The Department of Folk Instrument Performance, which has a long-standing tradition in the teaching of Azerbaijani folk instrumental music, previously operated under the names “Folk Music and Musical Instruments” and “Instrumental Performance and Conducting.”
In 2012, the department was officially renamed the Department of Folk Instrument Performance.
The department was headed at different periods by Professor Irada Kocharli and Honoured Art Worker, PhD in Art Studies, Professor Kamila Dadashzade. Since 2015, the department has been led by Associate Professor Umud Ibrahimov.
Alongside its academic activities, the department actively organizes concerts, creative projects, and cultural events. Concert programs held at the International Mugham Center, the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre, and the Chamber and Organ Music Hall have become an important part of the department’s artistic life. The Folk Instruments Orchestra operating under the department, conducted by Mustafa Ashurov, is especially noted for its original concert projects and performances.
Faculty members have written a number of educational and methodological publications devoted to mugham performance, conducting, orchestration, organology, and instrumental traditions in Azerbaijani music. Among them are Mugham by Vamiq Mammadaliyev and Abbasgulu Najafzade, Conducting by Umud Ibrahimov and Gulnaz Rzayeva, Instrumental Performance Traditions in National Music by Sarkhan Abiyev, and Conducting Technique by Mehriban Gasimova.
Academic Staff
- Umud Ibrahimov – Honoured Teacher, Associate Professor, Head of Department
- Vamiq Mammadaliyev – People’s Artist, Professor
- Zamiq Aliyev – People’s Artist, Professor
- Mirnazim Asadullayev – Honoured Artist, Professor
- Togrul Asadullayev – Honoured Artist, PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor
- Afat Kazimova – Honoured Teacher, Associate Professor
- Alaga Sadiyev – Honoured Artist, Associate Professor
- Alakbar Alakbarov – Honoured Artist, Senior Lecturer
- Sarkhan Abiyev – Honoured Artist, Associate Professor
- Farida Malikova – Honoured Artist, Associate Professor
- Mehriban Gasimova – PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor
- Gulnaz Rzayeva – PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor
- Fikrat Manafov – Associate Professor
- Famil Aliyev – Senior Lecturer
- Jabrail Goyushov – Senior Lecturer
- Tahmasib Mammadov – Senior Lecturer
- Fariz Bakhshaliyev – Senior Lecturer
- Mustafa Ashurov – Senior Lecturer
- Ruslan Zarbaliyev – Senior Lecturer
- Samira Aliyeva – Senior Lecturer
- Ulkar Ashurbeyova – Senior Lecturer
- Sakhavat Mammadov – Lecturer
- Ismayil Zulfigarov – Lecturer
- Araz Fataliyev – Lecturer
- Nurlan Jafarli – Lecturer
- Azer Malikov – Lecturer
- Farrukh Hashimli – Lecturer
Concertmasters
- Elnara Gadimaliyeva
- Aygun Safarzade
- Leyla Jamalova
- Firuza Huseynova
- Shalala Karimova
- Masuma Aliyeva
- Rabiyya Imanguliyeva
- Heyran Gadirli
- Mammad Najafov
- Nubar Chakchak – Laboratory Assistant
Courses Offered:
Undergraduate Level
- Specialization – Music Notation Performance
- Chamber Ensemble
- Azerbaijani Folk Dances
- Accompaniment Class
- Special Pedagogical Training
- Orchestra
- Conducting
- Score Reading for Folk Instrument Orchestra
- Methodology of Teaching the Specialization
- Orchestration and Arrangement
- Instrument Studies and Score Reading
- Concertmaster Class and Ensemble
- Orchestra / Ensemble
- Choral Score Reading
- Professional Practice and Internship
Graduate Level
- Specialization – Music Notation Performance
- Mugham Performance
- Ethno-Organology
- Contemporary Issues in Organology
- Methodology of Teaching Folk Instrument Performance
- Ensemble
- Contemporary Trends in Folk Instrument Performance
- Scientific and Pedagogical Practice
- Pedagogical Practice
- Methodology of Ensemble Arrangement