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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
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Mood: in the mooud again..
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about to live an study oud in Lebanon
Hi all!!
I want to go to Lebanon to live about one year to study oud.
I was living in Syria until 3 weeks ago...but I came back to Spain due to the country´s current situation.
So I decide to try to go to Lebanon...
I have some questions about it, maybe someone can help me
1º WHERE ???
Beirut or Tripoli???
2º LIVING COSTS (Beirut & Tripoli):
I want to rent an apartment in a normal area, not the poorest and not rich) or rent a room in appartment with other people, students, or something
like that, HOW MUCH??I have not much money
What about the food?? I want to cook in my home... and maybe someday I´ll eat in a restaurant, but I ussually prefer, traditional restaurants where
the Lebanese people eat...
How much money I must have to live there per month (minimun) I have not a luxury life at all
3º WORK IN LEBANON
Maybe I need to work there, I can teach spanish language (private lessons or something like this, I had a little experience teaching spanish in
Western Sahara)
Do you think I can find enough students to have money to live there each month??
How much can I ask for each student per hour or per course??
I know about all this questions in Syria, but in Lebanon...
4º TEACHER
Where is the best place to study oud or where can I find a good teacher?? How much per lesson (private lesson) or how much to study in an academy or
institute of music?
Please some names of oud players who teach oud??
Many thanks to all who can help me!!
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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Nobody can help me?? nobody in this forum is from lebanon???
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ALAMI
Oud Junkie
Posts: 643
Registered: 12-14-2006
Location: Beirut
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Mood: No Mood
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Dear Michoud,
You're talking about Lebanon, so it is a bit complex, the answers won't be yes or no 
Beirut is an expensive city, to give you an average, it is more expensive than Munich, Montreal ot Los Angeles.
Ref from a recent article in Beirut Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2011/Jul-18/Beirut-ran...
Tripoli is way cheaper and more authentic city, but you have to expect a totally different lifestyle than the one you could have in Beirut. So it
depends on your taste. I love Tripoli, I was born there, but nothing much is going on there, no real night life and no real communities of expats,
Beirut is a big city that lives in the night, people are more multilingual and multicultural a lot of things are happening all the time, musically,
culturally.
Food is good, this is something not to worry about, you'll gain weight for sure.
I don't want to be pessimistic, but I'd advise you not to count on living from teaching Spanish, it is taught in many schools and the Cervantes
Institute is very active here. You may still get a student or two but not enough to make a living.
In Beirut private oud lessons would be for 15/20 $ / hour but making a long term deal with a oud teacher would be possible.
There are some institutes that are more oriented towards oriental music teaching and not specific instrument oriented like the Antonine University and
the USEK (université Saint-Esprit Kaslik), do you speak French?
As an average I think you should account for 1500-1800$ per month for Beirut
And may be around 1000-1200 for Tripoli.
Good luck,
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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Dear Alami
Thanks for the info.
The life style I prefer, is Tripoli style, I don´t care about night life...and I prefer to enjoy my time with lebanese people than with expats...
When I was living in Syria, I was living first in Homs and after in Aleppo, both very different than Damascus with more night life etc etc and I love
this kind of places.
I don´t speak french, just spanish, english and a little bit of arabic ( syrian dialect, I think very similar of lebanese...no?
In Tripoli...can I find more students than in Beirut? I know there is only Cervantes institute in Beirut...so maybe...in Aleppo I had more chances to
teach spanish than in Damascus, because there is not Cervantes in Aleppo...
Is there any other city to bear in mind in Lebanon?? for example, when, long time ago I asked about Syria, all people told me about Damascus and
Aleppo, but I went to
Homs, which is cheaper and quiet than the other cities...so maybe there is another city you can recommend me...
Thanks again Alami!
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ALAMI
Oud Junkie
Posts: 643
Registered: 12-14-2006
Location: Beirut
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Mood: No Mood
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So if you're for the kind of simple, popular and authentic lifestyle, you'd enjoy Tripoli.
You have to know that Tripoli is in fact two cities, connected but somehow different: Tripoli and El Mina (the port), each has even it's own different
municipality. El Mina is a real Mediterranean town that smells fish, it has a small beautiful old city. Saliba Al Qatrib, one of the greatest oud
players of all times, comes from there. People there like to eat and drink and make jokes, it is a multi confessional town with many small mosques and
churches. An address to remember: Abu Fadi, the best fish sandwiches in Lebanon.
