majnuunNavid
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Let's Go from Maqam Mystery to Maqam Mastery
hey everybody,
I've got a new article for you with some thoughts about Maqam.
This is definitely my favorite subject when it comes to the Oud. I'm always learning new things, and perhaps I have a skewed way of looking at maqamat
given my background. I hope to get some responses about what I've said in the article. Thanks for reading.
http://www.oudforguitarists.com/learn-maqam/
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Jody Stecher
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My response is "Proof before you Publish". After you write something, wait a day or two before putting it on your website. When you re-read
("proof-read") your words after a gap of time, you are likely to find things that need tidying up. Re-read everything while asking yourself if any
sentence could be mis-leading. And then re-write in a way that it cannot mislead. I see several apparent contradictions and things that could be
improved. Examples provided on request.
I also suggest that you decide if a particular article on your site is an educational piece or a sales pitch for a product.
Of course one can be at once an educator and a businessman but it takes time and usually several revisions to do it right.
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majnuunNavid
Oud Junkie
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Please share your examples here Jody. Indeed there are lots of things that need to be tidying up, maqam is a vast and difficult subject. Anything that
you can offer is welcome.
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Jody Stecher
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Well normally I'd keep quiet, but since you asked:
Some (not all) examples, just on this one page:
After saying that thinking of maqam in terms of scale is misleading you immediately illustrate maqam by means of scale. This becomes particularly
problematic by the time the reader gets to the section on Melodic Grammar.
The seven modes you mention are not "all the modes". There are so many more. I mean, where are the modes of the radif in your list, for instance?
These seven are the modes of the Western Conservatory. That's what? two percent of the world's modes? Of course you don't mean "all" but if you don't
say what you mean, how will the reader know your real meaning?
And these seven are not Greek. Only the names are Greek.. The Greek modes with the same names are different. And the modes (dhromi) in use in Greece
today are different again.
You jump from Yegah to Segah without discussing Dugah and then ask if the reader sees the pattern. The apparent pattern is skipping numbers. The
attentive reader will assume the next maqam must be Panchgah, not Chahargah.
Immediately after explaining that the word "jins" is singular you use it in the plural, saying "jins are…"
In the section on Modulation you describe changing the upper jins as being "mysterious". But for this reader (me) the only mystery is why this should
be called mysterious. You know what you mean. But the reader may not. I don't.
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majnuunNavid
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Your concerns are absolutely valid. And yes, there are many things I have left out. I must remind you that these are not scholarly or academic
articles. This is, more accurately, a blog where I write my thoughts and gleanings on musical things. I acknowledge that some of the things in there
may or may not be accurate or useful.
"In the age of ignorance, mediocrity prevails!" -Najib Shaheen
Yes this article has some issues, nevertheless, I do hope it sparks the imagination or thought of someone out there. And I hope they get my joke about
"knowing all the modes".
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majnuunNavid
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Thank you for sharing Jody!
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majnuunNavid
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This is an update about Oud for Guitarists Maqam Mastery Program. It will be released June 21st. This video and article teaches a new approach to
learning maqamat, and outlines our approach in the Maqam Mastery Program.
http://www.oudforguitarists.com/oud-maqam-learning-made-easy/
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Lysander
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Great idea to post the video AND the text. I know this is more work but you but it pays off.
Yesterday, try as I might, my phone refused to load Youtube videos, so I read the text instead. Loved the article and the concept of melodic grammar
and idioms. Already very interesting!
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majnuunNavid
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Part two of the Maqam learning introductory videos. This outlines our approach in the Maqam Mastery Program. 
http://www.oudforguitarists.com/ultimate-introduction-to-maqam-musi...
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Lysander
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This programe is fantastic, I have been using it for the past few days. It concentrates on the following maqams and their families: ajam, nahawand,
kurd, hijaz, rast, bayati, sikah, saba, nawa athar.
Navid breaks the videos down into following structure: the feel of the maqam, it's scale, a short taqsim, the melodic development, and the most
important things to remember about each maqam. Also the ear training exercises present ajnas and ask you to identify them.
A lot of work has gone into this program. And it's great to see simple taqsims presented with rules for each maqam. I can see a lot being learned by
this over time.
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majnuunNavid
Oud Junkie
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I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying the program!
If anyone else wants to hear what more people are saying about the Maqam Mastery Program check out this video and article. Thanks.
http://www.oudforguitarists.com/common-questions-answered/
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majnuunNavid
Oud Junkie
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Mood: Dude, where's my Oud?
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Just another quick announcement. The Maqam Mastery Program is available now at:
http://www.oudforguitarists.com/maqam-mastery/
We are offering a 20% discount on all packages this weekend only.
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