OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES
VOL 10 ISSUE 18 / APRIL 29, 2016
LEARNING THE NOTES, CREATING A SYMPHONY PAGE 22
THIS WEEK IN OMAN
MEET THE ICE KINGS
WEAR A TURBAN
HAVE BREAKFAST AT GRANDMA’S
A group of rugged, dunebashing, off-roading pros headed to Iceland to take on a whole new kind of driving challenge. PAGE 18
A brilliant young Omani designer is transforming men’s fashion from red checkered turbans to one-of-a-kind jackets. PAGE 10
A new shop in Amerat is serving up home-made Omani breakfasts of karak, beans, omelette, and a very special date bread. PAGE 14
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Give us a shout with questions, comments, compliments, complaints, or just to say “Hi” Founder Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com Chief Executive Editor Scott Armstrong
felicia@timesofoman.com
Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta
swati@timesofoman.com
Research/Copy Editor Ashish Dubash
ameerudheen@timesofoman.com
ashishdubash@timesofoman.com
Senior Editors T. A. Ameerudheen Faisal Mohammed Naim Mohammed Shafeeqe
faisal@timesofoman.com
Associate Editors Salim Hamood Al Afifi Shruthi Nair
shafeeq@timesofoman.com
salim@timesofoman.com
Multimedia Editorial Assistant Asmaa Al Balushi asmaa@timesofoman.com
Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado
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Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphic Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Ali Jani Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Geri Batara Sonny Gregory Fernandez Director of Digital Television Joe Morrison Photography MMG Photographers
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Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham Head Of Advertising & Marketing Aziz K. Baker Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Design by Ali Jani For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 18 APRIL 29, 2016
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THE WEEKEND LINEUP Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend
28 29 30 THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
10:00pm 10:0 Hip-Hop Thursday Thur
5:00pm Summer Celebration
10:30am Seamless by Sharifa
Welcome your we weekend Hip-Hop with a Hip courtesy of extravaganza court Hip-Hop India’s favourite Hip Shameless and Trap DJ, Sham Mani. He’ll start p playing beats from his groovy beat Tickets 10pm onwards. T are free for ladi ladies and OMR10 fo for men. On The Rocks Golden Tulip Seeb 9798 3333 +968 979 ontherocks@hfpoman.com ontherocks@hfpoma
Party with local live bands and famed 80s DJ, Pat Sharp from 5pm onward at Shangri-La hotel’s summer bash. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets are OMR10, and OMR5 for kids under 16. +968 2477 6666 aliveentertainment.me/event/ hello-summer-2016
Meet the lady behind the Fused Glass Art exhibition at MuscArt to gain insight into her perspective on the craft. The seminar is being held from the 26th of April to the 1st of May. MuscArt +968 2449 3912 muscart.net
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
7:30pm 7:3 Electro-Party Electro-P Sweat it off to the be beats of at a live electric band b Thursday. Muscat Hills this Thu Food stations and cash cas bars available. will also be ava for men Entry is OMR8 fo and free for ladies. Muscat Hills Musca 2451 4082 +968 245 events@muscatgolf.com events@muscatgo
8:30am British Yard Sale Go shop amazing deals on everything from canned foods and blue jeans to home decor and books at the British School’s annual secondhand shopping bazaar. Entry is 500 baisa for adults and if you want to sell your own things, you can book a table for OMR10. British School Muscat +968 9822 6174 britishschoolmuscat.com
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Have you tried any of these five? What do you think of them? Did we miss any of your favourites? Tag us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 18 APRIL 29, 2016
FIVE T O T RY
TRENDING BEAUTY TREATMENTS EYE BROWS Middle-Eastern women have always loved thick, perfectly shaped eyebrows. In fact, there are particular eyebrow shapes for specific face structures. Go beyond a basic wax and give your eyebrows the right shape, cut, and care at Muscat Beauty Salon in Jawaharat Al Shatti. +968 2456 2541; MUSCATBEAUTYSALON.COM
EYE LASHES One of the first things we notice in a person’s face are their eyes. Apart from protecting them from dust and other particles, long eye lashes are often a key element in enhancing one’s looks. Ditch your mascara and try eye lash extensions from Xtreme Lashes in Bareeq Al Shatti. +968 2494 9444; XTREMELASHES.OM
