Mike's Oud Forums

Oud School in Cairo

Glissentarist - 1-9-2004 at 02:20 AM

Hi,
my first post on this board - I want to study fretless techniques, I play fretless guitar, and would want to travel to Cairo to take lessons.
Could anyone here recommend a player/school? I've heard about Naseer Shamma's school, have any of you been there and what are your thoughts?

Thanks very very much in advance

Mike - 1-9-2004 at 07:34 AM

Welcome Glissentarist, :D

I've visited the Oud House in Cairo. (not as a student...just an admiring on-looker) I am not sure how it actually works as far as enrolling for classes. Try visiting Naseer's website and contacting him through there. Another alternative might be to try getting in touch with Houssein Saber. I believe he is available for lessons, and he is fantastic. I can help you with his contact information.

Best of luck,
Mike

Glissentarist - 1-9-2004 at 08:49 AM

Thanks Mike, yes the contact for the other oud teacher would be marvellous.

I tried to contact Naseer but he never cared to reply. :(

Thanks

Glissentarist - 1-9-2004 at 09:04 AM

BTW, do you think Syria or Lebanon would be better for oud lessons?

Rabih Abou Khalil once wrote that Cairo is the mecca for Arabic music, this is why I decided to go there.

TruePharaoh21 - 1-10-2004 at 01:10 AM

I'm curious as to what style of Arabic music you mean... contemporary or more classical? Go where you feel comfortable learning. No reason to put yourself through a bad experience in hopes of receiving good results.

Keep us posted.

TP21

Adel - 1-10-2004 at 04:47 AM

Your best chance is to go to Abdo Dagher if you want to learn authentic Arabic music.
I am not sure if Dr Housine will have the time to give private oud lesson as he a full prof. at Hilwan university and the artistic director of the university ensemble. best of luck,
Adel

Glissentarist - 1-12-2004 at 06:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TruePharaoh21
I'm curious as to what style of Arabic music you mean... contemporary or more classical? Go where you feel comfortable learning.

TP21


TruePharaoh,

I would like to look into classical, meaning that I want to learn about intonation and ornamentation/embellishments. But I guess I will use it in a more modern context as I also program beats.
Regarding going where I feel comfortable learning: This is why I'm asking the question as I don't know what's the best place to learn. Never been to any of those countries, so I figured Egypt is the one where the weather is nicest in February ;) .....

Cheers and thanks for the input, I will definitely contact Houssein
Roland

Glissentarist - 5-15-2005 at 02:09 AM

I now went to Turkey instead. Had lessons with a fretless guitar player there, which benefited me greatly. Turkish and Arabic music are not the same but close. Some of the makkams have different microtones (comas in Turkish) than in Arabic music, but the scale system is related.

Loved Turkey. But still, I want to go to Syria or Cairo with my Glissentar to learn more.........

Glissentarist - 10-1-2008 at 05:15 PM

I'll be going to Cairo this year, many years after the original post. Will inquire about learning in a separate thread.