Taqasim Music School, founded by Iraqi Oud Master Ahmed Mukhtar, was established in 2011 to teach one of the most significant Oriental instruments called Oud, among other instruments and disciplines that represent Middle Eastern Music.
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New students interested in registering for oud and darbuka Intermediate level or higher need to be assessed by a teacher from our school. To book an assessment appointment please email: school@taqasim.net
All courses are held in person at the Arab British Centre.
Taqasim Open Day: Saturday 14 September 2024, 12-4pm. A chance to meet the tutors and discuss the courses ahead of the new term starting. Book your appointment here.
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You can now also purchase Taqasim’s curriculum in printed form online via Lulu or Amazon. The Mukhtar Method is an eight book series:
Oud Ensemble I & II – 3rd edition
Darbuka Beginner, Intermediate & Upper Intermediate
25 September - 4 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £250
For additional details please click here.
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dates: 25 September '24 | 2 October '24 | 9 October '24 | 16 October '24 | 23 October '24 | 6 November '24 | 13 November '24 | 20 November '24 | 27 November '24 | 4 December '24
The objective of the beginner course is to acquire the fundamental techniques needed to play the oud and understand the characteristics of the Maqam Music System while studying the eight fundamental maqamaat together with traditional and popular repertoire.
No previous music knowledge is required to attend this course, as most music is notated as tablature – a visual representation which does not require an understanding of music notation. However, we highly encourage beginners to sign up for our Arabic Music Theory I.
This course is 10 lessons long. Each lesson runs for 2 hours. The for a maximum capacity is 7 students. Lessons are taught on a weekly basis.
It is recommended that students spend time practicing material learned in between lessons.
Students must have their own instrument.
Teachers are available to assist in finding an Oud and to assess instruments.
Registration: £250 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
25 September - 4 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £300
For additional details please click here.
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dates: 25 September '24 | 2 October '24 | 9 October '24 | 16 October '24 | 23 October '24 | 6 November '24 | 13 November '24 | 20 November '24 | 27 November '24 | 4 December '24
This course is open to returning students who have successfully completed the Darbuka Beginner & Intermediate courses. The course will focus on new complex rhythms and polyrhythms. Students will have the opportunity to play alongside recorded and live music, keeping the beat with songs. They will also learn how to hum or sing along tunes while playing the darbuka and keeping time with the music.
Students will also begin to explore the complexities of rhythmic improvisation creating their own combinations of ornamentation of taqasim.
Note: Students must have their own darbuka to practice between lessons.
Registration: £300 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
27 September - 6 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £300
For additional details please click here.
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dates: 27 September '24 | 4 October '24 | 11 October '24 | 18 October '24 | 25 October '24 | 8 November '24 | 15 November '24 | 22 November '24 | 29 November '24 | 6 December '24
This course is open to returning students who have successfully completed the Darbuka Beginner & Intermediate courses. The course will focus on new complex rhythms and polyrhythms. Students will have the opportunity to play alongside recorded and live music, keeping the beat with songs. They will also learn how to hum or sing along tunes while playing the darbuka and keeping time with the music.
Students will also begin to explore the complexities of rhythmic improvisation creating their own combinations of ornamentation of taqasim.
Note: Students must have their own darbuka to practice between lessons.
Registration: £300 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
27 September - 6 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £250
For additional details please click here.
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dates: 27 September '24 | 4 October '24 | 11 October '24 | 18 October '24 | 25 October '24 | 8 November '24 | 15 November '24 | 22 November '24 | 29 November '24 | 6 December '24
The darbuka (also darbuka, doumbec, tabla and goblet drum) is a drum with an ancient history and is widely used in the music of the Middle East and neighboring areas. It is played with the hands and has a single “head”. Originally, it was made of baked clay and an animal-skin head. Modern versions are usually made of a light metal such as aluminum and have a plastic “head”.
This course will cover basic techniques such as the correct way to hold the darbuka, how to produce the correct tones (such as “dum” and “tak”) and the correct right and left-hand strokes. Students will learn a variety of popular rhythms such as Wahda, Maqsoum, Ayyub, Malfouf and Thurayya.
