The pulse of piano education beat at Near East University with the “Step by Step Piano Teaching Workshop”. Then, the graduates shared their experiences with the “Our Graduates Speak Panel”.

Near East University hosted an important event that brought art and education together. The “Step by Step Piano Teaching Workshop” and “Our Graduates Speak Panel” held by the Department of Music Teaching of the Ataturk Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts Education of the Near East University, shed light on the artists of the future.

Following the workshop, which was held with intense participation and where new approaches to piano teaching were discussed, the graduates of the Ataturk Faculty of Education, Department of Music Teaching shared their experiences and inspired the participants.

Piano teaching was discussed in many aspects!

On the first day of the two-day event series, theoretical and practical techniques in piano education were discussed with the “Step by Step Piano Teaching Workshop”. At the workshop where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emine Kıvanç Öztuğ and Near East University graduate Asya Özkamalı took part as educators, the importance of correct sitting, correct touching and correct positions in piano teaching was conveyed to the participants with theoretical and practical examples. Drawing attention to the fact that incorrect positions can negatively affect individuals’ artistic life and health, Assist. Prof. Dr. Öztuğ spoke on the correct methods that should be applied from a young age. The panel and workshop were coordinated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Neriman Soykunt, while the moderator was Lecturer Gözdem İlkay. The workshop ended with a special piano recital by Assist. Prof. Dr. Emine Kıvanç Öztuğ’s student Ayşe Deniz Necatigil.

Graduates who shared their experiences inspired the youth!

At the “Our Graduates Speak Panel” held on the second day, names who graduated from Near East University and are both music teachers and stage musicians shared their experiences. The opening of the three-session panel began with Asya Özkamalı’s piano recital and O. Selim Hayta’s saxophone recital. The panel addressed the following topics: “Music Education and Stage Musicianship,” “Expectations and Realities in Music Education” and “Being an Academician in Music Education.” During the panel the importance of music education in stage performances and academic studies were also discussed in detail. The panel, during which Near East University graduates Dr. Fırat Özerin, Çığıl Çavuş, Hüseyin Kasap, zbil Kurtulmuş, Hüseyin Kambur, and Music Education Department academicians Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neriman Soykunt, Gözdem İlkay and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cengiz H. Eren took part as speakers, was highly appreciated by the attendees.