Turkish Music at the Conservatory of Rotterdam

The department for ‘World music’ and a program in Turkish music at the Conservatory in Rotterdam (Codarts) was established in 2006. What makes the course at the conservatory unique is that students are able to learn to play the bağlama on an academic level, something that is not possible in any other country. The head of the department is Martin Greve. Sinds 1990 he teaches about music in Turkey and about Turkish music in migration countries. He also wrote a book, Die Musik der imaginären Türkei. In an interview he tells about the strong differences between the East and the West of Turkey, especially concerning music. This struck him and now he tries to show the many facets of Turkish music and culture. Collaborations with other departments in the conservatory and the Dutch multicultural society also create opportunities for crossovers. The University has an exchange program with Mimar Sinan University and Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul. In these and other institutions in Turkey, Codarts alumni are now teachers. With this collaboration The Turkish institutions see possibilities for learning from our experience and create a link to teach Western music in their institutes. For Codarts the partnerships with the Turkish universities offer opportunities for Erasmus exchanges of the EU, and allows Codarts to give master classes and workshops as well as access to guest teachers from Turkey. Also for next year a series of workshops is programmed.

http://www.codarts.nl/01_home/02_cons/05_AWM/content/actueel/2008/06/080401-martin_greve.php