In their own words.

Master Ahmed Mukhtar has the best methodology for transferring his knowledge of and passion for Iraqi music to the student. Very knowledgeable about not only the music but the historical account of the maqams and their place in a geographical area as diverse, multicultural and artistically rich as Western Asia.

When I moved to London, I decided I wanted to learn the oud. I registered with Taqasim school and started an utterly enjoyable journey. The method books followed a clear structure and were developed in a flexible way to accommodate students at all levels. I am now doing my upper intermediate course, and I can confidently say I have witnessed a great improvement in my skills.

I have been with Taqasim Music School for over three years. Under the instruction of Francesco Iannuzzelli and Ruba Hillawi I progressed from Beginners and Upper Beginners to the intermediate course with Oud Master Ahmed Mukhtar. The Mukhtar Method curriculum accompanied with great teaching methodology allowed me to play the oud with no prior knowledge or experience.

The one-to-one online path is the most rigorous teaching I have taken. The lessons feel personal in a way recorded courses never do, and the corrections are precise without being unkind.

I came to Taqasim having never held an oud. Within a term I was reading notation, holding a melody, and starting to hear the difference between maqamat. The teachers meet you exactly where you are.

I had studied the oud informally for years before finding Taqasim. The structure of the Mukhtar Method filled gaps I did not know I had. My phrasing changed within months.