Tripoli is the big city with it's modern and old parts. The modern part is made of big buildings, ugly for most of them. The old city is very large
and very old, there you'll need all your Arabic, the dialects are very similar to Syrian in vocabulary but the intonation is different. You may find
very cheap places to stay there but the infrastructure is in very bad shape in terms of water, electricity and services.
People are poor but very kind and helpful and they love foreigners as long as "they behave". If you lived in Homs, you know what I am talking
about.
I think there is no Cervantes in Tripoli so you may be able to find some students.
I don't know any oud teacher in Tripoli but one of our friends here on the forums who's also a great player, learned oud in Tripoli years ago, he may
still know someone.
If you decide to go there, drop me a word.
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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Hi Alami.
I was thinking a lot about to go to Lebanon...I will try to go in November, I need sometime to save money and after inshalla I´ll go there...so if in
this time you have any info about opportunities there in Tripli to teach spanish and about an oud teacher it will be great for me.
Also if you can in this time to accurate a little bit about "cheap prices to stayin the old town of Tripoli", it will help me alot to know how much I
need there...
What you said about Tripoli...this is my city man!! I know what you were talking about, and that is what I like.
I have no problems at all about the infrastructure in terms of water, electricity and services, I´m used to it
So..inshalla I´ll visit you in few months when I´ll be there.
Thanks a lot!
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SamirCanada
Moderator
Posts: 3404
Registered: 6-4-2004
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I will be in Lebanon from Sept 6 to Sept 18. if anyone wants to get together for some good food, music etc... let me know
@samiroud Instagram
samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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suz_i_dil
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1061
Registered: 1-10-2008
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Hello Michoud,
I think you should contact Mustafa Said. He is a great teacher, and works in Antonine university. Even if you don't decide to stay in Beirut he may
have contacts to recommend you in others lebanese cities.
You can reach him via facebook. If you don't have fb I'll ask him if he doesn't mind I send you his email.
Best wishes in your project
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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Hello suz i dil, thanks for your info...yes I have facebook so I´ll try to contact him...if I can´t I´ll tell you....
thanks again!
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bulerias1981
Oud Junkie
Posts: 763
Registered: 4-26-2009
Location: Beacon, NY
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Mood: John Vergara Luthier Lord of the Strings instrument making and repair
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Hi there. I lived in Lebanon to study oud for 6 months. This was last year. I loved it and hated it there at the same time. But in short, I can say
its very expensive. I went there to study at USEK in Kaslik with Charbel Rouhana and Ghada Shbeir as a 3 year degree for oriental musicology. Due to
Lebanon being so expensive and running out of money (I couldn't find work to sustain a living) I had to return to the U.S. I won't say how much money
I brought with me, but I thought it would be enough, and in just 6 months it was almost all gone.. and thats with spending as conservative as I
could.
What was so expensive? I was living in Jounieh. The rent, the electricity (even though it rarely worked), internet and food. I did find a roommate
that loved music, so that made things easier. If I didnt find him, maybe I would have had to leave in 4 months.
I'm not saying its impossible. I was only sharing my experience. Contact me @ bulerias81@gmail.com if you want more details of my trip there.
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David.B
Oud Junkie
Posts: 640
Registered: 9-5-2009
Location: France
Member Is Offline
Mood: Renaissance
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Really interesting topic, I wish you the best for your project michoud. Please give us some feedback.
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Paris, France
Member Is Offline
Mood: sababa baba
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Dear Michoud,
Actually I had my first real oud lessons in Lebanon. I was in Beyrouth for one month, it was in September 2002 and I managed after 10 days of hard
searching to find a very nice teacher from the Conservatory of Beyrouth. He agreed to give me private lessons everyday. I only played day and night
and only studied.
This man is named Georges Roufael, and he was very nice with me. If you go in Beyrouth, just go to the conservatory and try to pick one teacher or get
his phone number. I used to speak half French half standart Arabic with him. So if you speak at least French or Arabic this will make you things
easier.
You can of course look for Charbel Rouhana, but I don't know if this so famous and great oud player will have time for you.
After years of studying oud howewer, I think Lebanon is not the best place to go for that (but you can still discover the country) but still you can
learn a lot. Especially Beyrouth which is quite expensive, and I had much trouble to managed even to eat there... I you consider studying turkish oud
you can go to Turkey as well, with plenty of oud teachers there.
