Western music is very connected to the rich history of Arabic music. Many of our Western musical instruments are direct descendants of Arabic stringed and reed instruments as well as the use of complex melodies and improvisation in performance. Master musician and composer Simon Shaheen, along with his ensemble Qantara, demonstrates the unique sound and range of several Arabic instruments, performs traditional Arabic music with jazz and classical influences, and involves students in learning rhythms and patterns used most frequently in traditional/classical Arab music (recorded in 2009 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC).