Take Oud lessons with a private tutor

Oud music lessons in the US

The oud is a beautiful ancient instrument that has a long tradition in Middle Eastern and Arabic culture. The oud is considered to be the father of the lute and the grandfather of the guitar. If you are interested in learning it, the US offers plenty of options depending on where you live.

Major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C feature music schools that offer music lessons as part of their program. For example, the New York Arabic Orchestra provides oud lessons and workshops with professional music tutors to beginner students eager to learn the basics and to advanced players looking to improve their skills.

UCLA, Indiana University, and the University of Michigan are just a few examples of universities with a strong ethnomusicology program. It is not uncommon to find oud lessons as part of their Middle Eastern music curriculum in these universities.

On the other hand, if you are outside major metropolitan cities, online platforms like Superprof can help students connect with an oud teacher near them. No matter where you live in the US, Superprof can help you find the music lessons you are looking for. The average price is $33/h, although each oud teacher has published a profile that shows everything about their lessons, from prices and fees to years of experience, and even past students’ reviews. Most teachers and music tutors offer their first lesson for free, and they offer lessons online and in person alike. Visit Superprof and see how easy it is to find a music theory lesson or a course in Arabic music styles.

Is the oud hard to learn?

The oud is a string instrument that can be quite rewarding, as its rich and hauntingly beautiful sound is motivation enough for those interested in learning it. However, this instrument can be quite challenging.

If we compare it to more common instruments like the guitar, we can make it clearer by explaining the challenges and the benefits of learning the oud. For example, the guitar has 6 strings while the oud typically has 11 strings (5 doubled plus 1 single bass). Further, the oud is fretless while the guitar is fretted, which affects how easy or hard the instrument is at a beginning stage: the oud is more challenging initially since it has no frets. However, it is more expressive because of its fretless nature.

If you are a violinist or a bass player who is trained in playing fretless instruments, then you might find the oud easier than someone inexperienced. The same goes for guitarists who have experience playing alternate tunings or playing fretless guitars, or those who are interested and passionate about Middle Eastern music.

Because of the fretless neck, the right-hand technique using the pick called Risha, the tuning and scales that are outside Western theory, and finally the lack of resources compared to the guitar, for example, make finding an oud teacher and music lessons essential and fundamental to students eager to learn the guitar's grandfather.

To understand the way to play and the theory behind the style is not as simple as one might think, as this falls outside the conventions of musical training. In other words, a traditional music course will not be enough. Learning to play, therefore, with tutors in a private lesson that combines Arabic expression and the style of music is crucial to understanding the culture, the style, and the way to play.

If you are looking for music tutors and a course on how to play the oud, visit Superprof and find an oud tutor who will help you learn the several techniques and the theory behind this beautiful instrument and its music. As mentioned before, its potential for expressivity is quite vast and far superior to other instruments. A tutor from Superprof will help you discover your potential and expressivity through the way to play and the theory behind it. Visit Superprof and learn oud with music lessons anywhere in the US.

The oud in the US: events across the country

The oud has found its way into the US’s cultural events, workshops, and concerts. With deep roots in Middle Eastern music and culture, the oud is a vehicle that has allowed the US to expand its diversity of culture and traditions.

Cultural organizations and festivals sometimes host workshops. The Arabic Music Retreat in Massachusetts or local cultural heritage festivals, which often include instrumental instruction as part of their programming, are just a few examples of this.

The New York Arabic Orchestra’s performances, the Chicago World Music Festival, and the Arab American National Museum’s concerts in Michigan are excellent choices and opportunities to see the oud being performed in its splendor.

Finally, community centers and cultural organizations near you could offer gatherings to locals so they can discover not just the oud, but also the Arabic poetry and Arabic storytelling behind the use of this musical style.

If you are looking for music lessons in person or online, visit Superprof and find a local music lesson quickly and easily, thanks to a user-friendly platform that will help you connect with a music teacher anywhere in the US. Tutors all across the US have published a profile on this platform that tells you everything you need to know about the type of lesson they impart and the quality and price of each course, making it easier for students to connect with the right tutors for them. Visit Superprof and learn to play the oud today!