LIPS Gone are the days when the only option for painting your pucker were lipstick, lip gloss, or lip liner. Check out the new permanent solution of lip-tattoos, which are said to give a naturally luscious look at Boudoir Boutique in Bareeq Al Shatti. +968 2448 8884; BOUDOIROMAN.COM
NAILS Beauty and grooming start at your fingertips and toes. Go to Nail Lounge in Al Huda Street Seeb, to keep your nails healthy and beautiful with a relaxing manicure and pedicure followed by the application of innovative nail art designs. +968 9696 3244; NAIL-LOUNGE.CO/EN
SKIN Toss your razor and opt for uber effective Lycon waxing at Ayana Spa in Al Sarooj Plaza, Shatti Al Qurum. It is said to remove hair as short as 1mm and is virtually painfree. +968 2469 3435; AYANASPA.COM
CRISTIANO RONALDO An international football player, a model, and an entrepreneur with his own clothing line, Cristiano Ronaldo is known as much for his good looks, as for his skills on the field. Follow him to be informed about his events and for the cute photos of he and his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. Instagram: @cristiano
DAVID BECKHAM If you thought that Beckham’s Instagram would be full of soccer photos, then think again. He is a true family man, mostly posting photographs of his flawless clan, their adventures and getaways, as well as numerous spontaneous shots on his home. Instagram: @davidbeckham
NEYMAR Neymar is the most followed football player on Instagram, with more than 30 million fans checking out his posts daily. Thanks to his hairstyle, he has become a symbol of style for men. His posts are organic and natural, and he loves to take a selfie, or better say, selfies. Instagram: @neymarjr
LIONEL MESSI Messi is known as one of the greatest players in the soccer game, he is an inspiration to many youngsters around the globe. Following his account will spark a fire of inspiration for you to hit the field. On top of motivational sporting pics, there are loads of cool photos of him drinking coffees and chilling out. Instagram: @leomessi
RONALDINHO Ronaldinho is a legendary master of football from Brazil, and he’s got some pretty interesting posts. In addition to keeping his fans updated on his latest events and conferences, he posts vintage photos of the old Brazilian team. Instagram: @ ronaldinhooficial
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK, SUPPLIED
HI SOCIAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO FOLLOW
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WEEKEND ESCAPE
A Bedu-Style Desert Crossing STORY OLGA AYMERICH
Camels, camels... everywhere. There is no better way to experience the desert than on a 24-kilometre, 24-hour camel safari through Sharqiyah Sands. Go for the last tours of the season, as the camels are off-duty from June through August. FRIDAY 09.00 Grab a coffee and start your two and a half hour drive. Head towards Nizwa, take a turn south at Bidbid, and continue all the way to Al Wasil. From there follow the signs on your right hand side after the mosque leading you to the Oryx Camp (oryx-camp.com).
20.00 Savour a lamb and chicken BBQ with Arabic bread, salad, hummus, fruit, and kahwa under the stars. 22.00 Call it a night and doze off in your luxury mobile tent.
SATURDAY 13.00 Check-in at the Oryx Camp and enjoy an abundant buffet and a sweet cup of tea in the open-air majlis. 16.00 Your four-legged vehicle is all ready for you, so choose your camel and climb aboard. Take it slow with your new friend, but feel free to indulge in Lawrence-of-Arabia-style fantasies. 18.00 The first stop is at the camel farm where you can help the Bedouin families feed their camels. 19.00 Jump back atop your camel and continue to your base camp in the middle of untouched dunes.
08.30 Say good morning to your camel (Otherwise he might abandon you in the desert). Then start your 12-kilometre ride back towards the main camp. In the morning light, the desert looks completely different. 10.00 Stop at a small goat farm for coffee in a Bedouin house before continuing the ride. 13.00 Pull over for a lunch break. Find some shade and unpack your lunch box for a light bite. 16.00 Back at the Oryx Camp, say goodbye to your camel friend, and then start your drive back home. —hiweekend@timesofoman.com
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK
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PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI
I love one-of-a-kind fashion that fuses different cultures in a creative way, especially if the pieces are inuenced by tradition-loaded artistic elements from the Middle East and Africa. A growing global trend, East-meets-West styles are gracing runways all over the world this season, and here in Muscat, our very own award-winning Omani fashion designer, Ale Al Zadjali, is setting the bar for ready-towear, contemporary-traditional mash-ups exceptionally high with his label, Esque by Ale.
