activities and teach music as a permanent weekly activity. Three issues will be discussed in the article, based on perspectives within the field of community music. The first issue concerns how aiming for a culture of equality and cultural democracy can conflict with the ideology of the local culture and social structures. The role of learning and teaching within a community music project is the focus of the second issue. Finally, the role of formalized organizational structures will be evaluated with regard to fostering participation in music activities within the Lebanon project. Hopefully, presenting these perspectives and holding a discussion thereon will contribute to the ability to nuance and challenge underlying ideologies and common practises within the field of community music.