QANUN ACADEMY

Qanun Academy

Running a "qanun academy" where he gladly conveys his knowledge and experience to anywhere on the face of earth, the artist shared with us the details of his beautiful project and the teaching program.

Having started to play qanun at 5, Turgut Özüfler has his initial private courses from Halil Karaduman. Holding a degree from the Turkish Music State Conservatory, Istanbul Technical University, the artist works for TRT Istanbul Radio for nine years and at the Turkish Ministry of Culture's Turkish Music Ensemble for two years. Teaching qanun at Qatar Music Academy, and at the conservatories of Istanbul Technical University, and Yıldız Technical University, Turgut Özüfler is an academic member at Yıldız Technical University today.

As a pioneering qanun player, Turgut Özüfler, apart from his academic works, worked for very special people of music, Ahmet Özhan, Tarkan, Kenan Doğulu, Sibel Can, Muazzez Abacı, Bülent Ersoy, Özcan Deniz, Yıldız Tilbe, Melihat Gülses, Sami Yusuf, Candan Erçetin, Maher Zain -just to name a few. You are one of the leading artists when it comes to qanun across the world. You taught at the conservatories of Istanbul Technical University and Yıldız Technical University at the same academic terms, works on an album, at a studio and give concerts, which are still at full force. It is almost a dream for a qanun player to even thinking of having a teaching course from such a busy artist. But then you have opened a "qanun academy", making your music accessible to all. How did you decide to open the academy?

Yes, as you said, I took part in very different projects on quite different platforms. When you look back after a while you sort of notice that you have done so much for so many people. I guess this has to do something with growing older. You know what is told about the forties. They say forties is the age of maturity, perfection, so to speak. So, I decided to open a "Qanun Workshop" only to offer my humble services to our music.

Actually I am thinking of private courses as much as possible.

What kind of a teaching program are you going to follow? Are the courses in private or in groups? How do you form the teaching content? Are you going to make programs with the learners?

Actually I am thinking of private courses as much as possible. Needless to say the courses made in groups reveal a different energy, but group courses require all participants to be on the same progress level. Otherwise learners that do not show similar success rates affect each other adversely.

Istanbul is one of the most vivid music stations in the world, and there are many people that are willing to learn about the music of these territories. Are your courses accessible to instrument players who come to Istanbul from different parts of the world and want to learn how to play qanun?

Gladly, there are many musicians across the world who closely follow up with our music, conduct and patterns. They often try to reach us by sending messages on social media. I am hoping to reach so many of them and meet them for our courses once this issue is out. I am thrilled to think of meeting people from different backgrounds and speaking the common language of music.

Anyone who is willing to have qanun courses is welcome to contact me on my Instagram account. It is 'turgutozufler'.

So, yes, it is amongst our plans to practise on certain days of the week in the near future and these sessions would be "available for everyone".

You are one of the most important names for the classical Turkish music of the Ottoman and the Republican periods. Will this academy be appealing to qanun learners only? Assuming a violin, oud or a tambur player wishes to perform the classical pieces or, say, your compositions with you... Would you give courses for that, too?

Our music is infused with the "master-apprentice" relationship since the Ottomans until now. So, yes, it is amongst our plans to practise on certain days of the week in the near future and these sessions would be "available for everyone". Hopefully Eyüp Sultan will be a meeting point for learners and their masters. Why did you choose Eyüp for your qanun workshop?

I personally believe that Eyüp Sultan is the spiritual sultan of Istanbul, and I believe fate has guided me to here. Zal Mahmud Pasha Mosque complex was a dervish lodge, a home of knowledge and ethics.

That is why I thought that would be nice to have the courses here, a place that has its soul, a perfect place for our music, instead of an apartment flat or a shop.

How can an ambitious learner get detailed information about signing up for the courses?

Social media is undeniably part of our life. Anyone who is willing to have qanun courses is welcome to contact me on my Instagram account. It is 'turgutozufler'.

I want to thank you and everyone who makes efforts and contributions to this magazine for caring enough to protect our music and our culture.