At the end of the course, students will have the option of progressing to the Darbuka Intermediate course.
Note: Students must have their own darbuka to practice between lessons.
Registration: £250 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
28 September - 7 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £125
For additional details please click here.
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dates: 28 September '24 | 5 October '24 | 12 October '24 | 19 October '24 | 26 October '24 | 9 November '24 | 16 November '24 | 23 November '24 | 30 November '24 | 7 December '24
This course is highly recommended for students who want to take oud lessons for the first time but haven’t seriously studied music before.
Learning a new instrument is challenging enough as it is: new ideas, new techniques, new pieces of music and lots and lots of practice! So, let’s make things a little easier. In this short series of classes, consisting of 5 lessons, you will learn all the basic skills you need to read, write and “talk” music. Taking a practical approach to music theory, we will be adapting the best bits from Western classical music theory and Arab classical music theory to give you all the tools you need to start your new life as a musician.
Topics for the course will include:
NOTE: We highly encourage students interested in this course to also sign up for the Oud Beginners course running straight after it on Saturdays from 12:00 – 14:00
Registration: £125 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
28 September - 7 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £250
For additional details please click here.
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Dates: 28 September '24 | 5 October '24 | 12 October '24 | 19 October '24 | 26 October '24 | 9 November '24 | 16 November '24 | 23 November '24 | 30 November '24 | 7 December '24
The objective of the beginner course is to acquire the fundamental techniques needed to play the oud and understand the characteristics of the Maqam Music System while studying the eight fundamental maqamaat together with traditional and popular repertoire.
No previous music knowledge is required to attend this course, as most music is notated as tablature – a visual representation which does not require an understanding of music notation. However, we highly encourage beginners to sign up for our Arabic Music Theory I.
This course is 10 lessons long. Each lesson runs for 2 hours. The for a maximum capacity is 7 students. Lessons are taught on a weekly basis.
It is recommended that students spend time practicing material learned in between lessons.
Students must have their own instrument.
Teachers are available to assist in finding an Oud and to assess instruments.
Registration: £250 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
28 September - 7 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £250
For additional details please click here.
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Dates: 28 September '24 | 5 October '24 | 12 October '24 | 19 October '24 | 26 October '24 | 9 November '24 | 16 November '24 | 23 November '24 | 30 November '24 | 7 December '24
The Taqasim Music School offers a more advanced set of courses for groups of students who are interested in further improving their Oud playing skills.
To enrol for this course, students need:
• To have completed the Oud Beginner Course
Or
• Be assessed by a teacher. To arrange for an assessment please email: school@taqasim.net
• To have their own instrument. Teachers are available to assist in finding an Oud and to assess
This course is 10 lessons long. Each lesson runs for 2 hours. The for a maximum capacity is 7 students. Lessons are taught on a weekly basis. It is recommended that students spend time practicing material learned in between lessons.
The maqamaat that will be further analysed and transposed from different keys during this course through the study of traditional songs and piece are: Nahawand, Ajam, Kurd, Hijaz, Bayat, Rast, Saba and Segah.
Registration: £250 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
28 September - 7 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £300
For additional details please click here.
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Dates: 28 September '24 | 5 October '24 | 12 October '24 | 19 October '24 | 26 October '24 | 9 November '24 | 16 November '24 | 23 November '24 | 30 November '24 | 7 December '24
We offer a more advanced set of courses for groups of students who are interested in improving their Oud playing skills further.
In order to enroll for the Intermediate course, it is required to have attended an Oud Upper Beginner course, and have your own instrument. The teachers are available to assist in finding an Oud and in assessing instruments.
Students with existing knowledge may apply but will need to be assessed by a teacher: please contact: school@taqasim.net The level is more advanced than Lower Intermediate, so students need to allocate time for daily practice and study in order to see an improvement in their playing technique. The Oud Intermediate Level 1 course is made up of 10 lessons of 2 hours each, for a maximum group of 7 students. Lessons are taught on a weekly basis. It is recommended that students spend time practicing material learned in between lessons.
