The Music Teacher Training School Commemorated at İZÜ on Its 100th Anniversary
Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (İZÜ) commemorated the centennial anniversary of the Musiki Muallim Mektebi one of the foundational institutions of Turkish music education through the organization of the “1st National Workshop on the Music Teacher Training School in Its 100th Year.”
Held at the Nizamülmülk Conference Hall, the event brought together prominent academics, musicians, and music educators. The workshop’s honorary committee included İZÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. İbrahim Güney, Prof. Dr. İsmail Küçük, and Prof. Dr. Erhan İçener. The executive committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Süleyman Erguner. Among the notable names on the honorary board were Prof. Dr. Ali Uçan, Honorary President of the Music Educators’ Association (MÜZED), and Amir Ateş, President of the Üsküdar Music Society.
Prof. Dr. Acar: Universities Have a Vital Role in the Preservation of Turkish Music
Joining the event live from Indonesia, İZÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar emphasized the important role that universities play in preserving and developing Turkish music. He stated:
“Especially in the realm of Turkish music and its subfields, there are many responsibilities that fall to us as universities. The Musiki Muallim Mektebi began its activities as a pioneering institution in the Republican era. As a university, we will continue to support and contribute to this legacy.”
Prof. Dr. Güney: Our University Places Great Importance on the Arts
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Vice Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. İbrahim Güney, a member of the honorary board, referenced the university’s history and its decision four years ago to establish a Department of Music. He noted:
“This year, we are pleased to be graduating our first cohort. As a university, we place great emphasis on education in the arts. Our music department is a vital part of this vision.”
Prof. Dr. Erguner: Turkish Music Carries a 3,000-Year-Old Cultural Heritage
Prof. Dr. Süleyman Erguner, Chair of the Department of Fine Arts Education and Head of the Music Education Division at İZÜ, emphasized the significance of Musiki Muallim Mektebi. Stressing that music teaching is not merely a profession but also a means of cultural transmission, he remarked:
“Music teachers help reveal the potential within our children. Not every child will become a musician, but every child can develop a love and appreciation for music. This is immensely valuable for the progress of society. Turkish music carries the legacy of a cultural tradition dating back 3,000 years encompassing the musical heritage of the Huns, the Göktürks, the Seljuks, the Ottomans, and the Republic of Türkiye.”
Nationwide Academic Participation
The organizing committee included respected scholars from various institutions:
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Güney and Prof. Dr. Süleyman Erguner (İZÜ), Prof. Dr. Ali Uçan (MÜZED), Prof. Dr. Cenk Güray (Hacettepe University), Prof. Dr. Erhan Özden (Ankara University of Music and Fine Arts), Prof. Dr. Evren Bilge Kutlay (İZÜ), Prof. Dr. Gözde Çolakoğlu Sarı (Istanbul Technical University), Prof. Dr. Hakan Cevher, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Uslu (Marmara University), Prof. Dr. Uğur Alpagut (MÜZED), Prof. Dr. Uğur Türkmen (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University), Lecturer and artist Süleyman Şenel (ITU), and Dr. Bedirhan Büyükduman (İZÜ), who also served as vice-chair of the organizing committee.
Seven Thematic Sessions on Music Education
The workshop consisted of seven sessions addressing topics such as the historical development of music education, its current status, instrumental training, the teacher preparation process, and curriculum challenges. A session comparing music education programs in Türkiye to those abroad highlighted issues of merit, curriculum design, and instructional materials. Key current topics such as the national entrance exam threshold (TYT) and the impact of the National Education Academy on student quotas were discussed in the fourth session. The fifth session focused on the role and quality of instrumental instruction in teacher training. The final session provided a comprehensive evaluation of all previous discussions and outlined the framework for the final report.
Scientific Committee Ensured Academic Rigor
The scientific committee, comprising leading scholars such as Prof. Dr. İbrahim Güney, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Erguner, Prof. Dr. Evren Bilge Kutlay, Dr. Bedirhan Büyükduman (İZÜ), Prof. Dr. Gözde Çolakoğlu Sarı and Lecturer Süleyman Şenel (ITU), Prof. Dr. Ali Uçan and Prof. Dr. Uğur Alpagut (MÜZED), Prof. Dr. Erhan Özden (Ankara University of Music and Fine Arts), Prof. Dr. Cenk Güray (Hacettepe University), Prof. Dr. Mustafa Uslu (Marmara University), Prof. Dr. Uğur Türkmen (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University), and Prof. Dr. Hakan Cevher, played a key role in ensuring the academic depth and interdisciplinary breadth of the event.
To enrich the spiritual atmosphere of the workshop, the İZÜ Music Choir performed all ten stanzas of the Turkish National Anthem live, accompanied by the original composition by Osman Zeki Üngör.