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This is the brand for those who love street fashion and want to incorporate edgy designs that carry an Arab identity into their look. sque by Ale is a trendy, multi-cultural fashion brand launched to a critical acclaim in 2014. The brand offers shirts and jackets made predominantly using Arab-inspired designs and materials. The man behind the label, 22-year-old Ale Al Zadjali, takes pleasure in mixing and matching distinctive and classic Middle Eastern elements in a modern way for casual, sophisticated attire. For his latest collection, Ale drew inspiration from the beautiful turban scarves worn by men in the Gulf region, turning the iconic checkered cloth into light, longsleeved jackets composed of stitched cotton with soft cotton stretch cuffs. “I changed their image and gave them a new purpose,” he explained. His creations stand out for their flawless look and feel — airy and soft with a simple colour palette that uses only black with white or red with white, constructed and stitched to perfection. Men can pair the jacket with slim-fitted jeans, a plain tee, and hightop sneakers, like Converse, for killer street-style elegance. Men can also play with tradition and wear the garment over their Omani dishdasha, ideally in black, with high-ankle boots for a bold fashion statement. Though they were designed for men, women are rocking the turban jacket as well, pairing it with skinny jeans or a maxi skirt, a plain tee or tank-top, and a bold statement necklace for an edgy, super-cool look. Ale recommends throwing on the jacket over a trendy jumpsuit for an effortlessly chic look. I snagged myself a jacket in black, and I’ve found endless ways to wear it and style it up and down; it goes perfectly well with everything. It is already staple piece in my wardrobe that I absolutely treasure. Ale sells his hand-made garments at The Lookout Boutique in Oman Avenues Mall. Go check out the shop and follow Ale on Instagram to stay up to date with his latest creations. — salim@timesofoman.com
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Esque by Ale Instagram: @EsqueByAle The Lookout Boutique Oman Avenues Mall, GF +968 2200 6061 Weekdays: 10am to 10pm Weekends: 10am to 11pm
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BREAKFAST OF KINGS FIRST LOOK
Nawaf Al Wahaibi recently opened a hip little café in Amerat that specialises in his favourite bread, a traditional Omani flatbread called Al Mardhoof made of date syrup and ghee. With his mother at the stove, Habboh Café is an oasis of comfort food, and the best place for breakfast south of Bausher.
STORY ASMAA AL BALUSHI PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI
Al Mardhoof This pan-fried Omani bread is made with date syrup, flour, and ghee (clarified butter), and served with chocolate, jam, honey, or cream cheese.
Siweah Vermicelli pasta cooked with sugar and cardamom.
Habboh Omelette An egg omelette cooked with tomatoes and the restaurant’s signature spices.
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Bean Stew Omani beans stewed with spices and bread.
