Refleksi: Tiap tahun kurang lebih seperempat juta orang dari NKRI pergi ke Arab Saudia untuk melakukan ibadah agama. Wanita di NKRI dibolehkan main music, menyetir mobil etc. Tetapi, wanita Arab Saudia sesuai aturan agama tidak dibolehkan. Tafsiran pihak mana yang keliru dan apa alasannya?
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9§ion=0&article=119335&d=18&m=2&y=2009 Wednesday 18 February 2009 (23 Safar 1430) Pianists speak out Najah Alosaimi | Arab News A MUSICAL AFFAIR: A Saudi lady plays the piano at home. (AN photo) Like many Saudi women, Rasha Al-Sadhan has never been to a public music concert as they are forbidden inside the Kingdom. The ones permitted are usually held on the sidelines of some national occasions and feature male artists from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Even then, only men are allowed to attend. Perhaps the atmosphere in the Kingdom does not encourage interest in music. But this has not stopped some Saudi women from exhibiting a particular interest in learning to play music, especially the piano. "I love music," said, Al-Sadhan, 27, who works in an international company in Riyadh. "It delights my soul." In recent years, there has been a marked, but quiet, increase in cultural activities in the Kingdom. With government-approval, more than six music performances were held last year under the framework of culture and folklore. Foreign embassies and consulates regularly bring their national music groups to the Kingdom, but such shows are not open to the public. The government has, however, now allowed a minimum of openness on the issue. The Ministry of Information and Culture recently permitted several musical performances at the King Fahd Cultural Center. Those who performed included a German classical music group and a Japanese drum group, which was held last week and attracted hundreds of families. One of those who attended was Al-Sadhan. She said she used to attend flute and drum lessons at her private elementary school. These were, however, canceled as they were considered an un-Islamic form of education, or "haram." Al-Sadhan continues to take piano lessons with Gulmira Abdukhalikova, an Uzbek pianists, who came with her husband to Riyadh one year ago. Although she knows she cannot perform in public or pursue a music career, she insists on honing her talents to play the piano. "I find it a great emotional outlet as we well as an incredible amount of fun," she said. Abdukhalikova, who has spent the last 20 years teaching piano to top-level professional pianists, said Saudis are eager for music. "It's there in their cars, at work, in weddings," said Al-Sadhan. Abdukhalikova now teaches six Saudi women of different ages. "Most of my female students have good musical ears," she said. The shortage of professionals and a lack of public awareness about music education are problems hindering teaching music in the Kingdom she pointed out. Amal Anwar, a mother of three children who all play the piano well, decided to start taking piano lessons as well. She has a "Chandler" piano of which there are just five others around the world. "I seek the healing power of music over the body and spirit," she said, adding that she is inundated with work and family responsibilities, which often stress her out. She noted that one big problem facing Saudi families when they would like to engage their children in a particular hobby or improve their music skills is the unavailability of music teachers. "In Saudi Arabia, people who advertise toturing private lessons appear to be pianists but are not necessarily teachers," she said. Anwar also pointed out that since pianists who give private lessons in Saudi Arabia mainly come to the Kingdom on job contracts and offer lessons on the side, this makes it hard to continue lessons once their work contracts end. "I have changed my kids piano teacher six times," she said. Halimah Muzaffer, a Saudi woman columnist, said many Saudis love music but most of them are confused as to whether to continue their pursuit of playing musical instruments. Muzaffer wrote an article in a local newspaper stressing the need for music to be taught in schools by citing Islamic texts. She added that music would help develop a well-rounded education. "But before that we should release our social fear of music," she said. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