During the course, a selection of Maqams (Ajam, Hijaz, Hijaz Kar, Rast, Suznak) will be analyzed in detail while studying traditional repertoire to highlight the characteristics of each Maqam, accompanied by technical studies on right-hand techniques, left-hand positions, and 2 octave scales.
Registration: £250 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
29 September - 8 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £300
For additional details please click here.
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Dates: 29 September '24 | 6 October '24 | 13 October '24 | 20 October '24 | 30 June '24 | 10 November '24 | 17 November '24 | 24 November '24 | 1 December '24 | 8 December '24
New maqamaat that will be covered in this course include: Nahawand, Kurd, Lami, Bayat and Maqam Bayat Shor. You will also learn new techniques using the second octave and some ornamentation.
This course is designed for students who are interested in improving their Oud ornamentation techniques and to extend their knowledge of the maqam system.
In order to enrol for the Upper Intermediate course, it is required to have attended an Oud Intermediate course or to be comfortable with previously covered material and have your own instrument.
Registration: £250 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
29 September - 8 December '24 | 10 Classes | Fee: £300
For additional details please click here.
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dates: 29 September '24 | 6 October '24 | 13 October '24 | 20 October '24 | 27 October '24 | 10 November '24 | 17 November '24 | 24 November '24 | 1 December '24 | 8 December '24
Ensemble: A group of musicians who perform together.]
The objective of the Oud Ensemble Course is to provide students with the opportunity to further progress their performance skills in a group setting. Through this course new maqams that will be explored in detail include: Maqam Ajam, Nahawand, Rast and Bayat.
Students will have the chance to progress their skills collaboratively while performing as a collective ensemble as well as playing solo. A selection of traditional songs and pieces will be analyzed in detail, adding various ornamentations and dynamics.
Each class will focus on a single Maqam and its corresponding repertoire with the goal of further developing students’ ornamentation skills such as tremolos, trills and the use of qarar and jawab within each song or piece.
This Course is open to Taqasim students who have successfully completed the Intermediate and Upper Intermediate courses.
Registration: £300 (paid online)
Course Book: Buy online via links at top of page
Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment
Please also note that we have a list of FAQs which can be found below, including Terms and Condition and Refund Policy.
How many students will be in each class? There will be a maximum of 7 students in each oud class, in Music Literacy and Darbuka courses there will be a maximum of 15.
Do I need to be able to read music? No, being unable to read music will not pose a problem. The teachers use an alternative notation system (tablatures) which can be picked up very quickly. The course is for absolute beginners, and music theory is not a requisite.
Do I need an oud or a darbuka or are they provided? All students enrolling in the course do need their own instrument. If you need to source an oud or a darbuka please do get in touch, info@arabbritishcentre.org.uk as we can put you in touch with the course teachers who know the best places to buy ouds and darbukas in London.
Do I need my own instrument and where can I buy one? You will need your own instrument so you can practice at home in between classes. Taqasim tutors will be able to advise you where you can buy your own oud and darbuka. We recommend signing up to Beginners courses at least a few weeks in advance of the courses starting to ensure you have time to procure an instrument and buy your course book.
When do the courses run? We run courses three times a year, January – March, May – July and September – November.
Can I book a place and pay later? No, your place on the course will only be confirmed on receipt of the course fee in full.
How can I sign up to a course? What methods of payment do you accept? You can find information about our current music courses and book online above via Stripe. You can also pay with the Arab British Centre over the phone although online is preferred.
What is your refund policy?
What is your refund policy? Our courses rely on meeting minimum numbers to run, and are often over-subscribed, so the sooner you let us know you’ve changed your mind the better. We can then open your place up to someone else. Our rules on refunds are:
For every booking made on our website we have to pay Stripe a small fee. If you request a refund, this fee will be deducted from your refunded amount.
What happens if you cancel the course? We will endeavour to ensure courses are not cancelled but if this does happen we will contact you as quickly as we can to let you know and to arrange a full refund.
Please contact us if you have any further questions on 020 78321310 or info@arabbritishcentre.org.uk