It was almost ten years ago. I don't know what is Lebanon today, and maybe I was young and with no money lol. And prices maybe changed a lot, I just
don't know. 10 years may be a lot in this country.
Hope my little experience helped you!
Benjamin
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ALAMI
Oud Junkie
Posts: 643
Registered: 12-14-2006
Location: Beirut
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Looks like everybody agrees that Lebanon, specially Beirut, is expensive.
That's true, the last two years things have become even more expensive, specially housing, communications and restaurants.
People have also become more wild, brainless consumers, it is happening everywhere but somehow it seems more pronounced in Lebanon. A society heading
towards only rich and poor with no in between. People somehow think that the worst may happen tomorrow so let's have the maximum today, a maximum of
money, drugs, sex, cars, cellphones, brands, parties... And also some obtuse, Pre-canned, radical political or religious ideas.
Oudists know the value of simple things, the oud reminds them everyday how a few cheap pieces of wood glued together with art and love can hold an
inestimable value.
I don't know if Lebanon is a good place to learn oud, but it is an interesting experience, I understand when Bulerias says he loved and hated Lebanon,
I think we all do.
Samir, drop me a u2u when you're in Beirut. Am not far from Ain El Remaneh.
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spartan
Oud Junkie
Posts: 207
Registered: 11-30-2007
Location: Athens , Greece
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by ALAMI  |
People have also become more wild, brainless consumers, it is happening everywhere but somehow it seems more pronounced in Lebanon. A society heading
towards only rich and poor with no in between. People somehow think that the worst may happen tomorrow so let's have the maximum today, a maximum of
money, drugs, sex, cars, cellphones, brands, parties... And also some obtuse, Pre-canned, radical political or religious ideas.
Oudists know the value of simple things, the oud reminds them everyday how a few cheap pieces of wood glued together with art and love can hold an
inestimable value.
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Excellent approach, I can assure you that this happens in Greece too !
Talking about studying oud abroad of our native country I think there are many options if someone has money and time (unfortunately I havent)
Even in Europe there are many great oud players who teach arabic oud. Adel Salameh, Farhan Sabbagh, etc.
Nizar Rohanna lives in Palestine and he's a great oudist and teacher, personnaly I met him in Athens last year.
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Paris, France
Member Is Offline
Mood: sababa baba
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| Quote: Originally posted by ALAMI | People somehow think that the worst may happen tomorrow so let's have the maximum today, a maximum of money, drugs, sex, cars, cellphones, brands,
parties... And also some obtuse, Pre-canned, radical political or religious ideas.
Oudists know the value of simple things, the oud reminds them everyday how a few cheap pieces of wood glued together with art and love can hold an
inestimable value.
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Kalaam 7akim ktir... Very wise observation to my mind.
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Paris, France
Member Is Offline
Mood: sababa baba
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Personnaly I would encourage you to go to Lebanon as it's a great experience to visit this country, especially if now you are in Syria which is just
very close by.
If you want to settle for a while in a place to study oud, as everybody said here you have plenty of opportunities. Lebanon is one, Turkey another and
the only place I can talk better because I know it well would be in Israel or Palestinian territories where you have many great oud players from
different styles and influences.
Good luck
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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Hi there.
First of all thanks to all who are trying to helping me in this matter.
Benjamin, sadly I´m not in Syria now due to the country´s situation, that´s why I´m looking to other country to go to...
Syria has a lot of great players and teachers and its an amazing country.
I was there studying and working teaching spanish, because I have no money to be outside Spain with no work...
so I´m looking a good place to study but also with some opportunities to work, also in Spain this days I have no work and its difficult to find it,
so its better for me to go to an arabic country to learn and work.
I dont wan to go to Turkey because I´m more interested in arabic style.
About Palestinian territories I dont know if there I coud find some work due to the country´s situation., and also I don´t know about the living
costs there and wich are the best places to go...so if you can tell me something about it it would be great.
Alami, you are very right, I agree with you 100%
By the way if I go to Lebanon, I would like to go to Tripoli wich looks cheaper than Beirut...
thanks to all
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Paris, France
Member Is Offline
Mood: sababa baba
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A good alternative to learn Arabic style oud could be in Israel. At least I can recommend you many teachers. And there is no political turmoil or any
danger, and people speak English or other languages. But to live there it will cost you like in Spain I guess, maybe less, depends where you go. To
find a job you should maybe check European Union International Volonteering programs maybe there are in Israel or in Arab countries, or look with
embassies, Spanish cultural centers...
