nadir - 1-15-2004 at 01:42 AM
hey people, i just brought my oud to school to show my [limited] skill off to the girls... and I got some numbers! o yeah! 
anyways, i wanted to know what anyone thinks of having the oud become a standard instrument to be played in school (such as trumpets, flutes, and
horrific mettallic instruments similar to them)...
since i am in the middle east i am actually able to promote the oud to schools through newspapers, etc. the only problem is that teenagers and youths
here think that the oud is the most difficult instrument in the world to play! personally, i find it more simple to play than the violin but thats
just me....
Jameel - 1-15-2004 at 04:55 AM
Nadir
Your school doesn't already have a program for oud??
I would have thought that the oud needed little promotion in the middle east. Evidently your school focuses on Western style instruments and music?
Is that correct?
nadir - 1-15-2004 at 08:15 AM
yes, that is correct. i go to an american school though.... but we are also the only ones in dubai that play proper instruments... most people here
think that it is difficult to play as i said before. there isnt enough promotion here, its more self-motivation...
Mike - 1-15-2004 at 08:54 AM
Nadir, that's pretty funny buddy. I'm glad you got some digits. You know what, I am a high school teacher, and I have had Wael and some of
the guys from Kan Zaman come into my classroom and expose the kids to Middle Eastern music. They really enjoyed it, and actually one of the kids loved
the tabla (darbukkah) so much that I bought him one. He's not bad!
nadir - 1-15-2004 at 09:29 AM
actually, now that you have mentioned the tabla, we do have lessons for that in school but that is more of a universal instrument...
but i believe that the oud needs some promotion to the younger generations of the middle east. as more time progresses i believe that they are losing
pride in their heritage as well as instruments.
just the other day i heard some guy from louisiana insult my omani friend when he was holding my oud. my friend became extremely embarrassed an
insisted that it was not his.
i actually think that it is a great idea to have the oud offered in schools; especially in the middle east (mainly egypt and syria in my opinion!).
hopefully i will be able to start a program for all schools around these parts to offer the oud...?
mavrothis - 1-15-2004 at 10:16 AM
that's unfortunate nadir, that people's tastes have changed so much. but the truth is things always swing back and forth. as long as
people like you are working to promote the traditional music, eventually people will come around again. similar things have happened in many
countries already. don't give up!
take care,
mav
TruePharaoh21 - 1-15-2004 at 10:45 AM
How does the schooling process work? I mean, do 30 people sit there and play all at the same time? If so, won't this sacrifice some listening
skills?
I'm interested by how this would work. Keep me posted.
TP21
P.S. I have also brought my oud to school here at UCLA, and it got quite a response from everyone. Just walking down through the buildings, a guy
stopped me and asked me "YOU PLAY OUD?" He was so excited that someone here played a foreign instrument like that. As for the girls... well,
let's try to keep this forum G rated. 
Just as a guitar class...
nadir - 1-16-2004 at 02:03 PM
i've actually come up with a few strategies of bringing the oud to school. there have been many discouraging remarks that people have made
towards my suggestions at learning "oud of all instruments" but im still persistant!
i was observing that the music teacher in my school has a large guitar class (about 15 students) he puts them in a few room judging by how good their
skill is and he tells them to practice certain notes and patterns as he goes between the rooms.
of course you must keep in mind that this is only one guy. anyhow, in the end he gathers his class and each "level of skill" play their
tunes in unison. of course the most important factor is that EVERYONE HAS THE EXACT SAME GUITAR.
class sizes change as the people go from beginner to intermediate levels and then onto advanced. the class gradually become smaller until it's
basically one-on-one.
the whole point of this class would be to LEARN the oud, then is one enjoys it, that person can go out and buy an oud and already know how to play.
what do the rest of you think? any suggestions/comments? 
OUD AT SCHOOL APPROVED
nadir - 1-22-2004 at 12:00 AM
turns out that oud offered at school was given the green light... look in my 'Oud Community' message for more info...