The analysis of vocal education perspective in turkish music conservatories

THE ANALYSIS OF VOCAL EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE IN TURKISH MUSIC CONSERVATORIES. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ayten KAPLAN Author: Handan SAVCI ABSTRACT A great majority of the compositions in our traditional music culture have been stemming from 'vocal music'. Before the "Period of Ottoman Reformation" the vocal education that were also reflected to the historical sources was mainly engaged with the traditional system of 'master-apprentice' relation called 'meşk'. During the Ottoman Era, the establishment of the first conservatory named 'Dârülelhan' was also a starting point for the assessment of 'vocal performance' as a special area of expertise first time in traditional music practice. Due to the effects of modernization that have started during the late Ottoman Period, radical changes had been experienced nearly in all areas of education including music education, and many of the methods and techniques transferred form 'Opera Vocal Training' were adapted to the 'Vocal Performance Education' in all the conservatories and departments of music education caused problems until the current time regarding the incompatibility of these two approaches. In this study, the details of vocal performance education in Turkey were tried to be defined in a traditional-historical sense based on the knowledge acquired from the historical written and oral sources of theory and education. Afterewards, the 'practical' and the 'theoretical' conditions for being a good vocal performer were examined through a historical horizon and these conditions were searched in the current educational methodology applied in the State Conservatories for Turkish Music. Finally, the basic ideas of a new methodology for constituting a qualified vocal performance education that is consistent with the tradition were tried to be developed. Keywords: Dynasty, vocal education, Ottoman educational institutions, historical sources, exercise.