n ancient tale goes that once upon a time there was a Sultan in Oman who wanted to treat some upcoming guests to a bread they had never tasted before. News of the Sultan’s new recipe wish travelled far and wide and reached a woman by the name of Salama who lived in a small village. She looked around at the ingredients available to her and came up with a bread that required only date syrup, flour, and ghee (clarified butter). She named the bread, Al Mardhoof, and presented it to the Sultan. He loved it. Amazed by the taste and this humble woman’s talent, he appointed her as head cook in his palace. Many people have tried to recreate Salama’s fabled Al Mardhoof, but as the story goes, her secret recipe was only passed on to her daughter on her deathbed. Inscribed on goatskin and kept under lock and key, the recipe has been fiercely guarded through the generations since. That folklore always makes me hungry for the tender, mollass-y bread, but there is one man in Oman whose love for the bread might just rival that of the fairytale Sultan. Nawaf Al Wahaibi loved his grandmother’s Al Mardhoof bread so much that he was inspired to open up a local coffee shop dedicated to the local specialty. Habboh Coffee Shop (which means grandmother in Omani slang) serves bread alongside spreads like cream cheese, nutella, honey, and fruit jam for 500-700 baisa. It also offers other traditional Omani breakfast foods. The “Dala’a Habboh” special breakfast includes two pieces of the Mardhoof bread; siweah, vermicelli noodles cooked in sugar syrup; stewed red beans; and an egg omelette along with karak tea or Omani coffee for OMR2.750. While the food is traditional, the decor is a combination of traditional and modern design, thanks to his sister, who designed the interior. Upon entering the shop, whose floor is covered with cement in the way they were in old local houses, to your right you’ll see dining tables inlaid with colourful tiles and a small
reading corner where guests can page through old books while sipping their karak, nibbling bread, and listening to Omani classic music. But, how did Nawaf learn this coveted recipe? The fact is, he didn’t. His entire family is supporting the charming cafe and it is his mother, an expert in local delicacies, who is at the helm of the kitchen, turning out Omani specialties and keeping her culinary secrets safe. Every detail, right down to the menu design was thoughtfully considered and carried out by Nawaf or a member of his family. In addition to running the business, Nawaf also was responsible for creating the wonderful “Habboh” character who adorns the shop menu and who “chats” with customers online. He designed the menu as a story as told by “Habboh” who talks to her grandsons in Omani slang, asking them what they want to eat. And although Habboh might not be the one serving you in this little shop, the Omani staff have a warmth and hospitality that will make you feel right at home, that is if the smells of fresh griddled bread and rose-water-laced coffee haven’t done so already. —asmaa@timesofoman.com
HABBOH COFFEE SHOP
Al Amerat (Just behind Sultan Centre) +968 9616 9191 habboh2016@gmail.com Instagram: habboh_
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Hasbatal
Hospital
Seikel Dakh-tar
Bicycle Doctor
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OMANI SLANG OMANI WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE ENGLISH WORDS Interspersed with the Arabic conversations overheard throughout the capital city, even native Arabic speakers might be surprised to hear some unfamiliar words. Though Arabic is the official language in the Sultanate, there are all kinds of words and phrases that are purely local. Here’s your monthly primer from Hi’s Omani team members, Salim Al Afifi and Asmaa Al Balushi.
Mootar
STORY SALIM AL AFIFI & ASMAA AL BALUSHI ILLUSTRATION ISIDORE VIC CARLOMAN
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Car
Driver
Leesen
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al uch with our tutori Get in to e’ll post y w . d s” n y a a ly ani Tuesd HiWeek ocal Om L ll“A r on ou
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A snowstorm engulfed 17 adrenaline junkies who had travelled from Arabia to test their mettle against the elements in modiďŹ ed 4X4 vehicles. It turns out that falling ice and snowed-over rivers were nothing these dune-bashing veterans couldn’t solve with shovels, patience, and Omani biryani.
STORY DEEBA HASAN
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raped in warm clothes, almost resembling Eskimos, and equipped with specially designed 4X4 vehicles, a group of 17 adventure enthusiasts from the elites of Arabia were watching the snow swirl around them. Familiar with the challenges and triumphs of desert crossings and dune bashing, they had travelled half-way around the world for a chance at a new kind of off-road experience in the snow-covered mountains of Iceland. “We were 13 Omanis, and four others joined us from the Emirates. When we got to Iceland and were preparing for the exciting journey ahead, they gave us a presentation on the rules of driving in the snow and other related details,” said Faisal Al Raisi, a member of the expedition. But, the day they were supposed to head into the wilds, a severe snowstorm warning was issued, and most skiing and sightseeing groups cancelled their excursions for the day. “In that situation, it was recommended by the guide that we too pause our ambitious journey until the storm subsided, but we had flown over 10,000 kilometres and wanted to make sure that we experi-
