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A One-Day Masterclass with Moshe Zehavi
Composer and guitarist of The Turbans and Shishko Disco
Come explore the rich musical language of Maqam and Balkan music through the guitar.
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This practical workshop is for guitarists with basic experience and above, from intermediate to advanced players.
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THE APPROACH
Moshe Zehavi is a self-taught guitarist who has been playing and studying for more than 30 years, with musicians and teachers around the world, focusing particularly on Turkish and Balkan music.
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Through his work with The Turbans and Shishko Disco, he developed techniques for expressing the phrasing, ornamentation and melodic language of these traditions on a standard guitar — an instrument without quarter tones or a fretless fingerboard.
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We will explore:
* Maqam scales and their application on guitar
* Ornaments, phrasing and articulation
* Approaching microtonal melodies on a standard guitar
* Translating Turkish and Balkan musical language to the instrument
* Using these concepts to open up new melodic possibilities and break out of familiar patterns
* Bringing Maqam and Balkan ideas into your own musical style
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The workshop is primarily for guitarists, but players of other string instruments, including bass, are also welcome.
Who is it for?Â
Guitarists with basic experience and above.
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You don’t need to be an advanced player, but you should be comfortable playing guitar and learning melodies.
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Bring your instrument and come explore a different musical language through the guitar.
Full schedule
Friday, 2 October
10:00–12:30 — Workshop
12:30–14:30 — Lunch / break
14:30–17:00 — Workshop
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Two intensive 2.5-hour sessions.
Meet Our Teacher
Mosh Zehavi is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and educator whose work bridges Balkan, Turkish, Middle Eastern, and contemporary world music traditions.
For over three decades, his musical path has been shaped by travel, cultural exchange, and continuous study. Since the age of nineteen, he has lived a largely nomadic life, moving between Europe, India, and other musical crossroads, learning from teachers, fellow musicians, and the living traditions he encountered along the way.
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This journey continues to inform both his artistic vision and his approach to teaching.
Mosh is the founder and creative force behind projects such as Shishko Disco and Kavana, and was also a member, composer, and performer
with the internationally acclaimed London-based ensemble The Turbans. Throughout his career, he has performed extensively across Europe and India, creating original music inspired by maqam, Balkan traditions, and contemporary improvisation.
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Known for his distinctive approach to expressing maqam on the guitar through microtonal techniques and modified fret systems, Mosh has developed a musical language that combines modal traditions, modern harmony, and improvisation. His work seeks to build meaningful connections between musical cultures while honoring the unique character and depth of each tradition.
Alongside his performing and recording career, he has been teaching for more than a decade, guiding musicians through repertoire, ensemble playing, maqam, rhythm, improvisation, and creative musical expression.