Launching into a brand-new term, Yunus Emre Institute London is increasing the number of courses and workshops they offer both online and face-to-face! For those who wish to learn a new branch of art, a new language, a new instrument or improve their existing skills, it is now the perfect time to get going! With a wide selection of online options available, art and culture lovers from across the world are welcome to take part in Turkish language, art, and music classes. As course sizes are limited, students of all courses, both online and in-person, are offered intimate and lively classroom environments with one-to-one attention from the instructors who are experts in their respective fields. In addition to this, workshops organised by the Institute will provide an excellent opportunity for those who prefer one-time sessions rather than long-term commitments, to sample the various courses offered each term.
This year, course options include: Oud, Ney, Tezhip (Art of Illumination), Ebru (Paper Marbling), Hüsn-i Hat (Calligraphy), Iznik Ceramic, Ottoman Turkish and Turkish language classes which will be available on both weekdays and weekends.
If you would like further information about the courses & workshops accompanied by professional instructors, please visit the Yunus Emre Institute London website (https://yeelondon.org.uk/new-short-courses/ ), email londra@yee.org.tr or call 02073873036.
Turkish courses
Turkish language courses at Yunus Emre Institute London are conducted by experienced and native-speaking teachers. Turkish courses, which have been offered online for the past two years, teach students the four foundational skills of the Turkish language. Students have a variety of alternatives for courses, including weekdays, Saturday mornings, and Saturday afternoons. All levels end with an internationally recognised end-of-term exam, which students must pass in order to receive a certificate. An intermediate speaking course, advanced speaking course, and advanced text analysis course will also be offered online in addition to the A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1, C2 courses.
Ottoman Turkish Courses
This term, the Institute will be offering an online Advanced Ottoman Turkish course, run by Historian Dr Cumhur Bekar, which will provide students with the opportunity to improve their reading and understanding by working on a variety of texts which may include chronics, travel books, first person narratives, newspapers, sultan orders, reference works, treatises and letters from the 19th century and early 20th century.
The 8-week online Ottoman Turkish for Advanced levels course will take place on Fridays, 14th October– 2nd December 2022, 6:00 – 8:00 pm (UK Time). This 8-week course costs £120.
Online Tezhip (Illumination) Courses
Tezhip, quite literally meaning to ‘ornament with gold’ is a centuries-old Turkish decorative art form which can be used to adorn books, manuscripts, calligraphy and more! As one of the most valued of Turkish and Islamic arts, our Tezhip courses will be conducted online by artist Nagihan Seymour, who has been leading art courses in London for many years. There are two different course options available for those interested in the art of illumination: ‘Illumination for Beginners' and 'Rumi pattern and Halkar Painting in Illumination'.
The Art of Illumination (Tezhip) for Beginners course will take place at the Institute on Wednesdays, 12th October– 7th December 2022, 6-8:30 pm (UK Time). The 8-week course costs £270 (this fee includes most materials).
Rumi Pattern & Halkar Painting in Illumination will take place online on Tuesdays, 18th October – 8th November 2022, 6-8 pm (UK Time). The 4-week course costs £150 (materials excluded).
Calligraphy Courses
Calligraphy is the beautiful art of writing. This decorative art form combines visual aesthetics with the precision and functionality of hand-drawn letters created using pens or brushes. The art of calligraphy, with its aesthetic beauty, is a branch of art that decorates the pages of books, tiles of mosques, the walls of homes and monumental places alike to leave a deep impression on all that lay their eyes upon it.
Calligraphy lessons will be conducted face-to face by master Gulnaz Fatima Mahboob, a student of Hasan Çelebi, one of the greatest living calligraphers of Istanbul where these most beautiful calligraphic pieces were written. In this course, students will focus on the Nesih script, also known as the Holy Quran script, and will use traditional materials and methods.
The course will take place on Saturdays, 10 am – 1 pm (UK Time), 15th October – 10th December 2022. The fee of this 8-week course is £290 (this fee includes most materials).
Paper Marbling (Ebru) Course
Also known as ‘paper marbling’, Ebru is a centuries-old art performed using aqueous natural pigments mixed with ox-gall in a rectangular trough filled with thickened water, traditionally prepared using Gum Tragacanth or seaweed. Colours are sprinkled using brushes made of rose stalks and horsehair on the surface of the thickened water in the trough. The floating pattern is imprinted on paper after being reshaped and retouched using pins, needles and combs. The resulting image is spectacular, and each are totally unique! Our courses conducted by master artist Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sacit Açıkgözoğlu, are suitable for both beginner and intermediate levels.
The Paper Marbling (Ebru) for Beginners course will take place at the Institute on Tuesdays, 18th October– 6th December 2022, 6-8:00 pm (UK Time). The 8-week course costs £200 (this fee includes materials).
The Paper Marbling (Ebru) for Intermediate levels course will take place at the Institute on Wednesdays, 19th October– 7th December 2022, 6-8:00 pm (UK Time). The 8-week course costs £200 (this fee includes materials).
Ney Course
Our online course, led by Neyzen Murat Ferhat Yegül will provide you with an overview of the ‘Ney’ Instrument – one of the oldest musical instruments still in use, and unquestionably a very important part of Ottoman Court /Turkish Classical Music. The Ney, one of the oldest musical instruments in history, is one of the essential instruments of Classical Turkish Music and Sufi music with its sad and soul-touching sound. This term, Neyzen Murat Ferhat Yegül will run all classes online. Open to students of all levels, our course instructor will guide their students step-by-step on how to play this enchanted instrument.
Working with Neyzen Murat Ferhat Yegül, classes will be held in 30-minute one-to-one slots online at times agreed with the student and the instructor, between 7th October-25th November 2022. The fee of this 8-week course is £160.
In addition to online courses, in October Neyzen Murat Ferhat Yegül will conduct two workshops on the instrument Ney at the Institute for those who would like to try the Ney or need to improve their skills.
Oud Course
If you want to learn the 'ud', a large-bodied, short-necked, fretless stringed instrument, this is an opportunity not to be missed! Students of all levels will be able to attend the one-to-one lessons either face-to-face or online, given by Oud master Baha Yetkin. Students who do not own an oud will be able to rent one from the Institute. Within the course, basic music theories, practices and maqams used in Turkish music will be taught alongside the oud’s practical application.
Oud classes will be held in 30-minute one-to-one slots at times agreed with the student and the instructor, between 6th October -24th November 2022, with both online and face-to-face options. The fee of this 8-week course is £210.
Yunus Emre Institute (Turkish: Yunus Emre Enstitüsü) is the Republic of Turkey’s cultural institute. Established in 2007, the organisation has over 60 branches worldwide. Through cultural diplomacy, the Institute aims to increase awareness of Turkish culture, support the learning of the Turkish language and to stimulate greater exchange in the fields of arts, culture, science, education. Since opening its doors in London in 2010, Yunus Emre Institute has become an improving the bonds of friendship between Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Telephone: 0207 387 3036
E-mail: londra@yee.org.tr
Address: 10 Maple Street W1T 5HA
Website: www.yeelondon.org.uk