Mike's Oud Forums

oud teacher in istanbul

Amos - 6-10-2006 at 01:29 PM

hi everyone,
finally i will be traveling to turkey to put my feet on the soil of the land that gave birth to the songs that i love to play so much...i will only be there for about three weeks but i would like to connect with an oud teacher for a few lessons and future studies...anyone know a good teacher in istanbul with reasonable rates? also, where can i go in the city to see live music? any information would be very much appreciated. i am so excited to go...not until this coming november, but i can't wait! thanks,
amos

John Erlich - 6-14-2006 at 09:37 AM

Hi Amos,

Try contacting Sinan Erdemsel: info@orientalcamp.com. He is a student of Yurdal Tokcan and he also is starting a music camp in Turkey. He has gotten good reports from my musician friends as a musical guide in Istanbul.

Good luck,
Udi John

paulO - 6-14-2006 at 01:26 PM

Hi Amos,

I met Sinan at the Kosmos Music Camp in northern California a couple of years ago -- he's a very fine player, really an upbeat and positive guy, explains stuff very well, and as a bonus his english great. You can't go wrong with this guy.

If you have time, Necati Celik is great -- he used to take all the beginners at the Mid East camp in Mendocino. He's a giant in the oud world, but is a really cool guy too -- I got a rudimentary Makam lesson from him once -- excellent !!

Have a great trip, and enjoy yourself.

Regards...PaulO

eliot - 6-16-2006 at 02:39 AM

Necati Çelik has been teaching group classes on the weekends in the neighborhood of Kadikoy. I don't know if this schedule will continue in the fall, but imagine that it would. He continues to be enthusiastic about teaching, which is something I wouldn't say about many other oud players in Istanbul!

Sinan is also very enthusiastic about teaching and does private lessons.

He is taking his experience teaching at Lark in the Morning, Kosmos, and the Middle Eastern music camps to Istanbul with the first annual Oriental Camp, held in Istanbul in late September. Check out- http://www.orientalcamp.com

You should meet and study with both!