Maya Müzik Kursu

Established in 2013 under the leadership of founder and director Selen Demirel (Mete), Maya Müzik Kursu delivers structured, accredited music education in the Ataşehir district of Istanbul. Operating strictly in accordance with the fundamental goals and pedagogical principles of the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB), the institution organizes its academic philosophy around the guiding motto “Müziğin ritmini Yakala” (Catch the rhythm of music). Selen Demirel, born in Izmir in 1993, concluded her secondary arts education as the second-ranking graduate of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts High School before completing her university degree at the Marmara University Music Education Department. Since founding the school in 2013, she has led the institution as its director, music department coordinator, and active teacher of piano and violin. Over more than a decade of instruction, Maya Müzik Kursu has developed into a certified examination hub for both the Ministry of National Education and the Royal Academy of Music, serving local residents who seek everything from beginner-friendly hobby classes to rigorous conservatory preparation. The academy combines specialized instrument mastery with complimentary solfège instruction and early-age developmental music training, establishing a structured educational environment for students across Ataşehir and surrounding districts.

Programme and What's On

Maya Müzik Kursu maintains a comprehensive syllabus covering foundational instruments, early childhood music education, and accredited examination pathways. Instrumental lessons are tailored to each student's developmental stage and technical goals:

• Piano Education: Open to students from four to five years of age, piano instruction focuses on developing finger motor skills, posture, bilateral coordination, and deep concentration, reinforced with integrated solfège theory.
• Violin Education: Structured to enhance long-term memory, posture, and arm muscle control, violin courses can be customized toward either Western classical music or traditional Turkish art music (Türk sanat müziği), with complimentary solfège lessons provided alongside instrument practice.
• Guitar Education: Offered through both individual private lessons and collaborative group formats, classical and contemporary guitar training builds harmonic understanding, rhythmic flexibility, and finger agility, supplemented with extra solfège modules.
• Transverse Flute and Early Childhood Training: Flute and transverse flute (yan flüt) training covers breath control and tone production, while dedicated Orff methodology and preschool piano classes introduce the youngest children to rhythm, auditory discernment, and melody through interactive musical games.

Beyond recreational and foundational training, the academy provides rigorous pre-professional and certified programs. As an authorized examination center, it prepares students for the Royal Academy of Music (ABRSM) international grade examinations and the London College of Music certificate system. For students pursuing formal artistic careers, faculty members run targeted preparation tracks for State Conservatories, Music Education Faculties, and Fine Arts High Schools (Güzel Sanatlar Liseleri). Additionally, the academy delivers the Ministry of National Education Master Instructor Certificate Programme (Usta Öğretici Programı), a specialized professional qualification that grants successful graduates the official legal right to open independent music courses or teach across educational institutions in Turkey. To ensure every applicant finds the appropriate level, the school provides a free preliminary consultation (ücretsiz ön görüşme) before formal enrollment.

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

The environment at Maya Müzik Kursu is defined by a professional, disciplined, and supportive pedagogical atmosphere where academic standards are balanced with patient instruction. Courses are delivered in both Turkish and English, accommodating multilingual families, international examination candidates, and expatriate students living in Istanbul. The academy is built for every age bracket and proficiency tier, welcoming absolute beginners who have never touched an instrument, preschool children taking their very first steps through Orff rhythm play, school-age youth building formal repertoire, and adults pursuing personal development or vocational teaching credentials.

Instruction is led by an academically trained faculty with distinct conservatory and university credentials:

• Arya Acer Dönmez: Born in Istanbul in 1995, she graduated from Avni Akyol Fine Arts High School and Marmara University Music Education Department, teaching piano, transverse flute, and solfège at the academy since 2015.
• Gözde Coltart: Born in Antalya in 2001, she completed ATSO Fine Arts High School before studying at the Istanbul Okan University Conservatory, conducting piano and violin lessons.
• Cem Çağan Kaya: Born in Kocaeli Karamürsel in 2003, he studied at the Kocaeli University State Conservatory and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory, and won first place in the 2019 AIMA International Guitar Competition; he directs the guitar department.
• Özlem Asiltürk: Born in Istanbul in 1980, she is an experienced Marmara University Music Education graduate who specializes in preschool musical development, ABRSM grade syllabus, and Fine Arts High School audition preparation.

This combination of structured teacher guidance and individualized lesson pacing ensures that students aiming for demanding international certifications receive rigorous technical feedback, while novice hobbyists learn at a comfortable, encouraging pace.

Location and Practical Details

Maya Müzik Kursu is located in the Ataşehir district on the Asian side of Istanbul. The branch occupies space on the second floor of Erenler Business Center on Girne Avenue. The full branch address is Atatürk Mahallesi, Girne Caddesi, Erenler İş Merkezi No:14/1, Kat: 2, 34758 Ataşehir, Istanbul. Positioned directly on Girne Caddesi in the Atatürk neighborhood, the facility is situated in close proximity to the Metropol Istanbul complex and is reachable via public transit routes serving the area, including the M8 Bostancı–Dudullu metro line at the Kayışdağı station.

The music school operates six days a week with the following schedule:

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday to Friday: 13:00 – 20:00
• Saturday and Sunday: 09:30 – 20:00

Enrollment and initial level evaluations require prior reservation to allow instructors to conduct personalized interviews. Prospective students and parents can book their free preliminary consultation or register for courses through several direct communication channels. The administration can be reached by telephone at (0216) 455 98 58 or via mobile phone and WhatsApp messaging at 0542 455 98 58. Written inquiries can also be submitted through the official email address at [email protected] or through the online inquiry forms on the academy's website. Tuition fees vary depending on the chosen instrument, whether the student selects one-on-one private lessons or small group classes, and the intensity of the certificate or examination preparation curriculum. Solfège classes are bundled at no additional charge alongside primary instrument enrollment, and preliminary evaluations remain free of charge.

The Mio Angle: Meeting and Events

On Mio, where community members exchange authentic recommendations on local spots, Maya Müzik Kursu answers one of the most frequent lifestyle queries: finding an accredited, serious music education center in Ataşehir without commercial gimmickry. Rather than functioning as a casual rehearsal room or unaccredited workshop, this institution serves as an official institutional testing center for the Royal Academy of Music and the Turkish Ministry of National Education. This formal standing gives students and parents concrete milestones to celebrate and share on social feeds, from passing ABRSM graded exams to earning the prestigious MEB Master Instructor Certificate (Usta Öğretici Belgesi) that qualifies graduates to open their own music schools.

The venue works particularly well for families looking for an all-in-one artistic environment. Parents can place younger toddlers into rhythm-based Orff games while older children receive formal classical piano or violin training, or prepare for rigorous conservatory entry auditions under award-winning artists such as classical guitarist Cem Çağan Kaya. For working adults in Ataşehir seeking an after-work creative outlet, the Tuesday through Friday evening hours (until 20:00) and weekend daytime slots provide accessible scheduling. In terms of financial transparency, the academy accommodates diverse budget levels by offering both private and group lesson formats, made more economical by including solfège lessons completely free of charge alongside instrument enrollments. The availability of a zero-cost, no-obligation preliminary consultation makes it effortless for hesitant beginners to visit the Girne Caddesi studio, assess their musical ear, meet the faculty, and establish realistic learning milestones before committing.