Dialogue with a Tradition from an outside perspective. Questions, struggles, strategies - mapping out my path through Arabic Maqam and Taqsim. by Dominika Maria Alkhodari

Playing the oud as a European musician, learning to play taqsim and understanding maqam, is a challenge I face daily. In this research I have set out to find sustainable strategies of how to learn and approach Arabic maqam and taqsim playing coming from an outside perspective. I have used one maqam as a model to experiment with different approaches, compare existing theories and analyse musical material to extract knowledge and find best methods for my future journey. Creating a map of related theoretical concepts has been part of my process, which helped position myself and gaining better understanding. The unseperability of composition and ‚improvisation‘ as expressions of maqam became apparent as well as the central role, that aural learning plays in Arabic music. The need of creating a meaningful connection, which enables constant dialogue and deepening of knowledge, became clear. Learning maqam and taqsim means also ‚living with the music‘ and can not be reduced to a moment in time.

IDEAS while PRACTICING with Anytune:

• Focus on few phrases - f.i. 4-5 per hour, daily / SING them too!
• analyse the whole structure (a taksim, a piece) with the SAYR

compare with others
Learn to sing an easy song (with some sort of solmisation)
PIVOTAL points in the modulations
put the phrases in ‚exercizes‘/sequences on scale
REPETITION / REVIEW !!!
collect the MOST COMMON phrases
~ compose a piece with them (optional)
while learning Taksim, ZOOM OUT from time to time! Listen the whole in tempo
- it’s easy to get lost in details

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