enced the off road snow adventure, and so we made a risky decision and said that we would go,” Faisal explained. “An interesting thing I noticed was that in Iceland you are not allowed to even take your cars off road unless the tyres are modified and elevated to suit the requirement, otherwise you put your car in the risk of getting stuck in the snow,” he added. The group had hired ‘Arctic Trucks,’ a vehicle modification company that specialises in carrying out expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic regions to outfit them and guide them. Between their upgraded vehicles and the more than 18 years of experience dune bashing in the deserts of the Arabian Gulf, there was no way a little snowstorm was going to hinder their journey or put a damper on their enthusiasm. They set off into the white swirl, which quickly turned into a white wall. As they drove through the off road snow track, they noticed that everything around them was white, and there weren’t any landmarks in sight. It gave the eerie feeling that no matter how much they drove, everything around them remained at a standstill. But the worst was yet to come. “Suddenly, after driving for 20 kilome-
tres, we were in the middle of a storm and couldn’t see a thing beyond a metre ahead of us, it was all white, the broken snow from the ground was flying all around us accompanied by strong winds. That’s when we decided to drive almost bumper to bumper to keep track of where we were going and to be together. The visibility was terrible,” said Hani Zubair, another adventurer who was with the group. The storm cleared, and the group found themselves infront of a raging river. There was no way around it. They were going to have to cross it. “We were really excited to cross that river because it was the only river in the area, but with the high elevation as a result of snow piling up on both sides, our cars sort of fell into the river; that was a lot of fun,” Hani added. Through rivers, hills, and mountains of snow, the group reached their destination: a little cottage surrounded by natural hot springs. Many of the group members plunged into the hot springs, but some stayed back in the cottage for fear that once they got out of the relaxing hot waters into the negative-three-degree temperature, they would freeze. “We stayed in the warmth of the cottage all night with the blizzard roaring
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SNOWSTORM BIRYANI Next time you go on an outdoor adventure, bring along a pot and these pantry staples for a rustic biryani on-the-go.
Ingredients to Pack: • 2.5 cups rice (in a plastic bag) • 1/4 cup vegetable oil (in a small travel-size bottle) • 1.5 large red onions • 7 cloves garlic • Hot chilli pepper • 2 tomatoes (or can of chopped tomatoes) • Spice blend (pre-mixed in a plastic bag): 1tbsp salt, 1tsp coriander, 1/2 tsp cumin, red pepper flakes, 1/8 black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, and flesh of 2 black limes • 2 cans tuna • 1 Maggie cube • Lime, for serving
Kitchen tools: Pot with lid, large spoon, knife, fork
Instructions: Rinse rice and soak 30 minutes. Chop onions, garlic, pepper, and tomatoes (keep separate). Saute onions in oil for 10 minutes; add garlic (peppers if you have them) and cook 5 minutes more. Add tomatoes and cook a few minutes, then add spice blend. Cook for a few minutes, stirring, then add tuna (drained of liquid). Top with 3.5 cups of water and toss in the Maggie cube. Cover, turn down heat, and cook until rice is tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for another 10 minutes. Fluff with fork and serve with lime, if you have it. Recipe adapted from “The Food of Oman: Stories and Recipes from the Gateway of Arabia” (Andrews McMeel, 2015)
outside, and in the morning we had to dig through the snow to open the door, because the height of the house was seven metres and the accumulated snow was up to four metres high. Soon after, we were asked to leave the area as another storm was predicted,” he further added. The group started driving back towards their base at nine in the morning, but after an hour, they turned back. The route had become too risky and the leader could not find a safe passage. They agreed to try again after five o’clock that evening. A desert crossing isn’t complete without Arabian biryani, and with time to kill and a suitcase full of spices he’d brought from Oman, the cook of the group headed into the kitchen, emerging with a platter of steaming biryani large enough to feed everyone in the cottage. The concernedlooking guide learned that another storm was on its way; the route was only going to become more treacherous. So at four in the afternoon, they moved out again, heading back towards the raging river. But by the time they arrived, the river had disappeared under a thick blanket of snow. “We have faced similar situations in the desert a few times and so it wasn’t a great deal for us — we pulled out our shovels and started digging. We
used our cars to create a path through the snow. That took us three hours, but it was a massive experience,” said Khalid Al Wahaibi, another member. These Arabian adventurers made it back before the second storm hit, and over the days that followed, they spent their time exploring other natural wonders, from the volcanic geysers of the Blue Lagoon to the Northern Lights. But the main purpose of their trip, testing themselves as drivers in this wintery environ, was never far from their minds. There had been challenges when it came to driving through the dunes of ice, but at the end of their journey, they all agreed that the desert had prepared them well, and was a bit more enjoyable than the slippery, wet snow routes. “Driving in the snow is difficult because of the cold, but it’s also boring because the surface is flat unlike the desert, and slippery too. Dune bashing is more fun, you can really test your skills in the sand dunes,” Al Wahaibi added. They had pitted the skills they learned in their untamed, hometown deserts against the harsh walls of bitingly cold snow in this remote land. And when it was all said and done: They came, they saw, they conquered. —deeba@timesofoman.com
