Oud, Darbuka & Arabic Music Literacy
26 September '20 - 6 December '20
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.
Check the individual courses below for more details and to book.
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
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You can now also purchase Taqasim’s curriculum in printed form online. The Mukhtar Method is an eight book series:
Darbuka Beginner and Intermediate
Darbuka Beginner (In-person course held at Arab British Centre) - CANCELLED
25 September - 4 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Dates: 25 September '20 | 2 October '20 | 9 October '20 | 16 October '20 | 23 October '20 | 6 November '20 | 13 November '20 | 20 November '20 | 27 November '20 | 4 December '20
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 neighbouring 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, Maqsum, 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.
Social distancing regulations will be in operation in the Arab British Centre, class sizes will be limited to 7 people to ensure this is possible. Students will be required to wear a face covering throughout the duration of the class, and surfaces will be cleansed before and after classes.
Registration: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – buy online via the links at top of page. Please allow 1-2 week for book shipment.
Darbuka Intermediate (In-person course held at Arab British Centre)
25 September - 4 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dates: 25 September '20 | 2 October '20 | 9 October '20 | 16 October '20 | 23 October '20 | 6 November '20 | 13 November '20 | 20 November '20 | 27 November '20 | 4 December '20
This course will focus on new complex rhythms which will be learned and executed by combining the rhythms covered in the beginner course. Such rhythms will include 5/4, 7/4 and 9/4 timing. Various ornamentations will be added to known rhythms by filling in the silent beats and controlling the speeds at which rhythms are played. Also, new techniques will be taught such as the mahbous using both the right and left hand. An alternate combination of techniques will be applied to rhythms in order to develop students’ ornamentation skills.
The course will also focus on improving the quality of sound students produce from their Darbuka. An emphasis will be placed on developing sound the quality of the techniques learned such as the dum, tek and shek. Note: Students must have their own darbuka to practice between lessons.
Social distancing regulations will be in operation in the Arab British Centre, class sizes will be limited to 7 people to ensure this is possible. Students will be required to wear a face covering throughout the duration of the class, and surfaces will be cleansed before and after classes.
Registration: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – buy online via the links at top of page. Please allow 1-2 weeks for book shipment.
Arabic Music Theory I (In-person course held at Arab British Centre)
26 September - 24 October '20 | 5 Classes | Fee: £125
For additional details please click here.
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dates: 26 September '20 | 3 October '20 | 10 October '20 | 17 October '20 | 24 October '20
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:
• Reading and writing rhythms
• Reading and writing melodies
• Understanding music theory basics
• Recognizing maqamaat in notation
• Understanding the signs and symbols in a musical score
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
Social distancing regulations will be in operation in the Arab British Centre, class sizes will be limited to 7 people to ensure this is possible. Students will be required to wear a face covering throughout the duration of the class, and surfaces will be cleansed before and after classes.
Registration: £125 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment)
Oud Beginners Group 1 (In-person course held at Arab British Centre)
26 September - 5 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Dates: 26 September '20 | 3 October '20 | 10 October '20 | 17 October '20 | 24 October '20 | 7 November '20 | 14 November '20 | 21 November '20 | 28 November '20 | 5 December '20
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 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.
Social distancing regulations will be in operation in the Arab British Centre, class sizes will be limited to 7 people to ensure this is possible. Students will be required to wear a face covering throughout the duration of the class, and surfaces will be cleansed before and after classes.
Registration: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment)
Oud Beginners Group 2 (In-person course held at Arab British Centre)
26 September - 5 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Dates: 26 September '20 | 3 October '20 | 10 October '20 | 17 October '20 | 24 October '20 | 7 November '20 | 14 November '20 | 21 November '20 | 28 November '20 | 5 December '20
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 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.
Social distancing regulations will be in operation in the Arab British Centre, class sizes will be limited to 7 people to ensure this is possible. Students will be required to wear a face covering throughout the duration of the class, and surfaces will be cleansed before and after classes.
Registration: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment)
Oud Upper Beginners (Online Course)
26 September - 5 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Dates: 26 September '20 | 3 October '20 | 10 October '20 | 17 October '20 | 24 October '20 | 7 November '20 | 14 November '20 | 21 November '20 | 28 November '20 | 5 December '20
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 enroll 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 analyzed 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: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment)
Oud Intermediate (Online Course) - CANCELLED
26 September - 5 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Dates: 26 September '20 | 3 October '20 | 10 October '20 | 17 October '20 | 24 October '20 | 7 November '20 | 14 November '20 | 21 November '20 | 28 November '20 | 5 December '20
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, Suzak) 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: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment)
Oud Upper Intermediate (Online Course)
27 September - 6 December '20 | 10 Classes | Fee: £220
For additional details please click here.
Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Dates: 27 September '20 | 4 October '20 | 11 October '20 | 18 October '20 | 25 October '20 | 8 November '20 | 15 November '20 | 22 November '20 | 29 November '20 | 6 December '20
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 enroll 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. Students with existing knowledge may apply but must be assessed by a teacher. Please contact: school@taqasim.net for an assessment.
Students need to allocate time for daily practice and study. This course consists of 10 lessons of 2 hours each. The maximum number of students is 7. Lessons are taught on a weekly basis.
Registration: £220 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (Please allow 1 – 2 weeks for book shipment)
Oud Ensemble I (with Master Ahmed Mukhtar) (Online Course) - CANCELLED
27 September - 6 December '20 | 5 Classes | Fee: £275
For additional details please click here.
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Dates: 27 September '20 | 11 October '20 | 25 October '20 | 8 November '20 | 6 December '20
[Ensemble: A group of musicians who perform together.]
Taqasim Music School is pleased to announce the introduction of an exciting new course starting on the 23 of April 2017. The objective of the Oud Ensemble Course is to provide students with the opportunity to further progress their performance skills in a group setting. 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.
Through this course, 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. Maqams that will be explored in detail include: Ajam, Nahawand, Rast
and Bayat. The course consists of 6 lessons, 3 hours each. Lessons are taught on a monthly basis. All course materials are provided in print.
This Course is open to Taqasim students who have successfully completed the Intermediate and Upper Intermediate courses.
Registration: £275 (paid online)
Course Book: £10 – Buy online via link in general course info above (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.
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? To sign up to a course, you need to book online on the website section ‘Book a Course’. You can also pay with the Arab British Centre over the phone. You can find information about our current music courses and book online above.
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:
- 100% refund if you let us know up to 2 weeks before the start date of the course
- 50% refund if you let us know 8-13 days before the start date of the course
- no refund if you let us know 1 week or less before the start of the course
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