TeachingMusic

Vancouver Oud Instructor Ahmed

Oud tutor Ahmed from Vancouver, BC
Name Ahmed M.
City Vancouver, BC
Teaching Oud
Working With Adults
Levels Intermediate, Advanced
Hourly Rate $105

Vancouver based Oud virtuoso, composer, arranger, and music producer. Studied under the great Iraqi Oud master Nasser Shamma and has gone on to perform across the Middle East and Europe. Passionate about weaving traditional Middle Eastern melodies with the improvisational flair of jazz. Collaborated with Grammy winner Fathy Salama, Tunisian singer Ghalia Ben Ali, and jazz greats Edouard Ferlet, Benjamin Koppel, and Tommy Andersson. Offers Private 1:1 lessons

Music Background & Credentials
House of Oud - Diploma with Honours.
Professional Experience
4 years of teaching Oud and Improvisation
Teaching & Other Details
My teaching is always tailored to the individual, whether you're in the early stages of learning or an experienced musician curious about the Oud. Together, we shape the lessons around your goals, learning style, and musical background. My aim is to help you fall in love with the instrument, deepen your understanding of Middle Eastern music, and connect it to the broader language of music theory and improvisation. Intermediate Course: We'll explore the history of the Oud, proper posture and hand positioning, tuning variations, and the fundamentals of maqamat (Arabic modal scales). You'll learn how to relate the modal system of Arabic music to the 12-note Western chromatic system, enabling collaboration with musicians from different traditions. Lessons will include core finger positions, picking patterns, and classic melodies from widely used maqamat. Expect practical exercises to strengthen both ear and technique. Sessions are 1.5 hours with a short break for reflection and integration. Advanced Course: We'll dive into complex time signatures, advanced picking techniques, modal modulation, improvisation methods, arranging, and performance articulation. You’ll also explore ways to reinterpret traditional pieces through a contemporary lens and develop your unique voice on the instrument. All students - regardless of level - will receive personalized feedback on posture, picking technique, and voicing, along with structured guidance through scales, tuning systems (Arabic, Turkish and Iraqi), and fretless intonation. Each lesson is designed to balance rigor with inspiration, discipline with joy.
Availability
Tues–Thurs: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesdays: Evening sessions by request (limited availability) Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (limited availability)
Preferred Teaching Place
Online. My Home Studio.
Reviews
1 reviews available.
Add Review
Hemsa F.
My oud teacher is a virtuoso!
5 days ago

Despite Ahmed being a legend on the oud, he is a kind, humble and patient teacher. I wanted to learn the oud to connect to my Iraqi heritage, and Ahmed has been supportive and encouraging in the process. To hear him play is inspiration itself, and I feel so lucky to have found him as a teacher. You would be very fortunate to study with a master oud player like Ahmed, who is also a kind and thoughtful teacher.

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