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H I TTI N G TH E RI G HT NOTE S STORY SWATI DASGUPTA
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n a far-flung little town in India, a young girl, around eight years old, took the social media by storm with her mellifluous voice. Her five minutes You Tube performance went viral, putting the social media world into a frenzy over the child’s voice as well as her difficult circumstances: She was visually impaired, came from a very low income family, and had never received formal training in music. Veteran singers and musicians in India tweeted about her, posted on their Facebook pages, and began coming forward to facilitate formal training in music for her. While this small town girl’s story sounds like something straight from the pages of a modernday fairy-tale about happy endings, it also demonstrates the fact that music is one language that binds us all, touching our hearts, regardless of where we are from. It is also proven to be a hugely beneficial element of mental development, for both children and adults. As proven by several studies and researches, learning the Do-Re-Me’s or Sa Re Ga Ma’s can help a child excel not just in music but in several other aspects of life as music is a great exercise for the brain. Music instructors say that students who get early training show a mark
improvement in their language and other development areas. It enhances their creativity and also develops spatial intelligence. Learning music is said to boost our memory, enhance our creativity, and self esteem too. And it is even a great way for ageing adults to ward-off Alzheimer’s. Neuroscience research indicates that those who learn music, in any form, have larger growth of neural activity than people who do not go for any music training. In Muscat most schools, both local and international, have music classes incorporated into the curriculum, but to cultivate a child’s skills to a professional level, or to give older children and adults the opportunity to take-up music later in life, there are several training centres here in Muscat offering proper, formal training in music. Most of these centres aim to prepare students to appear for world class exams, offering comprehensive, systematic curricula. Many also offer continuing development classes for adults and introductory classes for those who want to take up an instrument or train their voices for the first time, regardless of age or background. So check out our list of places where you can learn to strike the right chord here in Muscat. —swati@timesofoman.com
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MUSIC SCHOOLS IN MUSCAT HARMONY
M U SIC IN STITUTE
MUS I C & A RT T R A I N I N G
Talentz Music Institute was started in 2002 with the sole objective of offering world-class musical education in Muscat. Here students are prepared for internationally recognised exams offered by ABRSM & Trinity College of London. Classes are an hour and a half long, with a maximum of four students per class. Saturday – Thursday 9am-12pm and 3:30pm-8:30pm. CLASSES: Guitar (classical and pop), piano, keyboard, and violin. LEVELS: Classes are for beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels for children and adults. FEES: OMR20-OMR38 monthly, depending upon course and grade. LOCATION: Al Noor Street, Ruwi. CONTACT: +968 2478 3443, +968 2479 1948, talentz.net, info@talentz.net
JI T T ERBUGS Jitterbugs is a unique concept created to introduce newborns and babies up to twoyears-old to music. The centre teaches nursery rhymes and action songs in a fun, interactive way for both children and their parents. Classes are held once per week and are booked in ďŹ ve-week sessions. CLASSES: Introduction to music. LEVELS: For infant to 2-years-old, with parents. FEES: OMR20 for 5-week session. LOCATION: Al Hail and MQ. CONTACT: + 968 9967 8017 facebook.com/Jitterbugsmuscatoman
CENTRE One of the leading music centres in Oman, Harmony Music & Art Training Centre offers professional music training and is an authorised centre for The Associated Board of The Royal School of Music & Trinity College of Music, London music exams. CLASSES: Guitar, violin, piano, keyboard, harmonium, drums, tabla, Carnatic vocal, Hindustani vocal, Western vocal, piano, and drums. LEVELS: For beginners and adults, depending on the course. FEES: Starting from OMR20-36, depending on the course and the grade. LOCATION: Al Ghubra, Ruwi, and Wadi Kabir. CONTACT: Al Ghubra:+968 2449 9930, Ruwi: +968 2470 4303, Wadi Kabir: +968 2481 0833 harmonyruwi@gmail.com
M E LODY M US I C I NS TI TUTE Started in the year 1993 as an offshoot of the prestigious Ragamalika School in Kerala, the Melody Music Institute offers courses for both those who wish to pursue music as a hobby and those interested in it as a potential career. The centre follows two syllabuses, Trinity and ABRSM (Associated Board Of The Royal Schools Of Music) and instructors train students to appear for these world class exams. 90-minute classes are held on Saturdays, 9am-12pm and 3pm9pm, and Sunday to Thursday, 3pm-9pm. CLASSES: Western-style piano, keyboard, violin, guitar, drum, flute, and vocals, as well as Carnatic vocals, and Oudh.
