The Art of Makam class series with Tev Stevig

6 Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9pm: 10/9, 10/16, 11/6, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11 (performance)

Montague Center, MA

Sliding scale $130-180 ($30/class drop-in)

Scholarship available

This six session seminar will focus on exploring the modal, improvisational system of Turkish makam. This system not only forms the basis of Turkish classical and folk music, but is also foundational in Balkan, Middle Eastern, Greek, and other Mediterranean music.

We will begin by understanding basic principles for listening, performing, composing, and improvising in makam, and then apply what we have learned in the study of several basic makams (melody types) with varied repertoire.

The class will culminate in a (optional) public performance by students and teacher.

Vocalists, instrumentalists, and listeners of all skill levels are welcome – no previous experience is required, although a basic understanding of Western music concepts will be helpful. Sight reading is not required.

Tev Stevig (www.tevstevig.com) is a Boston-based musician and educator whose work with contemporary modal music, traditional styles from the Balkans, Greece, Turkey, Afghanistan, North India and other Eastern modal traditions prompted the New York Music Daily to call him "one of the world's most brilliantly individualistic guitarists." He composes and performs on a variety of plucked string instruments from around the world, appearing in venues across North America and Europe. Tev's solo release, Jeni Jol: Music of the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey garnered universal praise from critics, with the Boston Globe commenting, "he initiates something new by connecting and combining seemingly disparate cultures," and was one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine's best albums of 2013.

Tev is the artistic director of Labyrinth New England and an active member of the Labyrinth Ensemble in Toronto, Çeşni Duo/Trio, Orchestrotica, Czarna Wolgastar, Klezwoods, and the Late Risers. He has studied contemporary modal music with Ross Daly, Harris Lambrakis, Evgenios Voulgaris, Murat Aydemir, Yasamin Shahhosseini, Cihan Turkoğlu, Giorgios Xylouris, Christos Zotos, George Ruckert, and Efrén Lopez.