Our Courses
Oud Courses
From your very first note to advanced ensemble performance — structured courses taught by Assoc. Prof. Tolga Oter
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Theory II works best alongside an instrument course. We strongly recommend pairing it with:
Oud Course
The oud is one of the oldest and most expressive instruments in Turkish Makam Music. Our structured course programme takes you step by step from complete beginner through to advanced performance level, using the traditional meşk method of master-to-student transmission. All courses are available online or in-person, individually or in small groups.
OUD
Level 1
Oud Beginners
No experience needed — build your foundation from scratch
This course is designed for students with no previous oud experience, or those who have only just started playing. The goal is to develop basic oud performing abilities through systematic and regular practice of beginner-level right and left hand exercises.
These special performance practice techniques — which have survived to the present day through the meşk tradition — will be taught by Dr. Tolga Oter using his own specially developed materials.
Alongside technical development, students will be introduced to the fundamental elements of Turkish Makam Music — maqam and usul — enabling them to perform their first simple pieces.
Music Literacy from the Ground Up
Theory I guides you through the basics of music literacy. By the end you will be able to read musical scores and use solfege with confidence.
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"Students must attend with their own oud. If you do not yet own one, your instructor will carefully guide you to find a suitable instrument."
OUD
Level 2
Oud Upper Beginners
Deepen your technique and explore the maqam system
Building on the foundations of the Beginners course, Upper Beginners introduces a higher level of risha (plectrum) and finger technique, including playing in the second octave and the second position. New traditional oud pieces and songs are added to the repertoire.
The course begins with Maqam Rast, Bayat, Saba and Huzam, with a special emphasis on the importance of quarter-tones — one of the defining characteristics of Turkish Makam Music.
Music Literacy from the Ground Up
Theory I guides you through the basics of music literacy. By the end you will be able to read musical scores and use solfege with confidence.
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"Students must attend with their own oud. If you do not yet own one, your instructor will carefully guide you to find a suitable instrument."
OUD
Level 3
Oud Intermediate
Master transposition and explore a wider range of maqams
The Intermediate course introduces students to the practical concepts of transposition — playing musical pieces and maqamaat from different keys and in the second position. Some secondary maqamaat will be introduced alongside longer, more complex pieces, many of which contain maqam modulations.
Students at this level need to commit to daily practice in order to see real improvement in their playing technique.
OUD
Level 4
Oud Upper Intermediate
Refine your style, precision and musical independence
Designed for confident players who have completed the Intermediate course, Upper Intermediate further develops both playing technique and understanding of the maqam system. Transpositions of Maqam Nahawand, Kurd and Bayat are explored at a higher level, alongside new secondary maqamaat including Maqam Lami and Bayat Shur.
Longer pieces with maqam modulations are studied, some in transposed keys. A higher level of technique is applied throughout and pitch precision is strongly emphasised.
OUD
Level 5
Oud Ensemble I & II
Perform together and develop your artistry as a group musician
The Oud Ensemble course gives students the opportunity to further develop their performance skills in a group setting. Students perform both as a collective ensemble and as soloists, adding ornamentation and dynamics to a rich selection of traditional songs and pieces.
Each class focuses on a single maqam and its corresponding repertoire, with the goal of developing ornamentation skills — including tremolos, trills and the use of qarar and jawab.
Ensemble I — Maqams: Ajam · Nahawand · Rast · Bayat
Ensemble II — Maqams: Hijaz · Kurd · Saba · Segah
OUD
Level 6
Oud Advanced
The highest level — for accomplished players ready to master their craft
The Advanced course is designed for students who are comfortable playing at a high technical level and wish to push their skills further. Students must have completed the Upper Intermediate course with a high level of achievement and be able to read music notation fluently, without the use of tablature.
This course covers the full breadth of advanced oud technique applied to a demanding and varied repertoire.