LEVELS: Courses are for all age groups. Examinations, Trinity and ABRSM, are held for students till 8th grade. After the 8th grade some diploma programmes are also available. It is an authorised examination centre for both Trinity and ABRSM. FEES: Starting from OMR25-OMR35, depending on the course and the grade. LOCATION: Darsait, Wadi Kabir, and Al Khuwair. CONTACT: Darsait: +968 2470 3130, Wadi Kabir: +968 2481 1482, Al Khuwair: +968 2448 6647, melodymuscat.com, melodyalkr.mct@gmail. com, melody.mct@gmail.com
THE MUSIC C L A S SI C M U SI C
PA LACE The Music Palace aims at giving a comprehensive training in different musical instruments. CLASSES: Piano, violin, and guitar. LEVELS: Offers comprehensive music education for all ages from introductory to professional level and follows Trinity syllabus. FEES: For guitar and piano it is OMR15 (for 45 minutes); for violin it is OMR20 (for 45 minutes). LOCATION: Way No. 1947, House No. 2557 Madinat Qaboos, Near British School. CONTACT: +968 2460 2445, +968 2460 2651 facebook.com/Music Palace in Oman -Muscat
& A RTS I N S T I T U T E Classic Music & Art Institute, located in the heart of Qurum, gives formal training in learning instruments. CLASSES: Piano, vocals (both rock and pop and Western classical), classical electric and bass guitar, ukelele, saxophone, clarinet, and drums. They also have a creative music educational programme for early years, starting from 1-6 years. LEVELS: Courses are for all grades and one can
choose between tailored lessons, formal assessment courses, and specialised courses. FEES: OMR9 per class for 30 minutes. The course fees might vary according to duration or grade. LOCATION: Fahud Street No. 53, Qurum, Near Rose Garden. CONTACT: + 968 9749 7777, + 968 2456 0025, lessons@tunesoman.com
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 18 APRIL 29, 2016
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 18 APRIL 29, 2016
TAISM FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS The 13th annual TAISM Festival of Choirs was hosted by The American International School of Muscat at the school’s Donald and Eloise Bosch Centre for the Performing Arts in Muscat.
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 18 APRIL 29, 2016
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PDO’S TAMIL NEW YEAR Tamil families of PDO employees celebrated the New Year at Spicy Village Restaurant in Russayl.
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 18 APRIL 29, 2016
BRITISH FOOD FESTIVAL The British Ambassador, Jon Wilks, visited LuLu Hypermarket in Salalah as part of the British Food Festival, which concluded this weekend.
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SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.
Level | Very Easy
Level | Easy
9 8
9
1
2
1
3
2
7
6 2 5
3
5
2
2 8
6
9
8
9 5
7
6
6
4 4
3
8
7
9
2 1
5
9
8
4
3
9
4 6
1
9
4
1
2
5
6 4
8
9
5 5
2
2
5
8
8
7
3
1
5
9
6
4
7
1 2
4 1
6
2
4
3
Level | Difficult
2
2
2
8
5
Level | Moderate
7
8
3
3 4
7
6
2
7
5
1
1
6
5
8 6
3 1
4
2
4 7
5
8
8
8
1
9
9 5
1
5
1
2
9
4
2
7
8
1 5
3
4
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