Instrument Objectives

Instrument Objectives

For this project I will be aiming to learn to play the Saz Baglama, the Zurna and the Ney as well as generating rhythms with the Dumbek.

My objective is not to be able to master the instruments, as it's not possible in the project timescale. However, I aim to be able to play both instruments to a standard that I am able to incorporate "real-time" recordings of both instruments into my compositions. 

Challenges

Of course, learning a new musical instrument takes time, practice, perseverance, and a certain amount of frustration. It is perhaps even more difficult for a musician to learn an instrument of a different category from what they are used to. In that respect, I have found that being a guitarist, I was more at home with the Saz Baglama.

The wind instruments that I have chosen to learn both require practice of breathing and blowing techniques, which vary enormously from instrument to instrument. With the Zurna, it is also necessary to achieve consistency in reed condition But I have an idea for an alternative mouthpiece, which I have explained in the section "The Pozurna".

Further to the results (or non-results) with the Pozurna, I have found that the plastic reeds that I have managed to obtain make playing the Zurna much easier.

Reflection

I set myself quite a challenge to try and learn these instruments in a couple of months but it has been a rewarding experience, and I reached a standard where I was able to incorporate live recordings of these instruments into my compositions.

I spent a lot of time practicing these instruments during the course of the module.

The Saz Baglama was probably easiest for me to learn being a guitarist. However, there were new techniques, strum patterns and fingering to learn.

The Ney was by far the hardest instrument to learn, mainly due to the blowing technique, but I did manage to produce some scales and melody lines which I used.

The Zurna was a fun instrument to learn and once I overcame  the hurdle of the blowing and breathing techniques and had moved on to the plastic reeds, things became a lot easier.