If you want to go in an Arabic country other than Lebanon, maybe have a look on Tunisia. This is quite cheap for a Westerner and you can find great
players there.
In Morocco maybe you can find a job as a Spanish teacher, as many people are looking to learn Spanish.
Actually my advise would be to look on stuff like couch surfing to be hosted for free, even in exchange for Spanish lessons for instance. Then you
only pay the food and oud lessons.
Anyway let us know!
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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Thanks for your advice Benjamin
well it looks better to go to Tunisia (about money matters) but I have no idea about Tunisia at all, is there somebody from there in the forums to
tell us some info???
I´m surprised than you didnt mention Egypt...why? is due to the current country´s situation??
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spartan
Oud Junkie
Posts: 207
Registered: 11-30-2007
Location: Athens , Greece
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I think it will be very helpful to make a "map" of oud teachers and contact infos for each country .
Then it will be easier to decide which country fits to someone
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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That´s a great idea spartan!
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Benjamin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 225
Registered: 7-23-2006
Location: Paris, France
Member Is Offline
Mood: sababa baba
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Good idea indeed Spartan, hope somebody will have the time and the energy to do it...
Michoud yes I forgot Egypt as well. In fact I guess you still can find your way in any Arab country.
Concerning Tunisia I know a good oud player there maybe he can teach you or advise you what to do.
Cheers,
Benjamin
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David.B
Oud Junkie
Posts: 640
Registered: 9-5-2009
Location: France
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Mood: Renaissance
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I might say something enormous, but what about schools in western world? ENM (Ecole Nationale de Musique) in Villeurbanne sounds really good, the only
national school in France with 100 % oral methods! I give here a few interesting documents but it's a bit long to translate ...
Marc Loopuyt is the teacher and his son, Thomas, is walking in his footsteps at the CNR in Nice.
This is not so stupid when you think about conservatories in orient which use the occidental methods as the best (My teacher comes from the
conservatory in Beyrouth and his methods are modeled on western conservatories).
Attachment: ENSEIGNEMENT ET ORALITE A LA VEILLE DU XXIe SIECLE.zip (570kB)
This file has been downloaded 243 times
Attachment: traditionnel_2752.pdf (93kB)
This file has been downloaded 281 times
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michoud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 383
Registered: 6-2-2006
Location: Spain
Member Is Offline
Mood: in the mooud again..
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David, of course we can learn oud from great oud players in Europe for example...but for me there are 2 reasons I would like to do it in an arab
country.
1ºAfter my experience living in Syria (I spent there about two years in the last 3 years and half) for me is not only a matter of learning music
theory or technic lessons, is a matter of learn from another culture, music, food, way of living, their problems also...I think now I understand
better the music, the arabic music, not only because I study it with a teacher, because I lived there.
2º this is also a good reason, usually arabic countries are cheaper than our countries...I´m musician, I study music all my life, my work is music
and sometimes films about music...so, usually I have not a lot of money...for me no way to go to France to live...and in this time with the economical
crisis, the situation is very bad...
For me now I need to find a place where I can study oud, and also try to find some work teaching spanish, because if I have no work I can not do it,
maybe I have money to stay in the country for a month or month and half until I find an apartment and some students to teach spanish, but no
more...
When I was in Syria, it was very easy for me, because I have many friends, so I spend long time in my friend´s home until I found a good and cheap
apartment...also my teacher is my friend so I didnt pay for my lessons...and finally I found job teaching spanish...but the revolution is the
revolution and now I´m back in Spain
So as I said I need a place to go where I can find a good oud teacher and some work teaching spanish...I know a lot of people would like to learn
spanish, every year more and more...but I need to find them
Also I have no work in Spain so...yallah!!
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David.B
Oud Junkie
Posts: 640
Registered: 9-5-2009
Location: France
Member Is Offline
Mood: Renaissance
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Michoud, in fact, this message does not directly concern you, it was a response to spartan about the map ... For the same reasons as you I'd like to
go to Lebanon, but for me it's more affordable to stay in France. Anyway, I can not settle in Beirut or in Villeurbanne. At least for quite a few
years, so I use the means at hand to improve my skills before traveling. In any case without the community present at this forum, I think I would turn
round a lot!
I also wanted to point out that a European country ensured an oral transmission and this is something! How many national school of music in Arab
countries, including Turkey, use traditional learning process? And it's a real question, since I don't really know ...
By the way, keep going, and find a nice place to learn and live 
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